Agenda 10-07-2025; 5-a - Zoning Atlas Amendment – 3531 NC Highway 54 W, Chapel Hill, Bingham Township

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12 green space with an open lawn area, covered open air structure for community gathering, outdoor grill, and nature play space, enhancing residents' sense of cohesive community and connection to the natural world. The history of the property and its surroundings will be reflected in the community's design through architecture and material choices, ensuring a strong sense of place. Like many local properties, the Rigsbee land has been occupied and farmed by the same family for many generations, most recently as a feed field for the family's dairy farm. In the 1970s, the Rigsbees removed the land from active agricultural use and turned to forestry, and it has been actively harvested by the North Carolina Forest Service ever since. The community's design will build on this long history with material choices, such as local wood to reference timber harvesting. The design of the homes will draw on local architecture, and conversations and writings from the Rigsbee family will be woven into the neighborhood through elements like place names and markers. Respect for nature and local ecosystems will be thoughtfully integrated into Rigsbee's design, affirming the community's commitment to preserving the natural environment. The layout will well exceed all landscape buffer requirements, and open spaces will be planted with a diverse array of native evergreen, deciduous and understory trees to enhance the ecological value of the local forest. If stormwater management is required, green stormwater infrastructure will be seamlessly integrated into the landscape through bioretention features planted with native perennials to help keep Collins Creek and its tributaries clean and healthy. The features will allow stormwater to slowly infiltrate into native soil, providing a natural water filter, recharging wells and preventing stormwater from flooding rivers and streams. They will also provide habitat for local birds and pollinators, ultimately enhancing the natural ecosystem. Rigsbee's meaningful community amenities will provide residents with opportunities to relax, gather, and explore the natural world. Each home will have easy access to a centrally located green space with a lawn area, outdoor grill, and covered open-air structure, opportunities for residents to come together to relax, work, or host events. Residents will stay active while exploring a network of natural surface trails which will allow community members to walk,jog or hike through the forest.An overlook over the creek and its wetlands will bring residents into this unique environment, allowing them to appreciate the natural beauty of their surroundings. Community recreation, especially through paths and trails, is an important resource both for this community and for the County as a whole. The 2014 Orange County Parks and Recreation Master Plan identified 8 recommendations for the County, including building more trails and improving open space access to promote healthy lifestyles. These recommendations were generated from community input and from emerging research in the fields of economic and public health. Community outreach conducted as part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan process found that residents are eager for more opportunities to walk, hike, and bike in nature. Rigsbee's trail network will provide ample opportunities for residents to engage in healthy recreation while promoting community cohesion. The trail network at the Rigsbee Community will be designed to embrace the site's natural topography and showcase its most beautiful natural features. Trails will be constructed with natural surfacing, ensuring minimal impact on nearby streams and allowing access for all ages and abilities. 2 169776813.5