UNC, Residents Continue Development Discussions

The two groups met for the second time this week in an effort to reach an agreement before Oct. 3, when the Chapel Hill Town Council votes on the plan, an eight-year strategy for managing campus growth.

About 15 people attended today's meeting, including Chapel Hill Planning Department Director Roger Waldon.

The Development Plan is part of the University's Master Plan, which will guide UNC's growth for the next 50 years.

Jonathan Howes, special assistant to the chancellor for University relations, attended the meeting but said he would not discuss the details of Wednesday's negotiations.

"We discussed some language to be included in a resolution to be considered by the council," Howes said.

He said the University is listening to residents' concerns and hopes to adjust the plan in a way that the community will accept.

"I think there was some agreement, and there are some parts of it that require more work," Howes said.

"Overall, I think we're making some progress."

Kathy Wilber of 1400 Mason Farm Road attended the meeting and said community members discussed a proposed student family housing complex and a possible subsequent increase in traffic on Manning Drive.

Wilber said she is particularly concerned about the amount of development proposed in the narrow strip of land bordering Mason Farm Road.

"(UNC) wants to fit a 60-foot-wide road, a 60-foot-wide building, a 40-foot-wide parking lot and a 40-foot mass transit corridor all in 200 feet," she said. "To me, it doesn't add up. Family student housing is already in our neighborhood. We just don't want all of these things in such a small space."

Wilber said community members and University officials did not reach an agreement at Wednesday's meeting.

"I think we're being heard," she said. "Whether it's enough for action to be taken, I don't know. We've been working on this for two years."

Howes said he is hopeful that the University and the community will reach an agreement eventually.

"It goes before the council next week, so we'd like to be able to report success to the council," he said.

The next meeting between residents and UNC officials is tentatively scheduled for Friday. "We'll keep on working on it, even up until Wednesday night. Nothing is set, of course, until it goes before the Town Council."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.