Town looks at facility location
Officials to talk satellite innovation site
By: Kayla Carrick, City Editor
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: City
University officials and the developer they've hired to create an innovation center will receive feedback today on the plan's design.
The town's Community Design Commission will meet to inspect the proposal for the facility, planned for a site near the main corridor for UNC's planned Carolina North.
But the potential location didn't sit well with the Chapel Hill Town Council, which eventually will approve finalized plans.
During an emotionally charged meeting one week ago, council members told University officials they wanted to see plans for the entire Carolina North project at once, not in bits and pieces.
But Bruce Runberg, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and construction, said the University always has expressed its intent to build the innovation center earlier than the rest of the satellite campus. Runberg said he's looking forward to the meeting, despite recent town-gown tension because the group always has provided helpful design feedback.
"We're expecting that we'll get some good feedback and that it won't be a part of the political process, per se, but rather just good objective commentary," Runberg said.
Cam Hill, the town council liaison to the Community Design Commission, said today's session likely will address the center's proximity to Horace Williams Airport, nearby chemical waste sites and the transit master plan.
More than one year ago, the council authorized town staff to hire consultants to form a transit master plan. The plan, which is in the works, will focus on the transportation needs for the Carolina North development.
Hill and members of Neighborhoods for Responsible Growth - a grassroots organization that supports development while preserving character - worry that setting up shop on the Carolina North land before that study is complete will negate its purpose.
"It's like closing the barn door before the horse is out," said Michael Collins, co-chairman of Neighborhoods for Responsible Growth. "It's important for all of us to feel comfortable and trust the process, and I think it's kind of difficult to do that now."
The town's Community Design Commission will meet to inspect the proposal for the facility, planned for a site near the main corridor for UNC's planned Carolina North.
But the potential location didn't sit well with the Chapel Hill Town Council, which eventually will approve finalized plans.
During an emotionally charged meeting one week ago, council members told University officials they wanted to see plans for the entire Carolina North project at once, not in bits and pieces.
But Bruce Runberg, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and construction, said the University always has expressed its intent to build the innovation center earlier than the rest of the satellite campus. Runberg said he's looking forward to the meeting, despite recent town-gown tension because the group always has provided helpful design feedback.
"We're expecting that we'll get some good feedback and that it won't be a part of the political process, per se, but rather just good objective commentary," Runberg said.
Cam Hill, the town council liaison to the Community Design Commission, said today's session likely will address the center's proximity to Horace Williams Airport, nearby chemical waste sites and the transit master plan.
More than one year ago, the council authorized town staff to hire consultants to form a transit master plan. The plan, which is in the works, will focus on the transportation needs for the Carolina North development.
Hill and members of Neighborhoods for Responsible Growth - a grassroots organization that supports development while preserving character - worry that setting up shop on the Carolina North land before that study is complete will negate its purpose.
"It's like closing the barn door before the horse is out," said Michael Collins, co-chairman of Neighborhoods for Responsible Growth. "It's important for all of us to feel comfortable and trust the process, and I think it's kind of difficult to do that now."
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