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1~ <br />like UNC. "How many major research universities have 1,000 acres of undeveloped land <br />so close to their core campus," Mr. Firstenberg remarked. <br />Mr'. Firstenberg described UNC's plan as unique. Council Member Hill agreed that <br />everything about Carolina North was unique. He stressed that the Council was looking <br />for a unique approach to the transportation and parking as well Council Member Hill <br />proposed that using standard parking ratios would not lead to a unique solution. But, he <br />added, he understood why they were being used at this phase. <br />Mr, Firstenberg displayed a rendering of Carolina North at full build-out, including the <br />three major points of access, a redesigned Airport Drive, and anorth-south road that <br />would connect to Weaver Dairy Road and provide another means of getting to I-40. I-Ie <br />noted that the rail line bad been identified as a potential means of mass transportation, <br />and he indicated logical transit stops, Mr. Firstenberg also pointed out where the <br />residential areas would be. <br />Council Member Harrison proposed that having parking at Carolina North, such as exists <br />on main campus, would mean having a third fewer parking spaces at Carolina North. Mr.. <br />Firstenberg replied that it would be about 11,000 parking spaces, if comparable. I-Ie <br />pointed out that the nature of uses of the spaces was very different. Council Metnber <br />Harrison verified with Council Member Verkerk that the ratio on main campus included <br />residential parking. <br />Council Member Verkerk described the proposed parking scenario as "disturbing." <br />People will take the bus if you don't build parking, she said. She agreed with Council <br />Member Hill about the need for a wrique solution,. <br />Mayor Foy noted that Mr. Firstenberg had referred to a model from the 1970s at <br />Princeton, the 1980s and 1990s at UVA, and others, and said that all of them would do <br />something different. So now, he stated, we have the most advanced idea that other <br />people are emulating. But, Mayor Foy noted, even the University acknowledges that <br />what has really stood the test of time was the main campus, which has been there for 200 <br />years. He said the campus has grown in an organic way, and many people say that's what <br />they like about UNC. <br />Mayor Foy expressed disappointment that McCorkle Place would be replicated at the <br />gateway but not flourish throughout the development. There appeared to be resistance to <br />taking what was essential about main campus, he said, noting that UNC at Chapel Hill <br />had been forced not to become a big parking lot like many university campuses. This had <br />not been and easy decision, said Mayor Foy, noting that there had been a great deal of <br />resistance. <br />Mayor Foy remarked that the problem was not just one of how to get financing. There <br />are also psychological ban-iers to overcome, he said, noting that some people will not set <br />foot on a bus. Mayor Foy said that the Town was trying to prevent a situation where <br />people will say 20 to .30 years from now that it could have been done better. McCorlde <br />