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The Daily Tar Heel
Town Talk

Town council hears medical building proposal modifications

Chapel Hill Town Council held its business meeting, discussing the building of a tri-city medical building on Barbee Chapel Road among other items. 

The building has been in discussion for several months and modifications were brought to the council's attention. After hearing the evidence, the council agreed to recess until the public hearing on Nov. 23.

Gene Poveromo, Chapel Hill development manager, brought the evidence forward, and said the proposed modifications would increase the original floor area of the building from 19,200 sq. ft. to 60,000 sq. ft. as well as going from 56 parking spaces to 240 parking spaces. The building would also no longer be an office-commercial space and instead just be an office space.

"The applicant's plan is actually designed to accommodate the proposal (of the light rail) that is going along the northern edge of the site," Poveromo said.

He also said if the light rail were to run along the southern edge of the site, the applicant would have to change storm water plans to accommodate the proposed light rail path.

Dan Jewell, applicant, said the building would be compact and parking would be below ground rather than surface level parking which would greatly decrease the building's impervious surface. 

"It's a very compact building footprint," Jewell said. "We are able to fit all of the square footage and all of the parking on the site and still, we are less than 45 precent impervious surface." 

He said this does come at a higher cost, but the developers wanted to do this based on recommendations they had received in previous planning stages. 

Eugene Rossitch, UNC alumnus, went in front of the council to say the proposed site of the tri-city building would be getting rid of an eyesore at the corner of Barbee Chapel Road. He also said it would be nice if there were sidewalks along that road because he often sees students walking in that area.   

"I'm a resident and I'm eager to have something happen," Rossitch said.

The council decided to move the date of the public hearing on the proposed modifications and special use permit from Jan. 11 to Nov. 23. 

Council member Maria Palmer said they should move it up to clear the backlog of agenda items as well as more easily incorporate the new council members and mayor.

"I know the learning curve when you come on the council is steep," Palmer said. "I think the more things we can use our collective knowledge, accumulative expertise for the last two years to approve before (the new council) the better service we would have provided."

Notable:

Launch Chapel Hill, which was started in 2013, was awarded for its work with start-ups in Chapel Hill. Recently, Launch Chapel Hill was named number four on the list of the top five university accelerators in North America, with 37 of the 49 businesses started through the program still in operation. The council decided to unanimously extend a performance agreement with them for another three years. 

Quotable: 

"I'm not gonna be the mayor, but I know that's not gonna happen. But now we have to – I'm just frustrated. I wouldn't ordinarily say this but who cares now?" said Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt, referring to residents' concerns about new bus lanes along South Columbia Street. 

@brookenf1

city@dailytarheel.com

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