Minutes - 04-11-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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This would result in an equal balance between protecting the past while being proactive to improve the lives of many lower income households. Robert Dowling with Orange Community Housing also spoke about affordable housing within the Greene Tract. He noted that as they reach down the income scale, it is going to get harder and harder to find land to build rental housing. The Greene Tract is an opportunity far affordable housing to get beyond the public scrutiny. This is an opportunity to build a mixed use of homes and rental properties. He would hope that the development could be high-density affordable housing sa that more open space and buffers will be left. Garry Carver focused on the area identified as PW, public works. He said that until one year ago, a public works site was never in this area. It appeared just suddenly and was not questioned but approved. He said that, as far as he knows, there was never a public hearing on siting a public works facility on the land as designated. This area was designated in the old plan as mixed use, which does not describe an area for public works. The new plan designates the site as rural residential, which also does not describe an area for public works. He stated that this designation is not far the benefit of the neighborhood. Judy Nunn Snipes, a property owner in this area, said that she is shocked. She said that the neighbors have experienced years of landfill, landfill, landfill. She spoke about a document regarding the Neville Tract that stated that it would never be used for landfill use. She said that the Neville tract is nothing but a hale in the ground that has been robbed of dirt. She asked far clarification of landfill use in this area. They have lived with a landfill for 25+ years. She asked the elected officials to not do this to them again. Kevin Foy asked about the Neville Tract and Roger Waldon said that this is a borrowing area and that there are no plans to use the Neville Tract far a landfill, but only as dirt harrowing. Chair Halkiatis asked the County staff to consult the landfill staff to see if it is part of the plan to use the silt for the borrowing area. He asked John Link to contact Julie Nunn Snipes about any future plans for the hole in the ground at the Neville Tract. Gary Buck said that he has lived in Orange County for over 25 years. He said that we have all seen this area planned and reviewed many times. He is concerned about the environment and the quality of life in Chapel Hill. He said that we all continue to talk about affordable housing but we keep down zoning the properties. He has 33 acres an Eubanks Road. He feels that the Greene Tract can be developed in high density. His property borders Duke Power, the railroad, a residence, and an easement. He said that it was his understanding that his property was no longer under consideration for a potential school site. He would like clarification on this. He made reference to the Joint Planning Native to Property Owners, area two, number 1, and said that lots 16 and 16a are not on the west side of the tracts, but are on the east side of the tracks and border his 20-acre parcel. He stated that this is a unique opportunity with the location of the property on Eubanks Road to maximize the density in that area, to use the park and ride lot, and to do something about affordable housing. He said that it was easy to have affordable housing within each area of a piece of property. A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Brown to forward the proposed amendment to the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan and Map to the Orange County Planning Board for consideration and a recommendation to come back to the Board of County Commissioners no sooner than June 25, 2001. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Mayor Waldorf noted that there was a memo from Joyce Brown about the Neville and Greene Tracts.