Developer compromises plan

A local developer agreed to compromise with the Chapel Hill Town Council to make her plans for a multi-family development more environmentally friendly.

Carol Ann Zinn, co-founder of Zinn Design Build, is entitled to build 17 single-family homes on the 5.8-acre piece of land on N.C. 54 near Little Creek, which feeds into Jordan Lake.

Zinn decided to wait on the council’s rezoning decision so that she can build 87 mid-price condominiums at the lake rather than 17 single-family homes priced in the millions.

“There is a need for more mid-price range housing in Chapel Hill. We think Ayden Court will satisfy that need,” Zinn said.

Council member Penny Rich said she thinks it is a smart move for Zinn to build condominiums.

“We do not have enough land for more single-family developments. The new building plan in Chapel Hill is all about density.”

Multi-family developments are also touted as more environmentally friendly.

“The main argument is single-family developments take up a lot more space and use more of nature’s resources,” said Pete Andrews, a UNC professor of environmental policy.

The federal government placed a 100-foot boundary near the lake to help protect them from pollution — but portions of the proposed development are very close to that line.

“Any kind of development increases runoff because it substitutes absorbable ground for hard surfaces,” Andrews said.

“The more runoff you have, the more oil, fertilizer and pesticides you have that can potentially go into the water source.”

The council shot down Zinn’s original plan in 2007 due to concerns about stormwater runoff and erosion.

“This is a very sensitive piece of land because of the stormwater issues. My big concern is that the stormwater be done right,” Rich said.

Zinn redesigned the project by pulling the buildings further away from the lake, narrowing the streets and tightening the sides of the development.

The council’s rules prohibited Zinn from introducing the new plans for consideration for a year, and Zinn only just finished the redesign.

This is the first time in more than a decade where a project has come back before the council, Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said in a June meeting.

Zinn said she is not losing any money while waiting for the project to be approved.

She said she hopes the council will approve the plan by spring.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.