Town Council Gives Nod to Next Step in Rizzo Project

The center, located in the Meadowmont mixed-use development off N.C. 54, is owned and operated by UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School. The business school primarily uses the building for social functions.

On Feb. 11, the council tabled discussion of a petition sent by the University requesting an expedited review of a special-use permit for additions to the conference center. Bruce Runberg, associate vice chancellor for facilities services, said the town's approval will speed up the process for reviewing the Rizzo Center project, which might start as early as June.

Runberg said he is pleased with the decision because it prevents the project from being delayed by a de facto moratorium on new development that the town passed Jan. 28.

He said the council now likely will consider whether to grant a special-use permit some time in the next six months. Without the expedited review, it could have been as long as a year before the council considered whether to grant the special-use permit, Runberg said.

"This helps immensely for the construction of two additions to the Rizzo Center," he said. "If it was not passed, construction would be delayed about five months."

The Rizzo Center project is one of four projects that gained approval from the Town Council Planning Board before Jan. 28 and was given the opportunity to move forward before the town finishes revamping its development ordinance, which officials plan to do by September.

Many council members said allowing the project to go forward is logical. "There is no reason to delay it any longer," said council member Mark Kleinschmidt. "We are placing it under expedited review because it is a worthy project, and approval was only delayed due to procedural problems."

Although the council has approved overall plans for the Rizzo Center, the University must get the town approval before starting construction. The total tab for the Rizzo Center project is $18 million, but Runberg said the cost of delaying the additions could be about $60,000 a month.

University officials and council members agree that the additions to the conference center will aid the University as well as the town.

But more importantly, the council's approval of the expedited review for the Rizzo Center project shows a working relationship exists between the Town Council and the University, council member Pat Evans said.

"This decision shows our cooperation with the University," she said. "It always helps to have a helping hand."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.