The Turkish Cultural Center proposed by UNC’s Aziz and Gwen Sancar could be approved on Monday night.

The project has been the subject of complaints from some of the neighbors to the property along East Franklin Street between Elliot Road and Estes Drive. The concerns have been rooted around driveway access to Velma Road.

The initial Special Use Permit asked for commercial zoning for the area, which is planned to include a cultural center and adjacent residence for visiting scholars. That would call for a larger driveway access on Velma than typical residential zoning.

Neighbors have said that could pose a problem if a developer eventually acquired the property.

The Town Council will hear two options on Monday night. One being the continuation of the public hearing on the original proposal; the other would involve splitting the property into two lots – one commercial property for the cultural center and one residential property for the visiting scholars.

Gwen Sancar – president of the Aziz and Gwen Sancar Foundation – wrote in an e-mail to the council that the Sancars would prefer the original plan because it was simpler and had been meticulously crafted to meet energy and sustainability goals. Sancar also asked for the council to issue a final decision at Monday night’s meeting because of contract terms surrounding the sale of the property. She said the Sancars may have to reevaluate moving forward with a project on the property if they are asked to delay a decision.

After reviewing the newly submitted plan, e-mails have come in to the council both supporting and voicing continued concerns over the proposals.
Monday night’s meeting is scheduled for Chapel Hill Town Hall at seven o’clock.

Aziz Sancar won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry due to his research at UNC.

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