Town Council plans to consolidate advisory boards

Developing in Chapel Hill is often an inefficient process, and the Chapel Hill Town Council is ready to do something about it.

The Chapel Hill Town Council discussed the proposal from the Council Committee on Boards and Commissions to revise the current 19 advisory boards at its meeting Monday.

The town of Chapel Hill plans to consolidate its advisory boards to simplify the process of approving town policies and ordinances.

The committee advised to form four revised boards and modify the current planning board, which has not been effective, said council member Gene Pease.

“The vast majority of people surveyed feel this system isn’t working,” said Pease.

The committee recommended establishing the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Board, the Housing Advisory Board and Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board. These new boards would be charged with carrying out the mission of the Chapel Hill 2020 theme, Pease said.

The committee also proposed eliminating the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Cemeteries Advisory Board, the Public Housing Program Advisory Board, the Sustainability Committee and the Transportation Board.

Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt emphasized that this phase of the advisory board restructuring only applies to the development planning processes of the town. He said the second phase focuses on other aspects of the work of advisory boards, including work on culture and recreation.

Pease said the proposed plan still needs work and he advised the council to postpone its decision on the advisory board restructure until Nov. 25.

“In no way, shape or form, do I think what we are presenting tonight is perfect,” Pease said. “We don’t know what the right answer is.”

Community members and some members of councils expressed concern that affordable housing might fall through the cracks in the new plan.

“We feel the greatest challenge in achieving (housing for everyone) is achieving housing for lower income residents,” said Jamie Rohe, homeless programs coordinator for Orange County.

Councilman Matt Czajkowski said limiting the Housing Advisory Board to apply only to affordable housing would neglect some residents who live in houses that are not considered affordable housing.

The proposed plan created champion positions on some advisory boards. The champion also must either have previous experience serving on an advisory board or have experience in the area.

“We don’t know if it will work, but we want to try it,” Pease said.

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