Formal talks rejected

The Chapel Hill Town Council rejected Monday the possibility of meeting with the University about proposed changes to the zoning district that governs UNC.

The Office/Institutional-4 zoning district was created for the University in 2001 to guide construction on large tracts of land on the main campus and related sites.

Town Manager Cal Horton's proposal would have created a four-member council committee to hold public meetings and to discuss eight proposed changes to OI-4 with a University committee.

But the council and town residents asked Monday for a more open and less formal public forum to discuss the proposed procedural changes to the zoning district.

"We have used this format when talking to the University about big problems," said council member Bill Strom. "We don't need something like the Paris Peace talk-style format to discuss this issue. We need to have more of a conversation between the whole town and the University."

Council member Cam Hill agreed, adding that the proposed changes are minor and that the type of meeting that Horton advocated should be saved for issues that require more time and energy.

Meetings could resemble the informational public forums held earlier this month about redeveloping parking lots 2 and 5, Hill said.

Horton's proposal also was criticized because some, including town resident Laurin Easthom, said there was a lack of citizen involvement.

"I hope the council decides to use citizens at the meetings," Easthom told the council.

Council member Mark Kleinschmidt said that even though the proposed summit-style meeting could create discussion between the council and the University, it wouldn't maximize participation or include much citizen input.

The most contentious point in Monday's discussion occurred when Mayor Kevin Foy asked council members if they wanted to vote on one of the eight recommended changes before meeting with University officials.

The potential measure would require the University to submit a concept plan before a development plan is presented.

"There are some things that the University has no objection to," Foy said. "If everyone believes a concept plan is a good thing, then why not vote on it now?"

But council member Jim Ward opposed Foy's suggestion to vote without a University representative present at the meeting.

"It is important for us to be sure that we treat our partner the way we would like to be treated," he said.

The council did not vote on any of the eight measures, and Horton said he will present members with a new proposal for the meeting in December.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.