The Chapel Hill Town Council met at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., to consider an agenda that includes the following highlights. Council meetings are cablecast on Chapel Hill TV18, the cable government access channel and via streaming video at www.townofchapelhill.org (see link to "Council Meeting Video"). The full agenda is available for review on the web at townhall.townofchapelhill.org/agendas/2009/02/09 or by contacting the Town Clerk at (919) 968-2743 or
clerk@townofchapelhill.org.
Report on Orange County Tax Re-evaluation: The Council received a report on the Orange County tax re-evaluation from Tax Assessor John Smith, who said that his office is currently considering second review requests from property owners. Appraisal staff determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant an adjustment. See: www.co.orange.nc.us/assessor/revaluation.asp. The next regular assessment is scheduled in 2013. This schedule could be changed if county commissioners decide that economic conditions warrant an earlier re-evaluation.
Aydan Court Rezoning and Special Use Permit: The Council recessed a public hearing to March 23 to consider a special use permit application for the Aydan Court. The proposed development is located on the north side of NC 54 across from Downing Creek Parkway. The applicant proposes to rezone the property from Residential-1 to the recently amended Residential-Special Standards-Conditional zoning district. The Council requested additional information about zoning options, including detailed comparisons of environmental protections. The property is located near the Upper Little Creek Waterfowl Impoundment Area.
2008 UNC-Chapel Hill Annual Development Plan Report on Transportation: The Council considered an annual report required from the University that discusses a variety of transportation issues associated with development activity on the University campus. The report provides a list of intersection improvements, some of which are measures to reduce and calm traffic and to enhance pedestrian safety. The following are locations where various measures (turn lanes, signal phasing, traffic signal upgrades with pedestrian countdowns) have been approved and/or stipulated by the Town: 1. Columbia Street/South Road/McCauley Street, 2. South Road/Country Club Road, 3. Cameron Avenue/Raleigh Street, 4. Country Club Road/Battle Lane/Boundary Street, 5. Country Club Road/Gimghoul Road/Paul Green Theater Drive, 6. Manning Drive/Skipper Bowles Drive, 7. South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road, 8. Manning Drive/Fordham Boulevard, 9. Manning Drive/Old Mason Farm Road, 10. Mason Farm Road/East Drive, 11. Mason Farm Road/West Drive, 12. Ridge Road, 13. Manning Drive/Ridge Road.
Possible Alternatives for Library Project: The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the library expansion project and said it was not interested in exploring alternatives to expanding the library at its present location. The library expansion project is currently delayed pending improvement in municipal bond markets.
