Minutes - 04-19-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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etc. The Tawn has put forward a proposed approach to try to accommodate the University's concerns and the Town's community-wide concerns. This plan will permit the local government to review the development plan to look at all the building the University plans to do over the next decade. The Town and the University has agreed in principal to a zoning category. The details are being developed. The Town of Chapel Hill wants everybody to participate with them in working toward accommodating the University's growth. Chair Halkiatis said that the County Commissioners met with Jack Evans and received the presentation on the Horace Williams Tract. He said that Jack Evans kept using the term, "accessible housing." He said that we need to have more discussions and be supportive in any way we can. The County Commissioners want the University officials to know that they have concerns about affordable housing. The issue of children and schools was also brought up at the meeting. There will be an impact on schools from the proposed housing in this project. Commissioner Gordon said that she read reports in the newspaper about the public hearing in Chapel Hill on the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. She asked Jonathan Howes about the University's position an the SAPFO. Jonathan Howes said that they have concerns about the SAPFO. Jaal Hall Broun reminded the University that one of the things that the University can use to attract professors and other faculty is how much it casts to live here. She said that if the current fiscal climate continues, it might be a problem. She said that it was a great concern in Carrboro because a lot of the teachers in the public schools cannot afford to live in Carrboro. Commissioner Jacobs said that he does not think that anyone is interested in having elected officials be antagonists with the University. He asked the Chapel Hill Tawn Council to let the County Commissioners knave how they can help. He said that we should make sure that this plan does not go to the Board of Trustees before the elected officials have had more of an opportunity to work with the plan. Mayor Nelson said that they have had a fairly positive relationship with the University so far. He said that he appreciates the way the County Commissioners have related to the University in this process. Mayor Waldorf said that the Town Council has been focusing on the University campus. In terms of what the Board of County Commissioners can do to be supportive, it is not so much what they can da but what they can say. Bill Strom said that it is interesting how housing has floated to the surface here. The Chapel Hill Town Council immediately focused an affordable housing. After they received the presentation on the Horace Williams plan, they placed this on an agenda for further discussion and a response stating their concerns. Diana McDuffee said that the main campus would have an impact on the bus system and the park and ride lots. She said that the University is volunteering to pick up a lot of the costs that they would not be required to pick up for the bus service and park and ride lots. She said that we really need to think about how the bus service is funded and how we share that cast. Kevin Foy asked about the general sense of the group as to what they can or cannot do. He feels that, as local elected officials, we have a different legal responsibility than the University. The University has a mandate and a mission that does not have to da with local land use planning. Jonathan Howes said that he appreciates the tone of the discussion and appreciates the interest in the University and its role in the community. With reference to the housing concerns, he said that the students who live out in the community are of concern to the University and it is responding. There are 1,000 new undergraduate beds under construction at the corner of Manning Drive and Ridge Road. The University is also seeking ways to house more of its graduate students and married students. With respect to the Horace Williams tract, the plan does call for a great deal of housing. He spoke about the various upcoming public meetings on the plan. He said that he looks forward to a continued cooperative relationship with all of the jurisdictions in the County. As the University continues to progress, it is going to add students, faculty and staff. He said that it was in the University's interest that it continues to produce a sustainable community.