Chapel Hill is nearing the completion of an agreement to purchase the approximately 35-acre property on Legion Road from the American Legion Post No. 6. A newly commissioned task force will seek to determine how to best use that property.

The task force will include Mayor Pam Hemminger and town council members Donna Bell and Nancy Oates. It will also be made up of members from various commissions and the visitors bureau, a person with knowledge of commercial development and three at-large community interests representatives.

“I’m excited about this, because it does really take usually a task force or group of people to look over all that information and distill it and come back with some kind of recommendations or suggestions,” Hemminger said.

The town will accept applications to join the task force through the end of March.

Chapel Hill is also expected to officially close on the property at the end of the month. In December 2016, Post No. 6 agreed to Chapel Hill’s offer of $7.9 million for the property.

Applications for the task force can be made through the town’s website. The task force is scheduled to be voted on in early April.

“We’re looking for people in the different categories we have out there,” Hemminger said. “But mostly for people who are interested in the bigger picture, the multitudes of things going on there.”

Once the task force is confirmed, the members will participate in the community charrette April 8 to begin discussion for the land usage of the property. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for April 17 to provide the Town Council with recommendations for the scope and schedule of the proposed land uses.

Additional task force meetings will likely continue into the month of May. The town council scheduled another discussion of the findings May 22, though that date is subject to change.

“This is just one step in the process,” Hemminger said. “This is not going to be the decision-making for the whole thing.”

Hemminger also pointed out that American Legion will lease the property from the town for three years and that there is no rush to determine exactly what the town would like to do.

Related Stories
‹
UPDATE: Man Reported Missing to Chapel Hill Police Found After Short Search
UPDATE: An OC Alerts message shared at 8:51 p.m. said Amit Desai was safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in locating a missing person. Police officers say 51-year-old Amit Desai was last seen around 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Circle K gas station at the intersection of East […]
Chapel Hill to Open Police Substation on West Franklin Street in Early March
The Town of Chapel Hill will be staging more police officers downtown starting next month. In a release shared Thursday afternoon on the town’s website, the local government said it plans to open a substation of the Chapel Hill Police Department in the former Launch Chapel Hill space at 306 West Franklin Street. The building […]
Local Affordable Housing, New Sidewalks and Water Treatment Projects Receive New Federal Funding
U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee's office highlighted recent federal funding secured for the upcoming fiscal year for local governments and utilities in her district, including millions of dollars for projects in Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Pittsboro.
Our Town: The Story of Ted Voorhees, Chapel Hill Town Manager
The Town of Chapel Hill in collaboration with 97.9 The Hill WCHL & Chapelboro.com present “Our Town: Stories of Chapel Hill.” Each month you’ll hear from the people at the heart of your local government who are learning, serving, and working together to build a community where people thrive. This month, Ted Voorhees reflects on his first six months serving as town manager; and tells the story of why he chose to come to Chapel Hill. 
OWASA Sets Date for Full Closure of W. Rosemary Street. Here's What You Need to Know
As part of an extensive water main replacement by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority, part of West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill is set to close to all traffic in the coming weeks.
Chapel Hill’s Weavers Grove Welcomes First Residents, Offering a Vision of Inclusive Homeownership
Weavers Grove, the long-anticipated mixed-income community spearheaded by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, is officially coming to life in Chapel Hill.
Chapel Hill Passes Amendments to LUMO, Plans to Expand Missing Middle Housing in Town
Chapel Hill recently passed amendments to its Land Use Management Ordinance that could make it easier to expand housing options in town.
Orange County Governments Share Service Delays, Facility Closures Following Weekend Snow
Following inches of snow, local governments in Orange and Chatham counties alerted residents to how their operations are affected for Monday and Tuesday.
Here Are Winter Storm Resources in Orange County During Cold and Snowy Weather
With a massive winter storm forecasted, many in Orange County are preparing for frigid temperatures. Here are key resources to stay safe.
Local Government Closures, Service Changes Carry Over Into Tuesday from Adverse Conditions
Editor’s Note: This story is updated with the latest closures and changes through Tuesday, Jan. 27 Frigid temperatures mixed with precipitation from Winter Storm Fern has led to much of North Carolina sheltering and staying over the weekend and to start this week. To help encourage that — and to allow some of its staff […]
›