Agenda - 10-11-1995 - Items 1 and 2 - Appendix 1

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Planning Concepts Building Blocks Affordable Housing Several planning concepts have been discussed as According to the Town's adopted Comprehensive possible "building blocks" for various land use Plan, the Town's Housing Goal is"the availability patterns that could be pursued in the Northwest of safe, sanitary, decent, well-designed and Area. These concepts represent existing ideas that affordable housing for all of its citizens." have been successful elsewhere in Chapel Hill, as well as new ideas that could be applied in the In particular the Town "seeks to ensure that at northwest study area. These "building blocks" are least 10% of the dwelling units in Chapel Hill be not mutually exclusive; rather they could be affordable to very low and low income mixed and matched to fit the goals and objectives households." The Town's Comprehensive Plan for the area. defines low income as 50%-80% of the median income. Very low income is defined as less than Protection of Existing Neighborhoods 50% of the median income. Although a large portion of the Northwest Area is In pursuit of promoting affordable housing, the undeveloped, there are several significant Comprehensive Plan sets the goal that developers neighborhoods that have been established in this of new residential developments shall be area for several years. In particular, the encouraged to provide 15% of their units at prices Northwood subdivision, and the Rogers Road and affordable to low and moderate income Billabong lane areas represent existing households. In addition, the Plan also sets the neighborhoods that require special consideration goal that the Town shall acquire land for the if they are to be protected from the effects of development of affordable housing. future development and possible gentrification (the process by which older housing stock is By including affordable housing as a component purchased, refurbished, and then sold at a higher of the Northwest Area Plan, the Plan supports the price). Town's Comprehensive Plan by working to develop a supply of decent, affordable housing Any plan for this area will need to consider that is adequate to meet the housing needs of a special approaches to protect these racially and economically diverse Chapel Hill. neighborhoods. Some approaches that may be considered are locating buffers so as to protect Open Space existing neighborhoods from nearby development, placing similar residential land uses adjacent to The term "open space" is generally defined as existing neighborhoods, and using Community vacant land that has been designated for a specific Development Funds and other programs of the purpose. That purpose is quite commonly U.S. Department of Housing and Urban environmental preservation (wetlands, watershed Development to assist lower-income protection, sensitive plant and animal habitats), neighborhoods where repairs and/or renovations enhancement of community character (river and may be needed to help protect homeowners from stream corridors, entranceway corridors), or the possibility of gentrification. recreational opportunities. By incorporating this planning concept, the Recreational usage includes both active uses such Northwest Area Plan can protect existing as play grounds, ball fields, and parks,and passive neighborhoods while providing a plan for the uses such as picnic areas, greenways, and nature eventual development of the undeveloped areas. trails. Page 30 Northwest Small Area Plan