Residents Voice Concerns Over Ephesus-Fordham Development, Form-Based Code

Chapel Hill residents voiced an array of concerns about the state of development in the Ephesus-Fordham district at Monday’s town council meeting.

Here are some residents’ words:

Jean Yarnell: “Ephesus-Fordham district form-based code only addressed water quality, not water quantity or flooding.”

Esther Miller: “I spent a half an hour . . . the other afternoon, right after school, trying to get through on Estes from Carrboro back to my neighborhood because there’s no place to go. The traffic has no place to go.”

Diane Willis: “The citizenry answered your surveys and said we want three-to-four-story buildings and human-scale development, not seven-story buildings with no affordable housing of any kind, no energy efficiency, no provisions for green space for the public.”

Residents were responding to the nature and pace of development since the town council approved a new type of zoning in the district called form-based code. The code sets parameters for building height, parking space and other details, and it authorizes the town manager, instead of the town council, to approve projects that meet the criteria.

Since the council enacted the new code ten months ago, the town received three project applications, and one, Village Plaza Apartments, has been approved and is now being built. The district has seen only two developments of a similar scale over the last several years.

At Monday’s meeting the town discussed amending the text of the code, including aligning the regulations with the town’s comprehensive plan and rewording the design guidelines.

In responding to residents’ concerns, Member Jim Ward said he voted against form-based code; he said the code, unfortunately, doesn’t incentivize affordable housing.

Member Lee Storrow said the parking guidelines ensure that seven-story structures will not be built “at every parcel.”

Member Donna Bell said that town leaders have listened to residents; they may feel unheard because they have experienced unexpected outcomes.

“It’s not that we don’t think about or care about our citizens who are living in a floodplain that were sold houses that are going to flood,” said Bell. “But we have committed to looking at the development at the upper end. We have committed to having some control over both quantity and quality of the water in the Ephesus-Fordham development district.”

After the planning commission reviews the text amendments and makes recommendations, the council will continue the public hearing on September 21.

‹

CHTC Likely To Delay Vote On Ephesus-Fordham Redevelopment Plan

Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said the Council needed time to “stew” on the worries raised by the residents and for members to have their own questions answered.

CHTC Eyes Ephesus-Fordham Renewal Plan

Town planners call the chance to redevelop the Ephesus Church-Fordham Boulevard area a watershed moment in Chapel Hill’s history.

CHTC Eyes New Zoning Tool For Ephesus-Fordham Area

CHAPEL HILL- Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt made it clear at a work session on Wednesday that he wants to see big changes to the area around the Ephesus-Fordham Boulevard intersection. “We have an under-performing strip mall there. We have intersections that are impossible to navigate,” said Kleinschmidt. “We have these dysfunctions there and that distinguishes it […]

Erik Valera Becomes Latest Candidate in Race for Chapel Hill Town Council

The race for Chapel Hill Town Council continues to build as another candidate verbally entered on Wednesday: Erik Valera, who is part of the leadership team for El Centro Hispano. Valera announced his campaign with an interview on 97.9 The Hill’s “This Morning with Aaron Keck.” The Chief Operating Officer of the local nonprofit, which […]

Town Considers Changes to Ephesus-Fordham Code

The Chapel Hill Town Council heard opinions on Monday regarding changes to the Ephesus-Fordham Form Based Code and voted to extend the public comment period until April 18. The council is considering eight modifications in all to the text of the code, which dictates what kind of development can happen in the area. John Richardson, […]

County Commissioners Look To Fill Chapel Hill Planning Commission

The Board of Orange County Commissioners appoints representatives to fill two positions on the Chapel Hill Planning Commission. The planning commission develops a plan for orderly growth and development in Chapel Hill. It reviews plans for buildings, projects and facilities in the town. Volunteers must reside in the Joint Planning Area or the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction […]

"Ephesus-Fordham" To Be Rebranded; Village Plaza Done In A Year

Developer Lee Perry says Village Plaza will be completed (and renamed) by next October.

Redevelopment Plan Could Push Out Eastgate BP

Chapel Hill could bid goodbye to East Gate BP if a new redevelopment plan is approved by town officials.

Chapel Hill Development: What's Working, What's Not?

It’s been a decade since Chapel Hill leaders began to push for more commercial growth to balance the tax base. But David Schwartz, co-founder of Chapel Hill Alliance for a Livable Town, says in that time, the town has failed to move away from residential development. “We cannot make up for a deficit in commercial […]

Residents Voice Concerns Over Ephesus-Fordham Development, Form-Based Code

Chapel Hill residents voiced concerns about the state of development in the Ephesus-Fordham district at Monday’s town council meeting.

›