Concept Plan Submitted for Campus Projects
On March 15, the University submitted an application to the
Town of Chapel Hill for concept plan review of 14 projects.
This is the first step in the application process for modification
of the University’s Development Plan.
Background on the Development Plan
The development plan is tied to UNC’s campus master plan,
the guide for campus development over the next several decades.
UNC trustees approved the plan in 2001 after three years of
work involving the university, consultants, town representatives
and the local and campus community.
Later joint town-gown discussion helped create a new zoning
ordinance and category as well as the rezoning of the main
campus to OI-4 (Office-Institutional 4). The modification
process for adding and revising projects was spelled out as
part of the rezoning deliberations and is included in the
town’s land use-management ordinance.
This proposal would be the third modification to UNC’s development
plan since it was approved in 2001 by the Chapel Hill Town
Council. UNC’s development plan included details for an initial
phase of new construction for the university and health-care
system and specific strategies to mitigate community impacts
in areas such as traffic, stormwater and noise. The first
modification was approved in June and August 2003 following
work by a joint town-gown panel. The second modification was
approved in 2004.
In 2005, joint town-gown discussions led to several changes
to the OI-4 zoning regulations including concept plan review
prior to the formal application of the development plan modification.
Concept Plan Application
The concept plan application consists of a cover letter, list
of projects and three maps.
The first map is simply a snapshot of projects previously
approved in the 2001 Development Plan and its subsequent modifications
#1 and #2.
The second map (Map 1) illustrates these same projects, highlighting
the ones that have received site development permits from
the Town.
The last map (Map 2) highlights the projects submitted for
concept plan review.
