ABOUT THE SOUTH 15-501 DISCUSSION GROUP
After the Future Focus workshops in February, both town staff and several 2020 stakeholders suggested that a parallel discussion group should help develop a land use recommendation on the 15/501 South corridor for the new Comprehensive Plan. The work group recommended a policy map and general principles to the Chapel Hill 2020 process.
Please use this email address for comments: compplan@townofchapelhill.org USE subject line: South 15-501Document Links
- First round of comments from the discussion group is posted here.
- A few more responses are here Copy of 15-501 survey responses3
- Charge, Schedule and Composition
- Information on the Area
- 1992 Southern Small Area Plan
- High Res Large 501 South Basemap
I am interested in saving as much land as possible and maintaining natural water resources. I am in favor of the Obey Creek development project as a community performing arts center. The footprint of land used is less than all other development choices and the park and ride lot across the street could be used during evenings and weekends. Having a state of the art 1000 seat theater could truly be an asset to the Town of Chapel Hill.
I also am in favor of the Parks and Recreation Department constructing indoor Tennis courts. We have none except for one private club in town. I know money is tight, but can we at least write it into the Comp Plan as a desired goal.
I’m unable to attend the meetings, but I’d like to provide some input to the South 15-501 Discussion Group. While the content of any development in my home community is of interest to me, I am particularly concerned with the design of new development. All new development along South 15-501 should adhere to form-based codes, ones that promote contiguous–and safe–pedestrian and bicycle traffic, that provide public space condusive for face-to-face interaction, and that are massed at a human scale. “Mixed-use” is a popular term now for development that combines commercial and residential functions. I feel this is a trend in the right direction. However, “mixed-use” is only an antidote to sprawl if it connects to exisiting development and facilitates community-building by providing spaces for human interaction and human-powered transportation.
I note today (4/16/2012) that the publicized mission of the 15-501 South discussion group is still a land-use recommendation for the parcels indicated in the document link labelled High Res Large 501 South Base Map, which shows Obey Creek Ventures’ property across from Southern Village.