Representatives from Woodfield Acquisitions shared their thoughts and took questions from community members on the 36-acre property they recently agreed to purchase from American Legion Post No. 6.

“This is a very preliminary meeting,” Woodfield representative Scott Underwood said. “We have not submitted any plans to the town yet, but we thought it was very important to talk to you all because this town is special and we want to do something special.”

Underwood said Woodfield was looking for feedback from the community on how to improve their plans for the site.

American Legion entered a contract to sell the property to Woodfield for $10 million.

The Town of Chapel Hill had the option to buy the property for $9 million, but waived its right to first refusal in a closed-session meeting in November.

Members of the crowd said they wanted the town to buy the property and turn it into a park.

“I wasn’t part of that decision process,” said Mayor Pam Hemminger. “I’ve been investigating it. We do not have 10 million dollars laying around. That doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to collaborate on something like this.”

She said she wanted to see what ideas members of the town had to improve the property.

“Nothing is a done deal,” Hemminger said. “Nothing has been filed. They’re trying to do the right thing by having a community dialogue and asking for input.”

Underwood said Woodfield builds multi-family homes and apartment complexes. Along with these complexes, Woodfield is also considering building office or retail spaces.

A memorandum of understanding between the town and Woodfield that says the developer will be responsible for construction of a two-lane road providing access to Ephesus Church Road and construction of a trail that will be open to the public.

“By any of this memorandum of understanding, it does not allow us to do anything,” Underwood said. “We still have to go through the process. It does not make us do anything and it does not obligate the town to give us anything.”

Although no more have been scheduled yet, Underwood said there would be more community forums as the development process continues.

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