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

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14 Rigsbee Community Narrative Our goal is to create a thoughtfully designed community at Rigsbee with sustainable practices integrated throughout, embracing the beauty of its natural setting and its long agricultural history. Low-impact design and green stormwater management features are incorporated throughout the community to naturally capture and treat stormwater,following practices designed to protect nearby Collins Creek and its tributaries so that they remain healthy and clean.We are proposing up to 40 lots of about 20,000 square feet, each with its own septic system but serviced by a community well. Homes will be situated along two central spines, all with easy access to a network of trails and a shared green space with a Great Lawn, common house, outdoor kitchen and nature play area, 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 like oak, hickory and poplar wood, reflecting the timber that would has historically been harvested here.The design of the homes and common house 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.The neighborhood's landscape will build on its roots in small-scale agriculture with a community orchard,where residents can pick their own local fruit. 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. Green stormwater infrastructure will be seamlessly integrated into the landscape through two rain gardens planted with native perennials to help keep Collins Creek and its tributaries clean and healthy.The rain gardens will allow stormwater to slowly infiltrate into native soil, providing a natural water filter 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 Great Lawn, outdoor kitchen, and common house, providing opportunities for residents to come together to relax,work, or host events.A nature play area with logs, stumps and boulders will give children a creative play area to explore their surroundings. Residents will stay active while exploring a network of ADA-accessible trails,which will allow community members to walk,jog or hike through the forest.Trails will be paved with porous gravel, allowing residents to explore nature while treading lightly on the land. 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.