Agenda - 05-20-2004-4 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Council Member Kleinschmidt asked where the parking reductions had been made Uetween UNC's prior presentation and this one. Mr. Firstenberg said that it had been reduced from 19,125 to 17,000 spaces, He pointed out that the parking ratio had been 3 to .3-1/2 spaces per 1,000, and was now dropped to 2-1/2 spaces per thousand.. The goal was to drive it down even further, he said. Mr. Firstenberg noted that park and ride was part of the solution, but it must be done in collaboration with the Town. In response to questioning by Council Member Kleinschmidt, Mr. Firstenberg stated that the odds were that parking reductions would come in future phases because that is when the decks will be there. Council Member Kleinschmidt replied that UNC's traffic plan really was the same as it was six months ago and would be the same for the next 10-15 years. Mr. Firstenberg replied that UNC and the Town must work cooperatively to come up with ideas to reduce parking. Council Member Kleinsclunidt, referring to the tluee-partner model for transit that the Town, UNC and Carrboro have, asked Mr'. Firstenberg if he had not been able to come up with a plan using that model. Mr'. Firstenberg replied that if a private developer wanted to do Phase I, there would be 20-.30% more parking than is being shown in UNC's plan, He added that Uy working together, the partners should Ue aUle to achieve park and ride sooner than that. There must Ue discussions about how to enhance bus service immediately and about any other mass transit ideas, Mr Firstenberg said. Council Member Kleinschmidt remarked that Mr. Firstenberg's answer had just underscored how important it was to lmow how much parking was related to this part of the development. Then everyone could understand exactly what the impact of each phase would be, he said.. Council Member Kleinschmidt pointed out that the idea of 17,000 parking spaces still frightened many people, He could not imagine why UNC could not take that number and project the increase in Uus service and how would it Ue funded, he said, Mr. Firstenberg replied that taking parking down to 17,000 spaces was wUat the University felt they could do independently. They have a desire to do Vetter, he said, and he proposed that the Town and University work together to get that number as low as possible. Council Member Kleinschmidt pointed out that there were tools that could help provide some answers. Mr. Firstenberg agreed, adding that he was Uappy to continue looking at them. Council Member Ward noted that the buildings in Phase I, as they are, would violate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) setback requirements. Mr. Firstenberg agreed to address the airport issue later in the presentation. Council Member Hill determined that the net impact of Phase I would be about 2,100 employees, plus residents, He asked where else in the country something of this magnitude had Ueen done in the middle of a town. Mr. Firstenberg replied that it depends on your definition of "inside a town." There had been much urban redevelopment and "redensifying" around town centers, he said, but it would be difficult to find a situation