The Chapel Hill Town Council met on April 23 to discuss multiple conditional zoning applications and funding for the Affordable Housing Funding Program.
What’s New?
- The council discussed next steps for Raleigh housing development organization DHIC’s Conditional Zoning Application for 2510 Homestead Rd.
- DHIC Project Manager Patrick Nerz presented DHIC’s application for a project on 2510 Homestead Rd. entitled Maddry Meadows, a housing development for 55-plus households under 60 percent of area median income.
- Nerz said DHIC has been looking to acquire the site at 2510 Homestead Rd. because its location and proximity to useful services makes it ideal for a 55-plus community.
- “It’s got everything we look for in that it is really close to employment opportunities, it's got great access to transit and it's very close to services and amenity rich,” Nerz said. “So we think it's an excellent location for affordable housing.”
- Council member Melissa McCullough suggested that DHIC cut down on the community’s parking, implement charging stations for e-bikes that are common for 55-plus communities and minimize the use of astroturf.
- Affordable Housing Manager Emily Holt presented the Recommended Funding Plan for the Affordable Housing Funding Program.
- She said the Town authorized staff to establish a local Affordable Housing Funding Program in January.
- Holt said the AHFP’s priorities in forming their funds allocation strategy include rental housing for 50 percent AMI and below and projects that are high impact, shovel ready, high leverage and close to public transit, as well as environmentally friendly.
- She said out of six projects that applied for use of the funding, staff recommended DHIC’s Maddry Meadows and EMPOWERment, Inc.’s Creekside Trail Renovation.
- The council heard Zimmer Development Company’s application for conditional zoning at 1701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
- Zimmer Development Company Development Manager Spencer Peterson gave a presentation about the company’s plan to convert the site’s long-vacant retail space into six multifamily units.
- He said 1701 North Apartments opened in 2016 and currently has 154 units — 76 percent of which are one-bedroom. Peterson said there is 5,171 square feet of commercial space which has not been occupied since 2016.
- “The rezoning addresses vacancy and market challenges, it supports the existing use, reduces traffic trips, helps meet a need for housing — which we have, because we’re 100 percent occupied — and it also meets a need for the affordable piece and offers a balanced solution for community growth and development,” he said.
- Zimmer Development Company Development Manager Spencer Peterson gave a presentation about the company’s plan to convert the site’s long-vacant retail space into six multifamily units.
- The Council held a concept plan review for the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity House on 216 East Rosemary St.
- Anna Scott Myers, planner with the Town’s planning department said concept plan reviews are a requirement before an applicant can submit a conditional zoning application. A review doesn’t involve making a decision, she said, but simply allows the applicant to hear Council feedback.
- Oklahoma architecture firm Krittenbrink Architecture specializes in Greek life housing projects. President Mark Krittenbrink said he will be representing Pi Kappa Phi during their house renovation process.
- “They have a rich history with the University, nationally, regionally and locally,” he said. “Unfortunately, they have a house that is letting them down.”
- Krittenbrink said the renovation would involve a new addition to the house to create a multipurpose space large enough to support the full chapter, designing better and larger bedrooms, bringing the house to full ADA compliance and promoting long-term sustainability.
What Decisions Were Made?
- The council unanimously approved the conditional zoning application to use 2510 Homestead Rd. for the Maddry Meadows Project.
- The council unanimously approved the Recommended Funding Program for the AHFP.
- The council voted unanimously to continue the conditional zoning at 1701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. conversation during its next meeting on May 7.
What’s Next?
- The council will meet May 7 at 6 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Town Hall.
