Plans are in the works for a new housing development in Chapel Hill. The plans are in the early stages but will include either town homes or apartments for senior residents.
The Chapel Hill Town Council was presented with a concept plan for housing with two options for a new development at a public hearing on March 13.
The new development, Wood Townhomes, would be located off Homestead Road and adjacent to the Courtyards of Homestead Road.
The first concept plan included approximately 102 town homes, while the alternative plan involves 180 apartment units for age-restricted residents.
The current concept plan aims to meet Chapel Hill's inclusionary zoning ordinance. Under this ordinance, 15 percent of the development will be affordable housing.
Kay Pearlstein, senior planner for the town of Chapel Hill, said she likes the plan but cannot support it yet because it is only in its early stages.
“Because it is just at a conceptual level and we don’t know what the final applications are going to be — we would be concerned about ordinance requirements, which we don’t know how they are going to lay out their project yet,” Pearlstein said.
Pearlstein said the plan could take 12 to 18 months to approve.
“I think the applicant will continue to pursue this idea and keep refining it as it goes on, and so once it goes through staff review, and advisory board review and council review, I think they will have a project that is acceptable,” she said.
