On Wednesday, the Chapel Hill Town Council met to discuss amending the Land Use Management Ordinance and a concept plan for development on 701 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
What’s new?
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Margaret Moore, the vice chair of the Town’s Parks, Greenways and Recreation Commission, spoke about the upcoming potential vote to repeal sections of the Town’s Code of Ordinances, which establish certain advisory boards and commissions including the Parks, Greenways and Recreation Commission.
- She said removing the commission would lead to more problems for the Town, including limited ability to advocate for project funding, less connection and feedback from the public and losing accreditation from the National Recreation and Park Association.
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Michelle Laws, a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public Housing Legacy Group, petitioned for a mural at Hargraves Community Center to reflect the contributions of public housing residents in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
- “We were the families who represented a large proportion of the laborers in this town,” she said. “We helped to build and fortify the economic progress and social advances that so many residents enjoy today.”
- Anya Grahn-Federmack, a principal planner for the Town’s planning department, requested the Town close the legislative hearing on amendments to Article 3 of the LUMO to allow the Town to make technical corrections.
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Bryan Boyles, a development manager at Landmark Properties, presented a concept plan for the proposed development at 701 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
- He said the concept plan proposes an eight-story, multi-family complex, featuring three stories of parking, with one below-ground level, and six levels of residential units.
- The development is near the planned site of a future Bus Rapid Transit stop, which he said makes it ideal for high-density, multi-family housing that encourages the use of public transit.
- He also said Landmark Properties is considering multiple options for how to incorporate affordable housing into the development.
- Multiple council members expressed different opinions about the development, specifically regarding student residents as opposed to family residents.
- Council member Melissa McCullough said she wants to see a design that would discourage students from living at the development because the town needs resources for people besides students.
- “I’m in favor of housing for anybody in this town who wants it and if students want it, that’s A-OK with me,” Council member Theodore Nollert said. “Also, we know that there is just going to be less demand, potentially, in 40 years for specific types of configurations that may appeal a lot to a student who cooks once a month, and not as much to a family that cooks every day.”
What decisions were made?
- The council unanimously voted to close the legislative hearing, adopt Resolution A and enact Ordinance A.
- The council unanimously voted to transmit comments to the applicant regarding the development at 701 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
What’s next?
- The council will meet again on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Town Hall.
