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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 20, 2017 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 7-a <br /> <br />SUBJECT: GoTriangle Update on Transit Oriented Development Process and Potential <br />Rail Station Changes <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Summary of Transit Oriented Development <br />Grant Scope of Work <br /> <br />GoTriangle Memoranda on Station Changes <br /> <br />GoTriangle Presentation <br /> Patrick McDonough, Manager of Planning <br />and Transit Oriented Development, 919- <br />485-7455 <br /> Matthew Clark, Government Affairs <br />Manager, 919-270-7858 <br /> <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To describe the principles and activities associated with the Transit Oriented <br />Development (TOD) Grant as well as to provide an explanation of both the proposed Gateway <br />Station Shift and the proposed addition of a station at the Durham Performing Arts Center. No <br />cost increases can occur, and both the Gateway Station Shift and the Station Addition <br />will be accommodated within the current budget if approved. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: The first part of the presentation will update the Board of Commissioners on <br />the activities related to transit oriented development planning around the Durham-Orange Light <br />Rail Stations. GoTriangle received a $2.1 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration <br />(FTA) to help plan areas around the rail stations. This effort involves preparing appropriate land <br />use plans and development standards to maximize the benefits of new investments in transit <br />service, promote the development of walkable neighborhoods, and enhance existing <br />communities. The planning grant also included a market study that assessed the potential <br />economic development benefits of development or redevelopment that could occur around the <br />rail stations. <br /> <br />On October 16, Chapel Hill staff and the Transit Oriented Development consultant team held a <br />meeting with members of the six Chapel Hill advisory boards and commissions to discuss the <br />process for developing zoning regulations for the station areas, the project schedule, and <br />community goals that should be prioritized. The current schedule would have a draft zoning <br />code available for discussion in January of 2018. <br />The second part of the presentation will be to update the Board of Commissioners on two <br />proposed rail station changes. The Orange County Transit Plan discussed the possibility of <br />shifting the Gateway station to the west in order to promote more economic development <br />opportunities, particularly in Orange County. The Transit Plan requires that GoTriangle seek <br />input from the Board of Commissioners on any change in station location which will be <br />communicated to the GoTriangle Board before making a final decision. <br />1