The Orange County Board of Commissioners received a report on the potential development of the Ephesus Church Road and Fordham Boulevard area on Thursday.
The Chapel Hill Town Council voted on Monday night to bring form-based zoning to the area, which they hope will help to develop more retail, affordable housing and better transportation. The commissioners are still considering whether they want to get involved with the project after the town of Chapel Hill asked Orange County for help with financing it.
Should they join the program, Orange County would be expected to pay around seven million dollars over an 18-year period.
“We want to partner with the town of Chapel Hill,” chairman Barry Jacobs said. “However, I think it’s clear we’re not ready to make any kind of decisions.”
In the meeting, the board raised also questions about the impact of potentially adding 450 new students to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system and the potential expenses of a new school that would result from an expansion of the Ephesus-Fordham area.
Members were also concerned about the issue of the storm water drainage problems which the site has experienced.
“I have a hesitation in committing to an area that already has physical problems,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs also said he told Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt he did not believe the board would make an official decision until sometime in the fall at the earliest.
Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com
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