Agenda - 05-04-1999 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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APR 26 '99 04~31PM ITPID-IIG~OPG P.3~4 Development on this scale was neither discussed nor anticipated by the participants in the facilitated meeting. The yardstick in residents' minds was Hogan Farm., which many people had felt was itself far too big, as you may recall. I recommended during the development of the zone, and still strongly recommend to place an upper limit vn the size - i.e. the number of dwelling units - pemtitted in each VMU, in the range of about 200 to 300 units. This would be roughly equivalent to the eventual size of Hogan Farm. And I recommend limiting the number of VMUs to two, as anticipated by the residents of both Carrboro and the Northern Transition Area who participated in the facilitated meeting. Office/Assembly Acreage I also note that the amount of offiee/assembly district acreage allowed is 3 or 4 times greater than the total acreage of downtown Caaboro. While this appeared in the original Small Area Plan, it was voted on but not approved by the participants in the facilitated meeting. It was later added back in unilaterally by the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. Also, one of the suggestions from the facilitated meeting which was not acted upon (as noted by the County Planning Dept.} was the suggestion to encourage use of available commercial space in Carrboro before building out in the Northern Transition Area_ For these reasons, I suggest allowing a much smaller amount of acreage to be potentially rezoned to Office/Assembly. Even just five to ten acres would be equivalent to another downtown Carrboro. Much more would inevitably result in the need to widen the roads and would completely alter the character of the area, Commissioners Role in Approviuag Develvpment I believe that you, the Commissioners, need to keep control of the development process through the conditional use permitting stage. You are the only elected officials who speak for those of us who live in the Northern Transition Area, and the only ones who can be counted upon to respond to our concerns. While they have been willing to let us speak, as a group the Carrboro Board of Aldermen have never addressed our concerns. I have heard recommendations made by Jef and other residents that emphasize how important it is for you to review the development plans through the conditional use permitting stage. I agree with and strongly endorse these recommendations. Other issues I note that that Carrboro Board of Aldermen has taken it upon itself to add in auto related uses as an allowable commercial use in the VMU. I'm not sure I see the need for auto-related uses in a village mixed-use neighborhood. Most people, I believe, buy gas near where they work