NEWS

University shifts plans for grounds unit because of neighbor concerns, chancellor announces

CHAPEL HILL -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill plans to permanently house its grounds department on the Carolina North tract instead of off Estes Drive Extension adjacent to the Elkin Hills neighborhood, Chancellor James Moeser said today (March 19.)

"The university is committed to positive town-gown relations and being a good neighbor," Moeser said. "Changing our plans for the grounds department reflects that commitment.

"We have listened to the Elkins Hills neighbors and, after careful internal review over several months, we developed an alternative for the location of grounds that respects the neighborhood while also balancing the university’s operational needs," the chancellor said. "We don’t take a decision that commits future land uses at Carolina North lightly, but in this case it’s the right thing to do from both a community and campus perspective."

The grounds department must move from its current south campus location off Mason Farm Road to make room for a planned genetic medicine building that is part of the campuswide genomics initiative as well as for other infrastructure uses designated in the campus master plan.

Originally, the grounds department was to be included in new construction planned on a triangular nearly 24-acre university-owned tract south of Estes Drive Extension and west of the Horace Williams Airport.

Now the university will pursue plans to build a general-purpose office and research building on that site that would be consistent with Town of Chapel Hill current zoning requirements and the Elkin Hills neighbors’ wishes, Moeser said. Printing services also would be moved from south campus to the same site, as originally planned.

Meanwhile, the grounds department will be temporarily moved to the UNC-owned airport, where the existing airplane hangars will be used to store heavy equipment and vehicles. The change will

not affect current air operations for the N.C. Area Health Education Centers Program, the statewide outreach effort headquartered at the School of Medicine. Temporary modular trailers would be used to accommodate administrative functions for grounds

Grounds will be moved to a permanent site on the university’s Carolina North tract that will be selected later.

No exact timetable has been set for moving grounds to the airport, but it likely would be this summer at the earliest, officials said. The date depends on the pace and progress of plans for several other construction projects on south campus.

Putting the temporary plan in place will require moving approximately 10 privately owned airplanes still based at the airport that use the existing hangars, officials said. Those aircraft could move to outside tie-down storage spaces if the owners desired. The university plans to close the airport in January 2005.

The permanent plans for grounds at Carolina North would require town zoning approval, as would other development plans for the tract.

The location changes for grounds will be factored into the discussions of university-appointed advisory groups that include community representatives who began meetings in February aimed at making recommendations for Carolina North. Campus leaders have articulated a vision for that property as a living-learning community that can expand the university’s multiple missions, create diverse partnerships and connect to and enhance both the main campus and neighboring communities.

Earlier this month, Moeser told Employee Forum members about plans to name the permanent new home for the grounds department for William J. Hubbard, the university’s first 50-year employee who still serves the campus as an expert tree surgeon.

The grounds department’s 70 employees are responsible for the maintenance of all lawns, landscapes and trees on the historic Carolina campus and other university property.

- 30 -

Contacts: Nancy Davis, 962-2011, or Mike McFarland, 962-8593