Orange County NC Website
Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey said that she is standing in for Purchasing and <br />Central Services Director Pam Jones. She made reference to the glossy document. <br />Richard Gurlitz gave a presentation. He said that this project would come back on <br />Monday for special use permit approval. The site plan has 103 parking spaces, and the building <br />facing Homestead Road surrounds a courtyard. There is an entry canopy from the building <br />entry out over the drive. <br />The upper level floor plan has an administrative area, a conference room, a health <br />center with aerobics and exercise equipment rooms, and classrooms. The lower level has a <br />multi-purpose room, a kitchen and cafe, general open space for ping-pong tables, a small <br />theater (for 82 people), and more classrooms. There will also be quite a bit of day-lighting <br />where possible. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about landscape plans and Richard Gurlitz said these <br />could be provided. Richard Gurlitz said that the landscaping is to Chapel Hill standards far the <br />entire site and the undisturbed areas will remain the same. There are also 30-foot buffers along <br />the site. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about existing vegetation and Richard Gurlitz said that <br />there is some, and it will remain as much as they can leave it. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked more clarifying questions that were answered by Richard <br />Gurlitz. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked how many seats were available for a sit down dinner in <br />the multi-purpose room and Richard Gurlitz said 200 people. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the double door exit in the theater and she said <br />there is usually more and Richard Gurlitz said that it is small enough for only two exits. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the insulated glass and Richard Gurlitz said that it is <br />a tinted glass. He described how the glass was made. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she would like to reinforce the comments about the <br />conservation of the trees. <br />Discussion ensued about the brick and stone. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked more clarifying questions that were answered by Richard <br />Gurlitz. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that when the decisions are made, the committee needs to <br />be involved. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the Homestead Road and Weaver Dairy Road Extension <br />would be busy when Carolina North is built. He asked how this was incorporated in the design <br />and the fact that there would be a lot of noise on the same side as the glass. Richard Gurlitz <br />said that there will be a 30-foot buffer and the insulated glass. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the ERCD staff will work with Richard Gurlitz to assure <br />that the trees are conserved. <br />Richard Gurlitz said that the Town of Chapel Hill Manager and staff are requesting a <br />crosswalk to Homestead Park that was requested by Active Seniors. The cost would be <br />$60,000-$100,000 and the city will define it more in the SUP process. Others have said that this <br />crosswalk should not be part of the site but the Town wants to keep it in as part of the approval <br />process and it would have to be approved through DOT. <br />Commissioner Jacobs suggested taking the money for this crosswalk out of the money <br />to be used for Homestead Park. He suggested asking the Tawn to defer consideration of the <br />crosswalk until there can be a conversation about it. The Chair should write a letter to the Town <br />stating that the Board's position is that the crosswalk not be made a condition of approval until <br />there is a discussion about it. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to <br />approve plans as submitted and to add language to the resolution that the crosswalk not be part <br />of the condition of approval. <br />