Town Aids UNC Development Plan

In mid-July, Chapel Hill Planning Director Roger Waldon gave his staff's approval of the first projects laid out in the University's Master Plan.

The Chapel Hill Town Council gave the first part of the plan -- the Development Plan -- its stamp of approval last October, although specific blueprints were not reviewed by town staff until just prior to construction.

The first projects in line are a $10 million dollar renovation of Alexander, Connor and Winston residence halls and the $64 million construction of the Ramshead project, which will house a cafeteria, a parking deck and student recreational facilities.

Both construction projects already have begun.

These projects will be the campus community's first introduction to the University's Master Plan, a document town officials and University administrators labored over for more than a year.

Waldon said the town has a regulatory role in the process now that construction is beginning.

"Each building plan goes through a three-week review process," Waldon said.

"State law mandates that any building built on state property must also meet local codes.

"We have engineers that look at the blueprints and make sure the codes are being met. The planning board then considers the recommendations and issues a site planning permit."

Once the town gave its approval to the Development Plan, it accepted a position of minimal control over the proceedings to follow, said Richard Ducker, an professor at UNC's School of Government.

"The town has the right to review the blueprints, make suggestions and raise concerns over the effect to the community, but they essentially cannot halt construction."

The town and University's relationship has become a hot topic in recent years as the University looks to expand its boundaries and facilities while the town looks to spare its residents some of the ills associated with being a college town.

The University has drawn fire from some businesses and residents for purchasing property in the downtown business district.

This can reduce retail floor space and take the buildings off the town's tax rolls.

Robert Humphreys, executive director of Chapel Hill's Downtown Commission, has said he isn't concerned so much about the University buying property in the business district.

He said he is more concerned about the loss of store front locations, which means fewer businesses move to the area.

But for now, UNC has a green light to begin several other projects in coming months.

Among those are the $87 million science complex that will house lecture classrooms, student laboratories and an astronomy observation deck.

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