Agenda - 02-01-1993 - III-C - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 Gene Bell , Planner for the Orange County Planning Department also presenLea information related to tors plan. He stated tnat in October, 19J0 the Chapel Hill Town Council appointed a Small Area Plan Work. Group to develop a recommended long-range plan for the Southern Area. This area is located generally south of Morgan Creek and includes land on both sides of U. S. 15-501 South to the Chatham County line. To the east, the boundary is a natural ridge line. To the west, the boundary is 250 feet east of Smith Level Road. The majority of the southern area is located within Chapel Hill ' s extraterritorial planning jurisdiction (ETJ) . However, an area of approximately 205 acres bounded generally by U.S. 15-501 to the west, the ETi line to the north, Old Lystra Road to the east, and the Chatham County line to the south is in the JPA. This area is currently designated as Chapel Hill Suburban Residential Transition in the JPA Land Use Plan. The Plan describes such areas as follows: Suburban Residential Areas are designated for housing densities from one (1 ) to five (5) dwelling units per acre. Such areas are located where land is changing from rural to urban, suitable for urban densities, and to be provided with public utilities and services. Housing types range from single-family homes to duplexes to multi-family dwellings. In general , the Southern Small Area Plan concentrates development in areas of environmental suitability nearest the existing town limits. Density is lower in areas of environmental constraints and in areas farthest from being served by public facilities. Residential densities for the Southern Area range from four houses per acre to one house per five acres. The area contained in the JPA is shown as having a future residential density of one unit per acre for areas off 15-501 and one unit per five acres for areas off Old Lystra Road. Thus, substantially lower densities are proposed for the area than were originally envisioned in the JPA Land Use Plan. The Southern Small Area Plan attempts to balance preservation and development objectives. Preservation objectives include protection of environmentally sensitive areas, natural beauty, area character, and existing neighborhoods. Development objectives focus on providing a range of housing, limiting increases in traffic, providing appropriate community facilities and emphasizing alternatives to the automobile. The Plan does not include the Laurel Hill Parkway. Instead, a network of existing and potential local roads would be interconnected. The local roads are intended to help people move around the area without creating major arterial roads. The Plan emphasizes development of a transportation network that includes all forms of transportation, and de-emphasizes the automobile. A network of bikepaths, sidewalks, and greenways is suggested. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR QUESTIONS AND/OR COMENTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS OR PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS Commissioner Gorden requested that the wording be changed so that it was