By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees got their first look at the latest plans for Carolina North last Thursday and approved a new site for a proposed Innovations Center, which would become the first project at the school’s new campus.
Trustees also voted in Roger Perry of Chapel Hill as chair of the board, the chief governing body of the university. Perry said he sees Carolina North as critical to the school’s mission and urged that the project move forward.
Chancellor James Moeser said the plan was a significant step for the university and that the back-and-forth dialogue generated by the school’s community meetings has been helpful.
“It reflects months of vigorous discussion within the university and vigorous dialogue and feedback from the local community,†Moeser said. He called the project critical because it creates a place for the university to expand research.
“I believe that the future success of this university hangs on this question of Carolina North and its development,†Moeser said.
After a walk-through of a 50-year scenario for the nearly 1,000-acre site and a 15-year first phase that calls for roughly 2.5 million square feet of development, trustees questioned Carolina North executive director Jack Evans about transit plans and housing at the site.
Trustee Nelson Schwab III said he would like to see more housing considered. The first phase anticipates roughly 500,000 square feet of housing. But Schwab suggested that number may be low and that the need for housing for not only employees at the site but also the general community should be considered.
Evans said the plan for now is to allow the market to dictate the housing.
Trustees also asked whether the rail line that runs parallel with Seawell School Road has been considered. Perry said he believes that while it may be likely to use the line in the future, “rubber tire†transit rather than rail is a more likely use for the rail right-of-way.
At Evans request, trustees agreed to change their timeframe for submitting a plan to the town.
Evan said that plans to put a detailed plan before trustees at their Sept. 26 meeting and then submit a plan to the town on Oct. 1 might be difficult if the board wants to change any items.
Trustees revised their timeline to give planners until Oct. 31 to submit a plan to the town.