Chapel Hill is holding a meeting Monday evening providing an update on the status of a proposed municipal service center on property owned by UNC.
The Town of Chapel Hill and UNC have been in talks since January 2017 working to come to terms on a development agreement to allow for the construction of a municipal services center, which could house a new police station for the town, on university-owned property on Estes Drive.
The two sides came to terms on a tentative lease agreement for the property in August 2017. The town has been working toward starting the process of building a new police station in recent years. The current police station is located on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and has been the subject of additional environmental concern after it was discovered that it had been built on a coal ash deposit site. The town discovered the materials in 2013 and has been working under scrutiny from state environmental regulators to identify ways to move forward. Town officials estimate the coal ash deposit is from the 1960s or ’70s.
At meetings in November and December, the town discussed the site plan, building design, stormwater management and environmental protection.
The proposed site drew some criticism from neighbors concerned about the impact the development would have on nearby homes.
The town asked UNC to review possible different sites, but university staff maintained this would be the most suitable location for the proposed project.
Monday’s meeting is scheduled to review the input from the first two meetings and update residents on the development agreement process.
Future meetings are scheduled to discuss other features of the proposal, but there is still no timeline for finalization of a development agreement between the university and the town.
The meeting on Monday is scheduled for 5:30 at Phillips Middle School on Estes Drive.
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