>> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE DURHAM PLANNING COMMISSION. THE MEMBERS OF THE DURHAM PLANNING COMMISSION HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERERS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE EMPHASIZE THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON ANY ISSUE BEFORE US TONIGHT.
WHILE THIS MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED IN-PERSON, IT'S ALSO ACCESSIBLE USING THE ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING PLATFORM. IN THAT PLATFORM, PUBLIC PARTICIPANTS DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TALK OR BE SEEN ON VIDEO BY DEFAULT. TO MAINTAIN MEETING DECORUM AND A DISCERNIBLE RECORD OF THE MEETING, CHAT FUNCTION HAS BEEN DISABLED. FOR THOSE ATTENDING IN-PERSON, IF YOU PLAN TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT, PLEASE GO TO THE TABLE TO MY LEFT TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK. WHEN SPEAKING, PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME AND ADDRESS CLEARLY WHEN YOU COME TO THE PODIUM. AND PLEASE SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. IF YOU'RE ATTENDING THE MEETING VIRTUALLY, YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO SPEAK AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. IF YOU HAVE PREREGISTERED, YOUR NAME WILL BE CALLED FOR YOU TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS JUST LIKE IN AN IN-PERSON PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU MAY ALSO CALL IN DURING THE MEETING TONIGHT BY DIALING 1-301-715-8592. IF YOU CALL IN DURING THE MEETING, YOU WILL NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE PARTICULAR PUBLIC HEARING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN STARTS. AFTER ALL PREREGISTERED SPEAKERS SHARE THEIR COMMENTS, I'LL ASK IF THERE IS ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK. AT THAT POINT, YOU WILL NEED TO DIGITALLY RAISE YOUR HAND BY PRESSING *9 ON YOUR PHONE AND WHEN RECOGNIZED, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BEFORE MAKING YOUR COMMENTS.
THE APPLICANT HAS TOTAL OF TEN MINUTES FOR PRESENTATION. EACH SPEAKER AFTER THE APPLICANT HAS TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE SOME CONTESTED CASES TONIGHT AND OUR TIME IS LIMITED THIS EVENING. THEREFORE, WE ARE ASKING EACH COMMISSIONER TO TAKE FIVE MINUTES FOR Q&A AND UH YOU WILL ONLY BE CALLED ON A SECOND TIME TO SPEAK AFTER ALL COMMISSIONERS HAVE CHOSEN TO SPEAK FOR THE FIRST TIME.
PLEASE HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS ORGANIZED. COMMISSIONERS, AS A REMINDER, AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED, YOU OBTAIN THE FLOOR BY BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR. COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU SHARE THIS TIME WITH YOUR FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. KEEP YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS PITHY AND PLEASE DON'T REPEAT TOPICS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE. THE TIME TO MAKE ALL PUBLIC
STATEMENTS IS BEFORE MOTIONS ARE MADE. ONCE A MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR, FURTHER DISCUSSION REGARDING THAT MOTION MUST COME AFTER A SECOND. ALL MOTIONS ARE STATED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, SO IF A MOTION FAILS OR TIES, THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR DENIAL. COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU'RE NOT READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A CASE, PLEASE INDICATE AS SUCH WHEN QUESTIONED.
FINALLY, I ASK EVERYONE HERE TO AND ON THE ZOOM: COMMISSIONER MEMBERS, STAFF, AND PUBLIC TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL MANNER. IF SOMEONE FAILS TO ACT IN THAT MANNER, THE CHAIR WILL ASK THE OFFENDING PERSON OR PERSONS TO BE MUTED ON THE ZOOM OR LEAVE THE MEETING UNTIL SUCH TIME THEY REGAIN PERSONAL CONTROL. IF DECORUM FAILS TO BE RESTORED, THE CHAIR WILL RECESS THE MEETING UNTIL A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO ACT RESPECTFUL AND COURTEOUS IS OBSERVED.
AFTER THE CASE YOU ARE HERE FOR, WHEN IT ENDS, PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND LEAVE THIS ROOM QUIETLY UNTIL YOU HAVE EXITED TO HAVE YOUR POST-CASE DISCUSSIONS OUT IN THAT HALLWAY WITH THE DOOR CLOSED BECAUSE THE COMMISSION STILL HAS BUSINESS TO CONTINUE ON ITS REMAINING AGENDA. THANK YOU. MAY WE HAVE THE ROLL CALL PLEASE? [ROLL CALL].
>> WE'VE ESTABLISHED QUORUM. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE CASE Z2400037, 401 EAST LAKEWOOD AVENUE TO NMBER TWO ON THE AGENDA COMING AFTER CASE Z2400022, DURHAM RESCUE MISSION EAST MAIN STREET. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT? NEXT ON THE AGENDA, THE APPROVAL OF THE O MINUTES AND CONSISTENCY STATEMENTS. ITEM FOUR ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AND CONSISTENCY STATEMENTS FROM THE MARCH 11, 2025 MEETING.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> SO MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY
COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT AND SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR CHAGARIS TO APPROVE MINUTES AND CONSISTENCY STATEMENTS FROM MARCH 11, 2025 MEETING. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE MOVING INTO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR ZONING MAP CHANGES. ITEM 5. 1.
Z2400022 DURHAM RESCUE MISSION EAST MAIN STREET. MAY WE HAVE THE STAFF REPORT PLEASE. >> ANDY LESTER WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HERE. I'M HERE TO PRESENT Z2400022 - DURHAM RESCUE MISSION EAST MAIN STREET. THIS IS A CASE THAT WAS CONTINUED FROM MARCH 11, 2025 PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING IN ORDER FOR APPLICANT TO CONDUCT SECOND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDELINES. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT ALL PLANNING DEPARTMENT HEARING ITEMS HAVE BEEN ADVERTISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW, AND
AFFIDAVITS ARE ON FILE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SUMMARIZES THE APPLICATION. 52 ACRES, LOCATED BETWEEN SOUTH ALSTON AVENUE AND SOUTH HOLMAN STREET, AND ADJACENT TO EAST MAIN STREET AND ANGIER AVENUE. THE CURRENT ZONING IS INDUSTRIAL LIGHT (IL), RESIDENTIAL URBAN-5(2), RESIDENTIAL URBAN-MULTIFAMILY (RU-M), AND COMMERCIAL GENERAL (CG). THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO CHANGE THIS DESIGNATION TO INDUSTRIAL LIGHT WITH A TEXTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN IL(D)) TO ALLOW A RANGE OF INDUSTRIAL USES EXCEPT FOR DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITIES, VEHICLE SERVICE - MAJOR, VEHICLE SERVICE - MINOR, CAR WASH, RAIL AND BUS TERMINAL, HOSPITAL, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, APICULTURE, COMMERCIAL CROP PRODUCTION, FORESTRY, TRANSFER STATION, PASSENGER TERMINAL, JUNK YARD, VEHICLE SALES AND LEASING, PAYDAY LENDERS, NIGHT CLUB OR BAR, FIRING RANGE-INDOOR, ADULT ESTABLISHMENT, CEMETERY, MAUSOLEUMS, COLUMBARIA, MEMORIAL
GARDENS, GAS STATIONS, DRIVE-IN THEATERS, COMMERCIAL PARKING, ALL SELF-SERVICE STORAGE, MANUFACTURED HOME SALES, VEHICLE RENTALS, WRECKING AND SALVAGE YARDS AND RECYCLING CENTERS. THE EXISTING ZONING IS INDUSTRIAL LIGHT, RESIDENTIAL URBAN-5(2), RESIDENTIAL URBAN MULTIFAMILY, AND COMMERCIAL GENERAL. THE PROPOSED ZONING IS LIGHT INDUSTRIAL WITH A TEXTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. SURROUNDING THE SITE IS RU-5(2), IL, RS-M, RUM.
THE AERIAL MAP SHOWS THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE PROJECT. TO THE NORTH IS DURHAM RESCUE MISSION, THE WEST ACROSS ALSTON AVENUE IS A MIX OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, TO THE SOUTH IS A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES, TO THE EAST IS A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED TRANSIT OPPORTUNITY AREA (TOA) ON THE PLACE TYPE MAP. THE PROPOSED ZONING WAS
DETERMINED CONSISTENT WITH THE DESIGNATED PLACE TYPE AS THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW CIVIC, COMMERCIAL AND SOME INDUSTRIAL USES WHILE LIMITING INDUSTRIAL AND AUTO-ORIENTED USES THAT HAVE A GREATER PROPENSITY FOR NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES. THE FOLLOWING IS SUMMARY OF ALL THE XHIMS. -- COMMITMENTS. AS STATED THE PROHIBITION OF THE MANY USES STATED PREVIOUSLY.
ALSO 10-FOOT SIDEWALKS ALONG THE PROPERTY FRONTAGE OF ANGIER AVENUE AND EAST MAIN STREET. STRIPING FOR HIGH VISIBILITY CROSSWALKS AT EAST MAIN STREET AND SOUTH HOLMAN STREET; AND SOUTH HOLMAN STREET AND ANGIER AVENUE. CONSTRUCT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ACCESSIBLE RAMPS AS REQUIRED BY NCDOT. NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WERE HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING GUIDELINES ON APRIL 28, 2024, AND APRIL 3, 2025.
16 COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED BY STAFF IN RELATION TO THIS CASE ON THE DURHAM REZONING EXPLORER. ALL COMMENT IS IN OPPOSITION. THE PROPOSAL IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PLACE-TYPE MAP DESIGNATION OF TRANSIT OPPORTUNITY AREA (TOA) AS THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW CIVIC, COMMERCIAL AND SOME INDUSTRIAL USES WHILE LIMITING INDUSTRIAL AND AUTO-ORIENTED USES THAT HAVE A GREATER PROPENSITY FOR NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES. THE PROPOSAL IS CONSISTENT WITH 14 OF 21 APPLICABLE COMPREHENSIVE POLICIES.
THANK YOU. STAFF AND THE APPLICANT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR IS OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MAY THE APPLICANT PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M SARAH VAN EVERY, SENIOR PLANNER WITH McADAMS ON MERIDIAN PARKWAY IN DURHAM. HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENT,
DURHAM RESCUE MISSION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM NEIGHBORS AND THEIR CONCERNS THIS EVENING. WHILE I CANNOT SPEAK TO WHAT YOU MAY HEAR BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION T THE REQUEST MEETS THE CONSISTENCY AND THE PLAN -- AND I'LL OUTLINE THAT FOR YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.
THAT WAS GREAT. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COVERING THE BASIS OF EVERYTHING. AS NOTED, THIS IS A 15-PARCEL REQUEST TO INDUSTRIAL LIGHT. I WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A TEXTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN BROUGHT TO YOU BY DURHAM RESCUE MISSION AND THAT IS NOT BY ACCIDENT. DURHAM RESCUE MISSION IS A NON-PROFIT BASED IN DURHAM TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THOSE IN NEED. THE TEXTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS AN OPTION, UM, THAT ALLOWS FOR A BARRIER REDUCTION TO ENTRY BY REDUCING BURDEN ON ANY ONE INTI
PROE PROCEED WITH REZONING PETITION. THE ZONING REQUEST IS TO ALLOW FOR TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND RETAIL SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY BY BRINGING THESE 15 PARCELS INTO ONE ZONING WITH THE SAME ZONING CONDITIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, PREDICTABILITY IS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. UM, I THINK AS NOTED, UM, THE ZONING CONDITIONS INCLUDE THE PROHIBITED USES, SO AS TO, UM -- APOLOGIZE IF I TOUCHED SOMETHING UP UH HERE -- UM, TO LIMIT THE VEHICULAR AND AUTO-DEPENDENT USES THERE IS 10-FOOT SIDEWALK COMMITMENT ALONG ANGIER AND EAST MAIN AND CROSSWALKS TO PROVIDE THOSE CONNECTIONS WHRE NEEDED AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO DOT AND CITY APPROVAL. AGAIN, BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY UH QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU. >> TANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO CALL EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. FIRST WE HAVE ANGEL SOZEER.
NOT HERE? OH, GAVE ME THE WRONG ONE. [LAUGHTER] NO WONDER IT WAS SILENT. ROB TART.
APPLICANT? OKAY. TONY QUINN? ALSO WITH THE APPLICANT.
CHLOE IS THE APPLICANT AS WELL? NEIGHBOR? STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> SURE.
THANK YOU. CHLOE, 2111 EAST MAIN STREET. I HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE, I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION. PARENT OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW EXACTLY HOW Y'ALL MAKE YOUR DECISIONS, UH BUT WHAT I HOPE IS THAT REZONING IS A PRIVILEGE, NT A RIGHT. IT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN IT REALLY BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY. HOPEFULLY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OR DURHAM IN GENERAL. AS A NEIGHBOR OF THE DURHAM RESCUE MISSION FOR MANY YEARS, UM, I'M VERY SERIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT THIS DOES NOT BEEFI OUR
LOCAL COMMUNITY. UM, FOR ONE THING, AS THEY SAID, IT WAS A TEXTUAL DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S ALMOST NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM THIS. MEANWHILE THEY'RE GOING TO BE DESTROYING OR REMOVING SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL LOTS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED A LOT OF IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN GENERAL, AND IN EAST DURHAM SPECIFIC.
THEY -- WE DIDN'T -- WE'RE NOT WELL ORGANIZED, LIKE I SEE ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD HERE, I WE WERE BETTER ORGANIZED TO RESPOND TO THIS. I GUESS THERE'S PUBLIC NOTICE BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS COMING UNTIL ABOUT A MOTH AGO. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ENTRY INTO OUR COMMUNITY -- ALSTON AVENUE AND MAIN AND ANGIER AVENUE ENTRANCE INTO EAST DURHAM. THAT IS OUR FRONT DOOR. THIS REALLY UH COULD IMPACT US A LOT DEPENDING ON HOW THEY DEVELOP IT P. THEY SA TRAINING CENTER.
I'M PARTICULARLY WORRIED ABOUT THAT, THEIR MAIN SITE ON THE CORNER OF MAIN ALSTON, THEY CALL IT TRAINING CENTER, THAT'S HOW THEY BUILT COMMERCIAL DORMS BUT IT LOOKS LIKE DRUG CENTER AND HOMELESS SERVICES FACILITY. I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GET HELP, BUT CONCENTRATING SO MUCH OF THAT IN ONE AREA CAN BE A PROBLEM. THERE ALSO CAN CAN BE HOMELESS CENTER AND DROP-INSERVICES ALLOWED UNDER THE ZONING BY-RIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT THE PLAN.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS MIMI KESSLER. >> GOOD EVENING. MIMI KESSLER, I LIVE IN DURHAM. I READ THIS CASE AND I CAN
CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO CREATE IN THIS SPACE. A POOL HALL, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT ISN'T LISTED. I MEAN, WHAT ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO PUT THERE? SO, I'M OPPOSED TO THIS BECAUSE THEY AREN'T TELLING US WHAT THEY WANT TO BUILD.
PLEASE VOTE NO. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE IDEAL ORTEZ ON THE ZOOM. GO AHEAD, E WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IDEAL OR TEZ AND I LIVE A FEW UH BLOCKS AWAY FROM THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY. I WOULD LOVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO NOT SUPPORT THIS. THIS IS A GATEWAY TO OUR COMMUNITY. NOT KNOWING WHAT IS GOING TO BE THERE AND THERE BEING SO LITTLE DETAIL FOR THE PARTICULAR PLANS THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE IS A
LITTLE BIT OF A RED FLAG. THE RESCUE MISSION AS LONG AS IT HAS BEEN THERE HAS NEER COOPERATED WITH NEIGHBORS, HAS NEVER REALLY BEEN PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN BEING FORTH COMING AND ONLY DOING THE BARE MINIMUM WHICH LAW ALLOWS THEM TO DO BUT I WOULD HAVE HOPED THEIR VALUES WOULD HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO BE MORE NEIGHBORLY AND FORTH COMING WITH THOSE OF US WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO PUT AT THIS INTERSECTION. PLEASE VOTE NO. >> PATICIA PATION.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. >> SORY, MA'AM, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> SORRY. LETICIA ON CAROLINA AVENUE. I I VOTE NO AGAINST THIS AS MANY
HAVE ALREADY STATED THEY'RE NOT TELLING US EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE BUILDING AT THAT INTERSECTION THEY'RE SAYING TRAINING CENTER, BUT, YEAH, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S BEING BUILT. I FEEL LIKE THEY FOCUS MORE ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING AND NOT BUILD IT, SO I VOTE NO. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE GALLERY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE? IT'S THE DURHAM RESCUE MISSION. YOU GO UP TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADRESS. >> ALL RIGHT. BRANDON LOVE, 3515 ARLINGTON STREET, DURHAM. NATIVE, AND I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO
VOTE NO TO THE PLANS OF CHANGING THAT INTERSECTION. UM, [INDISCERNIBLE], I BELIEVE THOSE SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE SOME IDEAS AROUND ABOUT UH HOW THAT SPACE CAN BE USED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH, SO VOTE NO FOR THAT REASON, UM, THAT BETTER THINGS TO PURSUE THERE. THANK YOU FOR TE TIME.
>> IS THERE ANONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? IS TERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ZOOM THAT HAS NOT SPOKEN? NO? ALL RIGHT. THE APPLICANT CAN COME BACK UP AND WITH YOUR REMAINING TIME LEFT AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD.
>> THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO ADDRESS TWO OF THE CONCERNS. ONE IN REGARD TO LOSS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY; THERE ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REZONING, BUT THERE ARE INTENTS AND PLANS TO MOVE THE RESIDENTIAL HOMES TO OTHER PARCELS WITHIN DURHAM CITY LIMITS. SO THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN, AGAIN, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE TEXTUAL ZONING; THAT IS A SEPARATE PETITION PROCESS. UM, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, IS, IS PART OF THE OVERALL PROCESS, AND THEN LET ME LEAD TO THAT SECOND, UM, QUESTION IN ADDRESSING THE CONCERN OF WHAT IS TO COME. SO WITH A TEXTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN REZONING, WHAT THAT ALLOWS IS SIMPLY FOR THE TEXT FOR THE REZONING FOR THE LAND USE CHANGE AND ANY ZONING CONDITIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN PROFFERED WITH IT. FOR THE THREE THAT E WE HAVE THAT LIMIT THE USES THAT ARE NOT CONSISTENT, UM, WITH THE AREA AS WELL AS IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION, UM, IMPROVEMENTS OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS REQUIRED BY THE UDO P. SO WHAT THAT ALLOWS THE NON-PROFIT APPLICANT TO DO IS TO ESSENTIALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ZONING AND THE LAND USE, AND THEN IF THAT IS APPROVED, TO THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LARGER INVESTMENT OF SITE PLAN, ENGINEERING, AND ADDITIONAL WORK. SO JUST TO HOPEFULLY PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT AS TO THE WHAT AND THE NEXT STEPS; BUT THAT IS NOT PART OF A TEXTUAL REZONING. SO IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, UM, ANYTHING OTHER THAN FOLLOWING THAT PROCEDURE AND THAT IS A ALLOWS ESSENTIALLY FOR THE, UM,
REDUCTION IN THE BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR THE REZONING PEITION, UM, JUST BY HAVING LESS ENGINEERED PLANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REZONING; WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS SOMETIMES WHAT FOLKS ARE USED TO SEEING, SO UM, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT CONTEXT, AS WELL AS ADDRESS THE RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK?
ALL RIGHT. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND WE ARE NOW OPEN FOR COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION AND QUESTION. COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT. >> THANKS, CHAIR. UM, JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING FOR CLARITY HERE. AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE LAND USE HERE, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
IS LAND USE POLICY, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LAND OWNER HERE, AND THEY CAN DO WHATEVER IS ALLOWED ON THIS LAND, AND SO AS YOU THINK ABOUT OPTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY, UM, WHAT HAPPENS ON THE LAND IS UP TO THE LAND OWNER, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DICTATE WHAT THEY UH CAN AND CAN'T DO ON THE LAND. WHAT WE CAN DO IS DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IL A AS A ZONING MAKES SENSE ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND. UM, ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY OR PART OF THIS PROPERTY IS ALREADY IL AND SO THE QUESTION BECOMES: DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO CONTINUE THE IL ZONING THROUGH OVER TO MAIN STREET? THAT'S REALLY THE QUESTION HERE. I UNDERSTAND ONE OF THE OTHER PART OF THE QUESTION HERE IS ACTUAL USE, AND SO WITHIN IL, WHAT WILL THE USE BE? IF THE APPLICANT IS WILLING TO
GIVE LITTLE MORE INFORMATION A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE USE -- THE LIST OF PROHIBITED ITEMS MAKES SENSE, I THINK IT'S CLEAR TO THE EXTENT YOU CAN PROVIDE MORE CLARITY AND DETAIL ON THE ACTUAL USE, I THINK THAT WILL HELP CLARIFY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HERE. >> GOOD EVENING, ROB TART, CEO OF DURHAM RESCUE MISSION. WITH THIS PROPERTY, WE INTEND TO BUILD A FACILITY THAT WILL WE'LL BE USING TO -- WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER WHERE WE HELP PEOPLE DEVELOP INTO THEIR OWN CAREER AND LEARN SKILLS, NOT JUST TRADE SKILLS BUT LIFE SKILLS TO HELP H THEM MVE FORWARD. IT'LL BE PART OF OUR CURRENT THRIFT STORE OPERATIONS THAT WE DO WHERE E WE CENTRALIZE IT OVER THERE WHERE WL BE HANDLING DONATIONS COMING THROUGH AND WE
TRAINING PEOPLE IN THOSE AND IN OTHER SKILLS. WE'LL BE P MOVING ALL OF OUR COUNSELING AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES INTO THIS BUILDING, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE ALL OF OUR EDUCATION, COUNSELING, TRAINING ALL INTO ONE BUILDING AND MAKE IT EFFICIENT FOR THE DURHAM RESCUE MISSION TO HELP HOMELESS COMMUNITY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? VICE CHAIR CHAGARIS.
>> WHERE ARE THOSE FACILITY CURRENTLY UH LOCATED? >> WELL, THY'RE KIND OF SPRAWLED OUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY RIGHT NOW UH. IT'S NOT CENTRALLY LOCATED. WE HAVE A LOT OF OFFICES RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET RIGHT NOW, AND THEN WE'VE GOT OUR, UM, FACILITY OVER ON SOUTH ALSTON AVENUE WE'LL BE MOVING THAT OPERATION OVER HERE CLOSER TO US, AND WE'RE ALREADY DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS WE'RE DOING NOW, WE'LL JUST BE DOING IT MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, WE BELIEVE.
>> AND, UM, AT THIS POINT, I SAW ON THE REPORT THAT WAS PERHAPS SOME HISTORICAL BUILDINGS ON THE SITE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT REFERS TO THE -- >> I KNOW OF NO HISTORIC BUILDINGS ON THE SITE. THIS IS NOT -- WAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IS THERE ARE TWO RESIDENTIAL HOUSES THAT ARE THERE NOW. WE HAVE PROPERTY IN THE GOLDEN BELT HISTORIC DISTRICT, EMPTY LOTS.
WE HAVE APPLICATION IN ALREADY TO MOVE THOSE TWO HOUSES TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT 4-6 BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE THEY ARE NOW. >> THAT'S A COMMITMENT YOU'RE WILLING TO MAKE THIS EVENING? >> WE'RE ALREADY MOVING FORWARD. >> OKAY. >> STAFF, WE JUST NEED TO CLARIFY IF THAT'S A COMMITMENT YOU'RE PUTTING ON THE ZONING TO MOVE THOSE HOUSES AND WE WOULD NEED -- IF THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE -- WE WOULD NEED FOR THERE TO BE A TIMING MECHANISM ON THAT.
I WANT CLARIFY IF THAT'S JUST YOU'RE COMMITTING TO DOING THAT OR ARE YOU COMMITTING TO INCLUDING THAT IN YOUR ZONING STIPULATIONS? >> ARE YOU ASKING ME OR THEM? >> ASKING YOU, ACTUALLY, YOU'RE THE APPLICANT. >> I'M COMMITTED AS FAR AS THE HISTORIC PEOPLE WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE THOSE HOUSES TO IT.
>> YEAH, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS NOT INCLUDING IT IN THE ZONING. >> I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THEY DO; I HAVE ERE INTENTION OF MOVING WHAT THEY ALLOW, MOVING THOSE HOUSES OVER THERE. >> LET'S CLARIFY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A COMMITMENT IN THE ZONING BUT HE'S COMMITTING TO DO IT. OKAY.
THANK YOU. >> MR. GREGORY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I SAW IN THE ZONING MAP REPORT THERE WAS A REQUEST FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT FOR A BUS PULLOUT AND CONCRETE PAD AT
ONE OF THE STOPS ADJACENT TO THE SITE AND SEE THAT REQUEST WAS DENIED BY THE APPLICANT AND I'M CURIOUS IF YOU ALL COULD PROVIDE SOME REASONS ON THAT? >> I'LL SPEAK TO THAT. YES. SO WE DID RECEIVE THE REQUEST, UM, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO COMMIT TO IT AS PART OF THE ZOING.
HAVE NOTED WHEN WE GET TO SITE PLAN AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO, YES, BUT SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS COMMITMENT, IT'S NOT PART OF THE ZONING COMMITMENT. BUT IT IS NOTED. THANK YOU. SORRY, WAS THERE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION?
OKAY. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHETHER OR NOT IT'LL FIT A AND THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DETERMINED AT SITE PLAN. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? NO?
ARE WE READY TO MOVE THE CASE FORWARD? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS CASE FORWARD? >> AS RELATES TO CSE Z2400022, DURHAM RESCUE MISSION EAST MAIN STREET, I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION WE MOVE THIS CASE FORWARD WITH A FAVO FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. >> SECOND.
>> WITHIN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS TO MOVE CASE Z2400022 DURHAM RESCUE MISSION EAST MAIN STREET FORWARD WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. MAY I HAVE THE ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE? [ROLL CALL VOTE].
>> MOTION FAILS 9-1. >> THANK YOU. NEXT 4. Z2400037 - 401 EAST LAKEWOOD AVENUE.
MAY WE HAVE THE STAFF REPORT, PLEASE? >> GOOD EVENING CHAIR CAMERON, VICE CHAIR CHAGARIS, AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM PEYTON BURGESS, AND I AM HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT Z2400037 - 401 EAST LAKEWOOD AVENUE. 65 ACRES IN THE DOWNTOWN TIER TO GO FROM DOWNTOWN DESIGN SUPPORT 1 AND 2 TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN CORE IN ORDER TO INCREASE BUILDING HEIGHT MAXIMUM REQUIREMENTS. BECAUSE IT IS A GENERAL REZONING, THERE CAN BE NO COMMITMENTS.
-- THERE IS NO DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THE MAP SHOWS THE EXISTING ZONING IS DOWNTOWN DESIGN SUPPORT 1 AND 2, AND SURROUNDED BY THE SAME. DOWNTOWN DESIGN CORE IS LOCATED ACROSS THE DURHAM FREEWAY. THE MAJORITY OF THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN DISTRICT STANDARDS APPLY THE SAME TO ALL THREE CATEGORIES.
AS NOTED EARLIER AS THE REASON FOR THIS REZONING REQUEST, THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN DISTRICTS IS BUILDING HEIGHT. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE TABLE, THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT FOR SUPPORT 1 DISTRICT WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF THE SITE IS 100 FEET WITHOUT PROVISIONS AND 175 FEET WITH PROVISIONS. THE REQUESTED CORE DISTRICT IS 300 FEET WITHOUT PROEGSS AND UNLIMITED WITH PROVISIONS. THESE PROVISIONS CAN INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A GREEN ROOF, STORMWATER CAPTURE AND REUSE, WATER RECLAMATION, MATERIALS AND ARTICULATION AND PUBLIC PARKING. THE AERIAL MAP SHOWS THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE PROJECT.
THE SITE IS NOW THE CLOSED HERITAGE SQUARE STRIP MALL. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED DOWNTOWN ON THE PLACE TYPE MAP. THE PROPOSED ZONING WAS DETERMINED CONSISTENT WITH THE DESIGNATED PLACE TYPE. THE APPLICANT HELD THREE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, ONE MORE THAN IS REQUIRED.
THERE WERE 47 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE FIRST, 44 AT THE SECOND, AND 26 THE THIRD. 215 COMMENTS RECEIVED ON EXPLORE IN RELATION TO THIS CASE WITH 83 AGAINST ANY UH PROPOSAL ON THIS SITE, 121 AGAINST PROPOSAL AS IS, 4 NEUTRAL, 3 IN SUPPORT MODIFICATION AND 3 IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL AS IS. THIS REQUEST IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PLACE TYPE MAP DESIGNATION OF DOWNTOWN, AND IT IS CONSISTENT WITH 14 OF 14 APPLICABLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES, WITH SOME POLICIES NOT ABLE TO BE DEMONSTRATED BECAUSE THIS IS A GENERAL REZONING. STAFF AND THE APPLICANT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> AT THIS TIME THE CHAIR IS OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING. MAY THE APPLICANT PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M JAMIE SCHWEDLER WITH PARKER POE HERE ON E BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND DEVELOPMENT GROUP.
I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE MARIE FARMER AND OUR ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. THIS IS LOCATED IN THE HAYTI HISTORIC DISTRICT. NO ONE ZONING CASE IS UNDUE DECADES WORTH OF RACIAL AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE. THIS CASE IS NOT TURN FAYETTEVILLE STREET TO THE BUSTLING CORE IT WAS AND IT CAN'T REPLACE ALL OF THE HOME DISPLACE WHEN 147 CAE THROUGH AND TOOK THE EQUITY AWAY FROM
THOSE CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY COULD HAVE ENJOYED TOAY BUT UH IT CAN PROVIDE A NEW METHOD FOR INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GENERATION AL TRIED TO DO HERE THROUGH THE - THREE YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WE'VE ENGAGED WITH STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS MANY WHOM ARE HERE TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS ON THE CASE. THE SITE IS MADE UP OF TEN ACRES JUST NORTH OF THE FEE MIX SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER AND BY THE HESTERS, SEASE OF ST MARKS CHURCH -- REPRESENTS HERE TONIGHT -- AS WELL AS HAYTI HERITAGE CENTER. THE HAYTI WAS ORIGINALLY ONE OF THE LARGEST AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS HUBS IN DURHAM. THE SLIDE ON YOUR LEFT SHOWS AS THE CONFIGURATION OF HAYTI IN 1959, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE HERITAGE SQUARE DIDN'T EXIST AT THAT TIME BUT BY TIME 147 CAME
THROUGH AND REALIGNED FAYETTEVILLE STREET, HERITAGE SQUARE SHOWN THERE IN BLUE, AND REALLY I WAS TO TRY UH TO UARE - REPLACE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS WHEN 147 CAME THROUGH AND FAYETTEVILLE STREET WAS REALIGNED. IT WAS BUILT IN 1985 AND WAS BACKED BY -- BUT WITHIN TEN YEARS IT WENT UNDER AND SAT IN DISREPAIR AND THAT'S WHERE IT SITS TODAY. THESE PICTURES TAKEN LAST WEEK. SHOPPING CENTER IS NOW DEFUNCT, ALL BUSINESSES GONE; THIS IS HOW HERITAGE SQUARE WILL REMAIN WITHOUT APPROVAL OF THIS ZONING CASE. THE REASON WE NEED THIS APPROVED IS THAT THE CURRENT ZONING HAS A HEIGHT LIMITATION WHICH WE WERE OPERATING WITHIN FOR TWO YEARS. WE BELIEVE WE COULD GO FORWARD BY-RIGHT, WE HAD A SIE PLAN COMMITTED AND BEGAN CONSTRUCTION INVESTIGATION AND AS WE DID MORE CONSTRUCTION INVESTIGATION WE
OWNTOWN - IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE COMP PLAN BECAUSE THE PLACE-TYPE MAP DESIGNATES ALL OF DOWNTOWN AS THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. THERE'S NO LONGER SUB DISTRICTS. THAT IS OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR YOUR DECISION IN MOVING THIS CASE FORWARD. IS IT CONSISTENT WITH THE COMP PLAN AND PLACE-TYPE MAP? THE DOWNTOWN CORE IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT DOWNTOWN DESIGNATION. ALL OF THE TOWN DOWNTOWN DESIGN DISTRICTS FOLLOW CHAPTER 16 OF DURHAM'S UDO THAT HAS A LOT OF
-- THREE YEARS AGO WHEN STERLING ACQUIRED THE SITE IN JUNE 2022, WE BEGAN A LONG PROCESS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WAS IT PERFECT? NO. IS ANY PROCESS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIR NEW NEIGHBORS AND BRAND NEW CONTEXT WITH ALL THIS PAIN PERFECT?
IT CAN'T BE. WHAT WE DID THAT WENT THROUGH 22 STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, 75 PARTICIPANTS IN VARIOUS GROUPS; LARGE GROUPS, IN THE CHURCHES, AS WELL AS IN-PERSON MEETINGS. THAT ALSO INCLUDED IN-PERSON MEETING IN CALHOUN'S LIVING ROOM WITH LEADERS WHAT WERE DEPARTING FROM WASHINGTON AND LEADERS WHAT WERE TAKING OVER AND WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUTURE AND HOW THIS COULD BE DEVELOPED. CLEAR MESSAGE AT THAT TIME BECAUSE FAYETTEVILLE PLACE WAS PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS NOT THE ANSWER ON THIS SITE. JOBS FOR YEARS TO COME WAS THE
ANSWER. DURING THOSE MEETINGS, WE WENT INTO EXPIRATION OF PARTNERSHIPS TO BRING THOSE JOBS TO THE SITE AND HOW WE COULD EXPLORE THAT. WE RECEIVED REQUEST IN OCTOBER 2024 TO ENGAGE A COMMUNITY LIAISON. WE RELEASED RFP TO DO THAT, HIRED TWO PEOPLE -- BRIDGETTE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS SHE USED.
WE ALSO HIRED A A LOCAL DURHAM REPRESENTATIVE WO IS GOING TO HELP US WITH THE MWB PROCESS AFTER TH ZONING IS APPROVED SHOULD BIT APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL AND AS WE GO THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION. THE LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS AT THE BOTTOM IS A LIST OF WHO WE'VE ENGAGED WITH. THERE'S NOT A LIST OF ENDORSEMENTS. THE NEXT SLIDES WILL SHOW US WHAT WE'VE DONE IN TERMS OF RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY AND DESIGN WORKSHOPS. E WE HEARD REQUESTS FOR SIGNAGE. THERE'S NO SIGN SAJ ON THE SITE
COMMEMORATING THE IMPORTANT LEADERS THAT WERE BORN, SO WE'VE INCORPORATED THSE IDEAS. MWB ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT TO STERLING. THEY HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND AT THE COMMUNITY'S REQUEST WE DEVELOPED A WEB SITE. WE HAVE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR WHO'S COMMITTED TO USING A SPECIALTY PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY MINORITY PARTICIPANTS AND ALSO COMMITTED TO USING A LOCAL AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTRACTOR IN THEIR BASE BID.
WE ALSO CONDUCTED A SOLAR STUDY IN RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HEIGHT. EN AT THE LONGEST SHADOWS IN TH YEAR THE SHADOWS FALL ON 147, NOT ON SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OUTCOMES ARE SIGNIFICANT HERE; WHAT I'D LIKE TO NOTE IS THAT FOR EVERY COMMUNITY DW WE WERE ABLE TO INCORPORATE WE'VE SHOWN
DELIVERABLES ON THE RIGHT SIDE INCLUDING TWO THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF CONFERENCE CENTER. 1 ACRE PEDESTRIAN MALL AND GATHERING SPACE. 2,500 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL. OVERFILL PARKING COMMITMENTS WE'VE ALREADY EXPLORED.
EXPLORING PARTNERSHIP WITH NCCU, WE'VE EXTENDED THREE INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENTS TO COME UP TO CHICAGO AND LEARN ALONGSIDE STERLING BAY AND WE'RE IN TALKS FOR MORE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AS WE GO FORWARD. FINANCIAL IMPACT IS SIGNIFICANT. 190 MILLION IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS WITH 1,500 NET NEW JOBS AT AVERAGE $80,000 SALARY AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN JUST LIFE SCIENCE TECHNICIANS, THAT MEANS OVER MANY DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES AND REAL TRUE ABILITY FOR THE GENERATIONAL WEALTH TO BUILD
THROUGH CERTIFICATIONS, JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS. AS PEYTON MENTIONS WE'RE CONSISTENT WITH 14 OUT OF 14 APPLICABLE POLICIES AND WE'RE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INTEREST IN UP SIZING SEWER PIPE, UPGRADING CROSSWALKS, ETC, IN ADDITION TO THE PEDESTRIAN MALL AND VARIOUS THINGS, EACH OF WHICH WERE SUGGESTED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS DURING THAT COMMUNITY PROCESS AND WERE MADE COMMITMENTS OF THIS CASE. NOW SIT A GENERAL REZONING SO THERE IS NO DEVELOPMENT PLAN. CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN DOWNTOWN ZONINGS THEY AREN'T OFTEN DONE UH BUT IN THE CASE I WAS RIGHT THING TO DO TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THIS INTO THIS COMMUNITY AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR PART TO DO THAT IN A MAININGFUL WAY. IS THIS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMP PLAN AN IT CLEARLY IS TO THE EXTENT WE'RE TEMPTED TO LOOK AT WHETHER THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH, ALL OF THE COMMITMENTS WE'VE MENTIONED AND
THE THREE-YEAR PROCESS RESULTED IN REAL COMMITMENTS BASED ON REAL CONVERSATIONS ALONG THE CORRIDOR AND WE'RE HERE AND INVESTED IN CONTINUING THOSE CONVERSATIONS TONIGHT BUT REQUEST WE MOVE FORWARD. I'D LIKE THE RESERVE REST OF MINE TIME FOR BRIDGETTE. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR OU- DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO COME BEFORE YOU AND TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT. MY COMPANY RESPONDED TO AN RF FOSHGS PROVIDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND I BELIEVE WE WERE SELECTED BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE WITH ARE CURRENTLY DOING IN DURHAM, IN PARTICULAR, JUST SOME OF THE HISTORY THAT WE HAVE PROVIDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC POLICY, MINORITY WOMEN BUT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND
SUPPORT BUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULING FIRM BROUGHT ON BOARD TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR FAYETTEVILLE. AS YOU ALL MAY BE FAMILIAR, THAT IS A MIXED USE, MIXED INCOME PROJECT, AND THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF CONCERN FROM THE COMMUNITY UH AS WAS PREVIOUSLY STATED AROUND WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE DURHAM COMMUNITY REGARDING BLACK WALL STREET. WHAT HAPPENED TO AN UH URBAN RENEWAL, HOW 147 CREATED SO MUCH INEQUITY FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND SO WHILE WE ENGAGED COMMUNITY, WE WERE ABLE TO LIFT TH VOICE OF COMMUNITY AND WHAT WAS NOT ORIGINALLY PROPOSED IN THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS HOME OWNERSHIP. THE PROJECT RIGHT NOW SLATED FOR 3 30%, 60% AMI FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN FROM THE COMMUNITY T PROJECT NOW HAS HOE
OWNERSHIP ON THAT PARTICULAR PRODUCT IN THE FORM OF TOWNHOMES WITH A RESTRICTION OF DEED THAT IF THOSE HOUSES ARE SOLD THAT THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO DURHAM HOUSING AUTHORITY. I GIVE THAT BACKGROUND BECAUSE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WHILE IT HAS COMMERCIAL AND IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TYPE PROJECT WE BELIEVE THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WILL BRING THAT MIXED USE AND MIXED INCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT, AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE'VE BROUGHT ON BOARD WITH THE PARTICULAR DEVELOPERS TO LIFT THAT AND TO SEE IF WECOULD BRING SOME CONTINUITY AROUND THE PARTICULAR PROJECTS WHILE, YET, STILL ADDRESSING CONCERNS THE COMMUNITY HAS, SO I WANTED TO JUST LEVERAGE THAT TO SAY THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO ON THIS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FROM EVENING WHEN WE JUST HOSTED THE HOPE HOUSE LAST MONTH TO HAVE FEEDBACK TO COME IN TO SHOW OR TO HELP STERLING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW TO THE COMMUNITY SOME CONCERNS TEY RAISED OVER THIS
TWO-YEAR PERIOD; WHAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND DNE TO THIS POINT TO BRING THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES AND OUTCOMES TO THE PROJECT. SO JUST WANTED TO APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU FO TH OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND JUST TALK ABOUT HOW FROM OUR STANDPOINT AS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRM HOW WE TRIED TO BRING AND BRIDGE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AROUND WHAT WAS ALREADY DONE AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO HELP THE DEVELOPER ADDRESS THE ISSUE AROUND SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, CONCERNS THAT THAT COMMUNITY BROUGHT FORTH AROUND GENERATIONAL WEALTH. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. ZIER, ARE YOU READY A- >> HELLO, MY NAME IS ANGEL
DOZIER, 900 SOUTH ROXBORO STREET. I WANT TO FIRST START BY SAYING THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS A MISREPRESENTATION FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN HAYTI COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE FIRM HIRED TO D THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WERE HIRED AND BEGAN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ABOUT THREE TO FOUR MONTHS AGO. I READ THE RFP.
THEY WERE REQUIRED TO HOST TWO MEETINGS. ONE THAT WAS IN PERSON AND ANOTHER ONE ON VIRTUAL BY MARCH. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING ABOUT ON THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT AS DESIGNED AND AS PRESENTED WILL HELP GENERATE REPAIRTIVE WEALTH AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. I THINK TALKING ABOUT GENERATIONAL WEALTH IN THIS CASE IS A DISTRACTION. BECAUSE AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEANS COLLABORATING AND COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION TOGETHER, NOT BEING TOLD WHAT YOU WILL AND WILL NOT DO. REZONING MEANS WE ARE AT RISK OF
REPEATING A DEVASTATING PAST IN THE HAYTI COMMUNITY. WHEN THE HIGHWAY WAS BUILT THROUGH HAYTI IT DISPLACED FAMILIES AND LEFT A WOUND THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEALED OR ADDRESSED. WE'RE BEING ASKED TO SUPPORT A - DEVELOPMENT THAT WIL BRING MORE OF THIS SUBTLE GENTRIFICATION BY CALLING IT CAROLINA HERITAGE SQUARE OR CAROLINA RESEARCH SQUARE. REZONE KG BE SEEN AS A CALCULATED EFFORT TO MAKE THE AREA PART OF DOWNTOWN.
THE DEVELOPERS OWN THIS PART OF THE AREA DOWNTOWN AND IT'S NOT DOWNTOWN, IT HAS NEVER RECEIVED DOWNTOWN RESOURCES OR RESPECT. WE DON'T WANT MASSIVE BUILDING LOOMING OVER THIS AREA. IT COULD CLOUD THE CULTURE AND SIT HALF EMPTY, THESE BUILDINGS WILL SIT HALF EMPTY LIKE MOST OF
THEM DO DOWNTOWN. LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WITH WITH THE LIVED EXPERIENCE. PLEASE VOTE NO FOR REZONING. P >> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] I'M SORRY, Y'ALL, SO NO MORE CLAPPING PLEASE. THAT'S PART OF THE DECORUM. NEXT WE HAVE BRENDA MCCORMICK. >> GOD EVENING, BRENDA MCCORMICK, 2917 BEECHWOOD DRIVE, CHURCH IS 531 SOUTH ROXBORO STREET AND AT ONE TIME I LIVED AT 508 ABBOTT STREET, RIGHT ACROSS FROM OUR CHURCH AND BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I WOULD
LIKE TO CORRECT THE YOUNG LADY, OUR CHURCH IS SAINT MARK, NOT SAINT MARKS. WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THAT MY FAMILY HAS BEEN A PART OF HAYTI SINCE THE 1920s. WE WERE LIVING IN HAYTI WHEN URBAN RENEWAL CAME THROUGH. MY HOUSE WAS ONE OF THOSE HOUSES THAT HAD TO BE TORN DOWN AND WE HAD TO MOVE OUT.
AND AFTER MOVING OUT, WE STILL WERE A PART OF HAYTI BECAUSE WE'D BE MEMBERS OF SAINT MARK SINCE THAT TIME. SAINT MARK HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SAME SPOT SINCE 1890, 135 YEARS. P WE FEEL THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THIS AREA SHOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SPIRIT OF HAYTI. ENTATIVE OF THE SPIRIT OF- SO WE URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE REZONING OF THE LAKEWOOD AVENUE PROJECT. WE WANT HAYTI TO BE REMEMBERED;
AS A HISTORY TEACHER, I WANT HAYTI TO BE REPPED SO THAT MY GRANDCHILDREN AND OTHERS COMING FORTH WILL KNOW THERE WAS A HAYTI; NOT WHATEVER THEY'RE PLANNING ON BUILDING. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS REVEREND JULIE PRIJEN. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JULIAN BRIDGEN, PASTOR OF THE SAINT MARK CHURCH ON ROXBORO STREET IN DURHAM. OUR PROPERTY ABUTS HERITAGE SQUARE ON THE WEST END OF THE TRACT AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK THAT YOU WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE REZONING OF HERITAGE SQUARE.
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE VERBAL AND WRITTEN PRESENTATION YOU HAVE HAD OR WILL RECEIVE FROM AN ORGANIZATION BY THE NAME OF HAYTI REBORN. IN AS MUCH AS THE MEMBER SHEP OF SAINT SMASHG BY NO MEANS ANTEPROGRESSIVE OR ANTEDEVELOPMENT BUT PROCOMMUNITY IN THE TRUEST SENSE OF THE WORD COMMUNITY, SAINT MARK HAS HOSTED SEVERAL MEETINGS OF LISTENING SESSIONS TO INCLUDE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER, YET WE REMAIN UNCONVINCED THAT STERLING BAY WILL BRING -- WILL BE PRODUCTIVE TO THE HAYTI COMMUNITY OR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, THIS CITY. WE BELIEVE THAT A GOOD NEIGHBOR WOULD COME AND WALK WITH US AND EMBRACE OUR CULTURE BEFORE ASKING FOR CHANGE. SO YES, WE HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS RELATIVE TO THE HISTORICAL
SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE AND OTHERS RELATIVE TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND I COULD SAY MORE ABOUT THAT SUCH AS RAINWATER RUNOFF AND MORE ISSUES THAT COULD PERHAPS BE MITIGATED WITH GENERAL WIN, REASONABLE, ACCOMMODATED CONVERSATIONS AND COMMUNICATION. AS I HAVE LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEARBY, I HEAR LONG-TIME CITIZENS, THOSE WHO HAVE DEEP ANCESTRAL ROOTS IN THIS CITY, MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO BUILT THE GREAT DURHAM WE ENJOY TODAY -- AS I LISTEN I HEAR PEOPLE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED AN AFRIDAY THAT THEIR EXISTENCE VOICES ARE NO LONGER HEARD, AND THAT THEY HAVE ARE BECOME INVISIBLE. DOES THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY MATTER IN A DECISION LIKE THIS? WOULD IT CAUSE OR COULD IT CAUSE ANY HARM TO THE CITY IF THIS REZONING PROJECT IS NOT APPROVED? I'LL END MY E COMMENTS HERE, AND THANK YOU, COMMISSION, FOR YOUR
TIME. >> THANK YOU. ALEX TRAYHO. >>.
>> GOOD EVENING. ALEX TRAYHO WITH THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM LIBERATION. I WAS RAISED IN EAST DURHAM AND I WANT TO SAY, I WANT TO START BY SAYING I'VE SEEN WHAT GENTRIFICATION DOES TO A CITY. I WATCHED COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE WHO'S NEIGHBORS, CULTURE AND HISTORY TO LUXURY DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE NVER MEANT FOR US, AND NOW HERE WE ARE FACING THE SAME THREAT IN HAYTI. WE KNOW THIS ISN'T ENTIRELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. DEVELOPERS LIKE STERLING ARE DRIVING THIS, BUT BY APPROVING
THIS REZONING, THE CITY IS ENABLING A PROCESS THAT BLACK RESIDENCE. MEANWHILE THE COMMUNITY DOES HAVE A PLAN. HAYTI REBORN IS A -- IT'S NOT ANTEDEVELOPMENT, IT'S PROJUSTICE. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A FUTURE IN HAYTI THAT INCLUDES THE POPLE WHO LIVED THERE FOR GENERATIONS.
WE'VE SEEN THIS PATTERN BEFORE IN 1960 DURHAM PROMISED REINVESTMENT IN HAYTI THEN BULLDOZED IT TO BUILD A FREEWAY. PROMISES BROKEN. STERLING WANTS TO BUILD A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF DEVELOPMENT WHILE OFFERING 2,500 SKWUR FEET OF DISDOWNED RETAIL, CONFERENCE SPACE AND A FEW SYMBOLIC GESTURES. THAT'S A WEALTH BUILDING AND IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.
THEY'VE MISREPRESENTED COMMUNITY INPUT CLAIMING PEOPLE DOES NOT WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN IN FACT OWNERSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT AND STERLING REFUSES TO OFFER REAL STAKE IN THIS PROJECT SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SAY REJECT THIS E REZONING BECAUSE HAYTI DESERVES MORE THAN PROMISES. REJECT IT BECAUSE HAYTI NEEDS DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT. REJECT IT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE A BETTER PLAN. HAYTI REBORN.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE MICKEY BRIGHAM. >> GOOD EVENING. MICKIE BRIGHAM, I LIVE IN DURHAM.
WE'RE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THE REZONING OF HERITAGE SQUARE NOT THE REDEVELOPMENT BUT THE REZONING. DURHAM HAS A LONG HISTORY OF MAKING PROMISES TO THE HAYTI COMMUNITY ONLY T HAVE THOSE PROMISES SHATTERED ONCE DEVELOPERS COME IN. THIS IS NOT A MISTAKE, THIS IS A PATTERN. DEVELOPERS COME, THEY PROMISE ECONOMIC GRWTH AND A COMMUNITY GETS DISPLACED.
WE CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. BUILDING TOLLER BUILDINGS AND DEVELOPMENTS WILL ONLY BEN OUTSIDERS, NOT THE PEOPLE OF HAYTI. THREATENS TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, VALUES AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR BLACK FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES TO STAY. HANDFUL OF QUOTE COMMUNITY BENEFITS DON'T ADDRESS THE CORE ISSUE THAT THE COMMUNITY UH NEEDS OWNERSHIP AND A REAL STAKE IN THE FUTURE, NOT JUST TOKEN GESTURES. THIS REZONING PROPOSAL IS NOT ABOUT PROGRESS, RATHER IT WOULD BE PROFITS OVER PEOPLE. STERLING REFUSES TO GIVE HAYTI
RESIDENCE A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR EQUITY, REFUSES TO INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND REUSES TO HELP BLACK BUSINESSES THRIVE. THEY PLAN TO ERASE HISTORY AND BUSH FOLKS OUT IN NAME OF DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE DEMANDING REAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND REAL ECONOMIC [INDISCERNIBLE] DURHAM HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE COMMUNITY SIMPLY BY UH HONORING THE PROMISE THAT THE CITY MADE LAST YEAR. HAYTI DESERVES MORE THAN EMPTY PROMISES.
WE ARE NOT FOR SALE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ARIACA. IF I MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAMES, I APOLOGIZE. >> HI E UH.
EDGAR ARIETA, 551 HOMELAND AVENUE. YEAH, IT'S NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM HAYTI AND WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY, AND I WAS AT SAINT MARK AND ZION CHURCH JUT AS LAST FRIDAY AND I'M HERE TO NOT ONLY SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR SAINT MARK AND HAYTI UH REBORN BUT TO SHARE WHAT I THOUGHT AND HEARD THAT EVENING. I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF. THERE WAS AMAZING FOOD, GREAT MUSIC AND IT WAS EASIEST TIME I'VE HAD IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I SAW COMMUNITY SHOW OUT NOT JUST IN NUMBERS BUT WITH THEIR RESOLVE. RESOLVE TO NOT LET THIS DEVELOPMENT IN HAYTI DISPLACE OR LOCK OUT THE PROSPERITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE RIGHT NOW. RESOLVE TO NOT LET THE DEVELOPER HAVE NO HISTORY IN AND FAIL TO HAVE ANY MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND RESOLVE TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY OF HAYTI NOT ONLY HAVE A FEET AT
THE TABLE TODAY AND NOW, BUT IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOW IF AND TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF SELF-DETERMINATION THAT SHOULD BE ALLOTTED TO ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY BRING TO THE TABLE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BEST POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT FOR HERITAGE SQUARE, BUT AS IT STANDS, THERE'S LITTLE CONSIDERATION OF THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN HAYTI AND IN DURHAM AS A WHOLE. STERLING BAY SHOULD WITHDRAW THEIR REZONING REQUEST AND CONVERSE WITH COMMUNITY LEADER FOR A SHARED VISION OF THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE NICOLE TRAPLUNK. >> GOOD EVENING, NICOLE
DROPLUNG, I'M A RESIDENCE IN DURHAM AND HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE REZONING OF HAYTI SQUARE. THE PROPOSAL WILL ALLOW FOR TALLER, DENSER BUILDINGS IN HAYTI WHICH WOULD SERVE HIGH INCOME RESIDENCE AND BUSINESSES. STERLING BAY HAS NOT COMMITTED TO A MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP OR ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION. THIS WILL KEEP COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM BENEFITING FROM THE GROWTH OF DURHAM.
WE'VE SEEN A ACROSS THE TRIANGLE AND A LOT OF OTHER MAJOR CITIES, GROWTH WITHOUT PROPER SAFEGUARDS WILL LEAD TO HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES THAT DISPLACE PEOPLE. WE'RE ASKING FOR IS NOT ANYTHING CRAZY, SIMPLY ASKING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HAYTI SQUARE BE ONE THAT'S MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TO THE RESIDENCE, HAYTI AND STERLING BAY. WE DEMAND STERILE WITHDRAW AND ENGAGE IN CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH HAYTI REBORN. WE ARE PREPARED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THIS REZONING.
THERE'S ALREADY BEEN RALEIGHS BY HAYTI. THANK YOU. >> THNK YOU. KEISHA WILLIAMS.
>>. >> GOOD EVENING. KE CIRCUS HA WILLIAMS -- I STAND IN SOLITARITY WITH HAY UH TIE. I'M HERE TO STAY CLEARLY, WE OPPOSE THE REZONING OF HERITAGE SQUARE BY STERLING BAY.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THIS MUNTY AND I CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. STERLING BA WANTS TO ARE REZONE HERITAGE SQUARE, WE KNOW THAT. THEY WANT TO BUILD STALLER BUILDINGS, CON DOs, OFFICE SPACE. THEY SAY IT'S FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE COMMUNITY, BUT HERE'S THE THING; BY THEIR OWN OMISSION THEY ALREADY HAVE PERMISSION TO BUILD. THEY COULD DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY WITHOUT NEEDING TO MAKE CHANGES SO WHY WITH PUSH NOR REZONING. WHY MAKE THINGS MORE COMPLICATED. THE ONLY REASON TO REZONE IS FOR ONE THING; MORE PROFIT FOR STERLING BAY.
THAT'S THE REALITY HERE. TALLER BUILDINGS, HIGHER RENT, BIGGER DEVELOPMENT. NONE OF THIS IS ABOUT US. THIS IS ABOUT WHAT'S MAKING THEM MORE MONEY.
IT'S COMING AT THE EXTENSE OF PEOPLE WHO'VE LIVED HERE FOR GENERATIONS. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK IT'S JUST A ZONING CHANGE, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL, BUT IN CHANGE ISN'T SMALL. IT ALLOWS FR DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO PUSH THIS COMMUNITY OUT AND THAT'S THE PART THAT STERLING BAY'S NOT TALK ABOUT. THEIR PLAN IS NOT OFFERING ANYTHING MEANINGFUL TO THIS COMMUNITY. NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING GUARANTEES, NO OPPORTUNITY FO US TO OWN A PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT, JUST MORE SPACE FOR HIGH-INCOME RESIDENCE AND
BUSINESSES THAT WILL ONLY BENEFIT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FROM HERE. THEY'VE MADE IT CLEAR THIS, SAY BOUT MAKING MONEY, NOT ABOUT INCLUDING US IN THE FUTURE OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT, WE JUST WANT TO BE A PAT OF IT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN HERE THE LONGEST WHO BUILT THIS COMMUNITY GET TO BENEFIT FROM IT.
WE WANT HOUSING THAT WE CAN AFFORD. WE WANT BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. WE WANT A SEAT AT THE TABLE. SO I'M ASKING YOU, COMMISSIONERS, DO NOT APPROVE THIS REZONING.
THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT. STERLING BAY HAS THE RIGHT TO BUILD UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING AND THEY COULD STILL CREATE SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT CHANGING THE RULES T PAD THEIR POCKETS. >> THANK YOU. ANITA SCOTT NETTLE.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. EXCUSE ME. MY NAME IS ANITA SCOTT NEFL AND I SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF HAYTI REBORN. HAYTI UH REBORN STANDS IN REPRESENTATION OF A COMMUNITY THAT SEEKS TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE RICH LEGACY OF HAYTI.
TO THAT END, WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH STERLING BAY, THE PURCHASER OF HERITAGE SQUARE, FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS TO DEVELOP A MUTUALLY-BENEFICIAL PLAN FOR RESTORING THIS TEN-ACRE PARCEL. AT THIS POINT, THE PURCHASES APPLICATION FOR REZONING POSES RACER OF THE LEGACY OF HAYTI AND OFFERS TO NO POTENTIAL FOR BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. AFTER MANY MEETINGS WITH THE PURCHASER ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE REQUESTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH STERLING BAY TO DEVELOP STRATEGY THAT DEVELOPS A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY
AND THAT DURING THAT TIME, STERLING BAY WOULD WITHDRAW THEIR APPLICATION FOR REZONING WHILE WE MOVE FORWARD WTH THIS ACTION. STERLING BAY REJECTED APPEAL. THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, WE IED - REQUEST A 90-DAY CONTINUANCE OF THE REVIEW OF THE PURCHASER'S APPLICATION. THE 90-DAY CONTINUANCE WOULD ALLOW TIME TO, ONE, FACILITATE MORE MEANINGFUL AND COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN COMMUNITY STAKE HOLDERS AND STERLING BAY WITH THE GOAL OF ALIGNING A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE PROPOSAL. TWO, ALLOW TIME FR STERLING BAY TO REVIEW ALTERNATIVES STARTING WITH WITHDRAWAL OF THE CURRENT APPLICATION AND REVISION OF A DESIGN THAT FITS WITHIN CURRENT DOWNTOWN DESIGN S1/S2 ZONING
THAT DOES ADDRESS COMMUNITY INTERESTS AND LIVABILITY. THREE, ALLOW TIME FOR THE STAFF TO REVISIT THE OFFENSIVE HISTORIC RESOURCE ANALYSIS IN THE COMP PLAN CONSISTENCY REVIEW FOCUSING ON REFERENCES TO BLIGHT VERSUS SYSTEMATIC DISINVESTMENT AND ELEVATION OF THE CULTURAL VALUE OF HAYTI. THE GREATEST HARM THAT IS RESULTED FROM THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN THE BLATANT DISREGARD TO THE VALUE OF THIS ACREAGE TO THE PRESERVATION OF F HAYTI AND FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY AND RESOLVE OF O ITS CITIZENS TO RESIST GENTRIFICATION, INVASION, AND ERASER OF OUR COMMUNITY. YES FOR THE 90-DAY - PLEASE VOTE NO TO THE APPLICATION FOR REZONING. THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE MIMI KESSLER.
MIMI KESSLER. >> HELLO AGAIN. I'M MIMI KESSLER. I'M HERE TO AS YOU NOT TO APPROVE THIS CASE.
FIRST, WE DON'T NEED ANY LAB SPACE. THERE IS ALREADY UH VACANT LAB SPACE IN DURHAM IN RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK AND WITH THE WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR RESEARCH -- EXCUSE ME -- THERE WILL BE EVEN MORE LAB SPACE VACANT. I HEARD ONE OF THE PRESENTERS TALK ABOUT MIXED INCOME BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT SHE ALSO SAID SOMETHING THAT THE 30, 60, 80 AMI SO I DN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THERE SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE. UM, AND I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THE TIPPING POINT BETWEEN
REVITALIZATION AND GENTRIFICATION. I BELIEVE IT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE ELSE OTHER THAN THE COMMUNITY DECIDES TO BUILD SOMETHING THEY THINK WILL BE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. ONCE THAT IS STARTED, IT'S HARD TO STOP THE TRAIN. PLEASE LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND DENY THIS DEVELOPMENT IF YOU AGREE WITH ME, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SILENTLY.
THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE DENISE HESTER. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DENISE HESTER, I LIVE ON SHALAMOORE DRIVE IN DURHAM.
I I ASK YOU TO DENY THIS. WE OWN PROPERTY ACROSS LAKEWOOD AVENUE FROM THE REZONING SITE WE HAVE OVER 40 SMALL BUSINESSES WHO WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE FROM THIS REZONING. THE OVERRIDING OBJECTION TO THIS REZONING IS THE LACK OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH COMMITTED ELEMENTS THAT LEGALLY BIND, LEGALLY BIND, THE DEVELOPER TO SPECIFIC AGREEMENTS. NONE SUCH EXIST.
THIS REZONING IS CALLED GENERAL AND IT'S CALLED GENERAL FOR A REASON BECAUSE THERE ARE NO PROFFERS. WE MUST PRESENT WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME THIS SITE WAS UP ZONED. NEVER DEVELOPED AND SAT FOR 15 YEARS UNTIL THE NEXT SPECULATOR CAME ALONG NOW ASKING FOR A MORE EVEN MORE INTENSE DEVELOPMENT. THE PRETTY PICTURES YOU'VE SEEN, THE DEVELOPER'S COMMENTS AND ALL THE CONVERSATION ARE NOT COMMITMENTS.
THEY ARE NOT. DO NOT BE MISLEAD. IF REZONED WITHOUT A DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND COMMITTED ELEMENTS THE DEVELOPER CANNOT WATEVER IS
ALLOWED UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING DESIGNATION. THE MOST INTENSE FORM, WHICH IS THE DESIGN DISTRICT CORE, USUALLY UH FOUND ONLY IN DOWNTOWN AND CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS, IT APPEARS THAT POTENTIAL USES, EVEN WITH LIMITATIONS COULD INCLUDE A PRISON, A PLASMA DONATION CENTER, INCARCERATION FACILITY, PASSENGER RAIL CENTER, PAYDAY LENDER, PSYCHIC, BROADCAST ANTENAH TO NAME A FEW. OUR CORRIDOR HAVING BEEN REDUCED TO RUBBLE HAS NEVER FULLY UH DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE THAT WILL - RESULT IN HIGHER TAXES AND ALMOST 100% DISPLACEMENT POTENTIAL. THAT'S SOME SERIOUS LANGUAGE THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS PROVIDED. ALSO KNOW THIS: THE DEVELOPER CAN COMMIT TO SPECIFICS THAT EXCEED THE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR
DD CORE BUT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO. IS THIS WHO WE WANT FAR NEIGHBOR? THE HAYTI CORRIDOR IS COMPRISED OF NEIGHBORHOODS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD-SCALE DEVELOPMENT. THE ZONING CREEP THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED SOUTH OF 147 SHOULD GO NO FURTHER.
KEEP THE CURRENT ZONING IN PLACE AS WAS RECOMMENDED BY SOMEONE ELSE. BUILD TO WHAT'S ALREADY THERE AND LET IT BE THE TRANSITION AREA THAT'S SUPPOSED TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO PLEASE DENY THIS REQUEST TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LARRY HESTER. HE'S NOT HERE. ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THAT HAS NOT SPOKEN BEFORE I MOVE ON TO ZOOM? ALL RIGHT. FIRST U ON THE ZOOM WE HAVE ERIM EGGUPON.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. >> I'M ON SUMMIT PLACE. MY MESSAGE ISN'T SO ELOQUENT AS THE PEOPLE WHO PRECEDED ME.
PLEASE VOTE NO TO REZONING. THIS REZONING REQUEST WILL ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO ALREADY RAMPANT GENTRIFICATION BENEFITING A DEVELOPER THOUSANDS O OF MILES AWAY WHILE DISPLACING RESIDENT WHO IS MADE DURHAM A PLACE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO NOW. G THIS PROJECT FO- PLEASE VOTE NO TO REZONING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE IDEAL ORTEASE. >> GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK ON THIS MATTER. I ALSO OPPOSE THE REQUEST FOR REZONING BY THIS APPLICANT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS ONE OF BASIC INTEGRITY WITH ALL OF WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UP UNTIL ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE HAYTI HERITAGE CULTURAL CENTER. IT NEVER CAME ACROSS OUR BOARD TO APPROVE BEING NAMED AS A COLLABORATOR TO THIS PROJECT. I'M DEEPLY TROUBLED T SEE THAT AN ORGANIZATION I ONCE WAS CONNECTED TO IS BEING LISTED IN OUR BOARD NEVER DISCUSSED THIS - DURING MY TENURE. WHEN I TEXTED THE CURRENT CHAIR, THEY UH HAVE ALSO NOT HEARD OF BEING ASKED TO BE A FORM AL COLLABORATOR.
WE MUST BE MINDFUL COMPLYSIT, THAT ORGANIZATION MISSION IS FIRST AND FOR MOST ABOUT CULTURE, NOT ABOUT THE OTHER ISSUES THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST MUST BE DECIDED BY THE [INDISCERNIBLE] IN THAT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE THOMAS KRO OPERTEN. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M WITH PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION. DURHAM RESIDENT AND I I GREW UP OUTSIDE OF HERE.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES FIRST-HAND HERE IN DURHAM. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENT, I THINK WE ALL KNOW WE SHOULD BE ASKING DEVELOPMENT FOR WHO, RIGHT? LET LOOK AT SOUTHSIDE IN REVITALIZATION PLAN AND HOW UH THAT CHANGED THE NEIGHBORHOOD. LET'S LOOK AT HOW EAST DURHAM IS RAPIDLY CHANGING.
THIS IS ONLY GOING TO MAKE THAT WORSE. I THINK BEFORE WE APPROVE UH ANY KIND OF REZONING PLANS WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHO'S BEING IMPACTED AND WHAT'S THE CITY GOING TO LOOK LIKE FIVE YEARS FROM THIS DECISION AND IT REALLY DOESN'T SEEM TO ME THAT THIS COMPANY THAT HAS PEOPLE'S INTEREST IN MIND. SO, YEAH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS LESLIE ST. DRA.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME OR LETTING US SPEAK TODAY ON THIS. I'M A DURHAM RESIDENT, DISPLACED AND FORMERLY EVICTED TWICE AND DISPLACED FROM THE BAY AREA. I'M DEEPLY DEVOTED TO THIS WORK AND STANDING ALONGSIDE COMMUNITIES FIGHTING DISPLACEMENT AND URGE THIS COMMISSION TO DO THE SAME. I STAND FIRMLY WITH HAYTI REORN IN THIR EFFORT TO STOP THE UP ZONING OF HERITAGE SQUARE THEIR HERITAGE, THEIR LAND. IT'- THE STORY OF TWO WHITE GUYS FROM CONNECTICUT BETTING ON THE GENTRIFICATION OF HAYTI IN 2019
AND SELLING TO CHICAGO GO WHILE MAKING 40 MILLION OFF PURE SPECULATION IS NOTHING NEW, HOWEVER THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO REWORD THIS BEHAVIOR. IT SHOULD BE RECONNING WITH THE RACISM -- BY LAND BANK K AND SUBSIDIZING COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT LIKE THE ONE HAYTI REBORN ENVISIONED. 0. THE ONLY LONGITUDINAL STUDY PUBLISHED ABOUT IT COMING OUT OF NEW YORK SHOWS IT UH INCREASES BLACK AND BROWN DISPLACEMENT.
[INDISCERNIBLE] UNAFFORDABLE UNITS LIKE THE ONE STERLING BAY ARE PLANNING ONLY BARELY DIP PRICES FOR THE RICHEST RENTERS LEAVING THOUSANDS OF VACANCIES ALL AROUND. AS STACH HAS VACANT UNITS, PRICES AREN'T DROPPING. 12% VACANCY RATE, NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MARKET WILL NEVER PROVIDE AN ABUNDANCE OF HOUSING FOR THE REST OF US. LIKE STERLING BAY'S DEVELOPMENT,
PRIORITIZING UNAFFORDABLE UP ZONING WILL INFLATE LAND VALUES ACROSS THE CITY PUSHING OUR ABILITY UH TO DEVELOP TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING MORE AND MORE OUT OF REACH. YOU ALL UH SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR THE NEED NOT THE GREED. NO MORE HANDOUTS TO DEVELOPERS LIKE STERLING BAY. NO PRIVATE EQUITY UH IN BACKYARDS.
STAND WITH HAYTI AND REJECT THIS REQUEST. LET'S KEEP RESIDENTS ROOTED IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYONE ON THE ZOOM, PLEASE CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND ADRESS BEFORE SPEAKING. NEXT WE HAVE TOBY DELICOMB. >> I LIVE IN DURHAM NEAR SOUTH POINT, A MEMBER OF THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION AND I STAND WITH HAYTI REBORN TO OPPOSE. HAY UH TIE'S STORY IS COMON IN THE UNITED STATES.
DISPLACED IN 1960s TO CREATE ROOM FOR FREEWAY. RISK REPEATING HISTORY. HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES AND ERASER O OF HAYTI. THEY IGNORE CORE DEMANDS.
PROJECT WILL EXTRACT HATI NOT BUILD IT. WE'RE NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT WE'RE AGAINST DISPLACEMENT. E WE THEY'RE OFFERINGS OF HISTORIC MARKERS, PEDESTRIAN MALL AND FEW INTERNSHIP WON'T BUILD WEALTH. P WE WANT HAYTI HISTORY AND MUTUAL BENEFICIAL TO DURHAM, HAYTI UH COMMUNITY AND STERLING BAY. REZONING ISN'T REQUIRED FOR PROGRESS, IT'S REQUIRED FOR THEIR PROFIT. LET'S BUILD A HR TEENAGE SQUARE
THAT UPLIFT ITS PEOPLE. I ASK YOU UH VOTE NOT TO REZONE NOT TO APPROVE THIS REZONING PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE ON THE ZOOM THAT HAS NOT SPOKEN THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, CHAIR IS CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER QUESTION -- >> CHAIR, MAY I BE HEARD BRIEFLY.
>> I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. >> I UH APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY'S EXPRESSION OF THEIR BELIEFS AND OPINIONS OF THE CASE AND I DON'T INTEND TO DEBATE THAT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO STATE ARE TWO FACTUAL THINGS THAT I BELIEVE WERE STATED INCORRECTLY AS FAR AS I U UNDERSTAND THE FACTS. THE FIRST IS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HAY TA HERITAGE CENTER WITH ANGELA LEE THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AS WELL AS TOM TUCKER ONE OF THE TRUSTEES FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CASE. WE'VE MADE INTENTIONAL INVESTMENT IN TIME WITH THEIR MEDIATE NEIGHBORS INCLUDING SAINT MARK AND THE HAYTI HERITAGE CENTER AND SO THE PERSON WHO SPOKE ON THE PHONE AND HATED WE WERE INDICATING ENDORSEMENT, I WAS CLEAR THOSE LIST OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE NOT ENDORSEMENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RESPOND TO THE COMMUNITY'S REQUEST FOR TRANSPARENCY AND TO REVEAL WHO WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH AND THT WAS THE REASON FOR LISTING THEM ON THE SCREEN. THE STATEMENT I MADE ABOUT BEING A GREAT PARTNER IS BECAUSE ANGELA HAS BEEN A VERY FORTHRIGHT PERSON P AND WE'VE APPRECIATED HER ALLOWING US INTO THE CENTER TO TALK ABOUT THE CASE.
THE SECOND IS WITH HAYTI REBORN AND I APPRECIATE MS. ANITA RECOGNIZING WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THEM FOR THREE YEARS. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT FACT THT'S LOST ON MANY FOLKS WHO ARE JUST LEARNING ABOUT THIS CASE AT THE RALEIGH
ON FRIDAY AND I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND IT'S HARD TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY CASE GOING THROUGH THE PIPELINE IN DURHAM BUT WHAT MS. ANITA RECOGNIZE IS IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS. I THNK WE DIFFER ON THE OUTCOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS BUT IT DOESN'T DENY THE FACT THEY'RE MEANINGFUL AND TO DAE WE'VE NOT RECEIVED A REQUEST TO WITHDRAW THE APPLICATION. I READ ABOUT THAT THIS MRNING IN THE NEWS AN OBSERVER IN THE PAPER FROM A REPRESENTATIVE OF HAYTI REBORN INDICATING THEY'VE REQUESTED US TO WITHDRAW THE APPLICATION TODAY. THAT'S KIND OF HARD TO DO WHEN I'M NEVER ASKED ABOUT THAT EASTBOUND THOUGH I'VE HAD THREE YEARS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH VARIOUS LEADERS OF HAYTI E REBORN. WE WERE ASKED TO DELAY THE CASE, WE WERE ASKED TO CONTINUE TO CONTINUING THOSE E COMMITTED- CONVERSATIONS SO MUCH SO WE'VE ALREADY PREVIEWED DATES WITH OUR GROUP THAT WE'LL MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE APRIL 22nd AND 23rd TO
CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WE'LL REACH OUT WITH GROUPS AND CONVENIENT PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS. UM BUT THAT IS NOT A JUSTIFICATION FOR DELAYING THIS CASE 90 DAYS. THOSE COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS HAVE OCCURRED.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S UPSET AND MOST OF THE REQUESTS STROB DENY THE CASE AND SO AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS I DON'T BELIEVE WILL PRODUCE UH A DIFFERENT RESULT BUT WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE DATES OF APRIL 22nd AND 23rd BUT WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COMMISSION LOK AT THE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND MAKE YOUR DECISION ON THAT BASIS AND MOVE THE CASE FORWARD TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. NOW AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR IS CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE AR OPEN FOR COMMISSIONER -- SO I ASKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR SPEAKERS AND THERE WAS NO ONE THAT WANTED TO COME FORWARD.
YEAH, UM, SO THE PUBLIC SPOKE AND THEN SHE RESPONDED TO THE QUESTIONS WHEN THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE THAT WANTED TO SPEAK. IF WE DO THAT, WE WOULD GO BACK AND FORTH ALL NIGHT, SO THE CHAIR IS CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND NOW WE'RE OPENING UP FOR COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION AND QUESTION. WE ARE GOING TO SUSPEND THE HEARING IF WE DON'T HAVE DECORUM. ALL RIGHT.
COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION. GO AHEAD. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. MAYBE THIS IS FOR CITY STAFF, MAYBE FOR THE APPLICANT.
SO WHAT IS THE ACTUAL DIFFERENCE IN THE HEIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO ZONINGS? THE CURRENT ZONING ALLOWS FOR 175 FEET AND THE REZONING IS REQUEST FOR 300; IS THAT CORRECT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UH UNDERSTAND. EXACT HEIGHT DIFFERENCE.
>> YES. SO THE CURRENT, THE MAJORITY OF THE PARCEL IT'S SPLIT ZONED BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE PARCEL RIGHT NOW THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT WITHOUT PROVISIONS WOULD BE 100 FEET, WITH PROEGSS WOULD BE 175 FEET. THEN THE REQUEST WOULD BE TO GO TO 300 FEET WITHOUT PROVISIONS AND THEN UNLIMITED WITH PROVISIONS. WHEN IT SAYS UNLIMITED, IT DOESN'T TRULY MEAN UNLIMITED BUT IT JUST MEANS YOU CAN USE ALL OF THE PROEGSS TO GO UP TO A CERTAIN NUMBER.
WHEN WE ADS ADDED IT UP IT WAS LITTLE OVER 500 FEET. >> PROVISIONS MEANING WHAT, EXACTLY? >> SO PROVISIONS ARE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT A DEVELOPMENT CAN DO. SO THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A GREEN ROOF, STORMWATER CAPTURE AND REUSE, WATER RECLAMATION, MATERIALS AND ARTICULATION AND PUBLIC PARKING SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THEY WOULD DO AT SITE PLAN THAT BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, IMPROVES
THE DEVELOPMENT AND THEN THEY WOULD ALLOW -- THEY WOULD GET THAT BONUS OF ADDITIONAL SHIETH IF THEY HAD SOME DEGREE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THEY GET 15 EXTRA FEET ADDED ON SO WITH EACH PROEGS YOU CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE ARK LITTLE HIGHER UP UNTIL THAT MAX HEIGHT. >> MAX HEIGHT OF 500 FEET; WAS THAT CORRECT? >> IT'S TECHNICALLY UNLIMITED THAT'S WHAT THE UDO SAYS, SO AS MANY PROEGSS AS THEY CAN EMPLOY, THEY COULD THEORETICALLY BUILD TO THAT FULL HEIGHT. >> AND I GUESS PART B OF THAT QUESTION TO THE APPLICANT IS, THIS IFRNS OF 125 FEET IS THAT GOING TO BE FOR PARKING?
>> NO. THE ONLY TWO, UM, THE BENCHMARKS THAT PEYTON IDENTIFIED ARE TH S 1 AND CORE AT 300. THERE'S NO IN-BETWEEN DISTRICT AND SO IN ORDER TO GET ANYTHING OVER 175 WE HAD TO GO TO THAT HIGHER DISTRICT, BUT WE DON'T
INTEND BUILD CLOSE TO 300 IT'S JUST EXTRA STORIES FOR THE PARKING AND THE PARKING THAT HAS TO GO UP. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE INTENTION OF THE HIEF SCIENCE BUILDINGS, THEY'RE DIFFERENT FROM THE FROM OFFICE BUILDINGS AND WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE TO BUILD AT 500 FEET MUCH LESS 300 FEET. >> SO POTENTIALLY THE DIFFERENCE IN THE HEIGHTS FOR IF P IT'S NOT FOR LIFE SCIENCES COULD BE FOR PARKING? HOW MUCH PARKING WOULD BE FOR 125 -- HOW MANY PARKING DECKS?
I MEAN IF IT'S GOING TO BE 125 FEET WHAT'S THAT LIKE TEN STORIES OF PARKING? I UH JUST WANT TO GET A VISUAL HERE. >> IF THOSE WERE TRULY UH ALL PARKING THEY'D BE 10-12 STORIES BUT THE INTENTION IS NOT TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 10-12 STORIES OF PARKING. THE HEIGHT IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 175 AND 300 BUT WOULDN'T APPROACH 300 WHICH -- IF WE BUILT THE FULL
125 DIFFERENCE; DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> I WAS JUST WONDERING BECAUSE WITH DURHAM GOING TOWARDS 15 MINUTE WALKABLE COMMUNITY AND AWAY FROM AUTO CENTRIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT WOULD JUST SEEM TO BE A LOT OF PARKING. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMUH PRIGS PRESENTATION IT WAS BECAUSE THE BED ROCK WAS DISCOVERED BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE PARKING WAS GOING TO BE UNDERGROUND THAT THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE WOULD THEN BE USED FOR ABOVE-GROUND PARKING. >> ACCURATE, BUT THE WAY THAT THE ZONING DISTRICT WORKS IS JUST A MAXIMUM SO IF IT'S NOT A MAXIMUM OF 175 FEET IN S 1 THE NEXT LEVEL WOULD BE A MAXIMUM OF 300 IN DDC AN WHEN WE'RE TALKING TWO TO THREE LEVELS OF UNDERGROUND PARKING ABOVEGROUND, IT ROUGHLY IS GOING TO BE TWO TO THREE LEVELS PLAN TO BE ABOVE THAT 175, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A EXACT DIMENSION. >> WHERE WOULD ALL THE OCCUPANT THOFS BUILD, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO WORK THERE AND/OR LIVE THERE, WHERE WOULD THEY PARK?
>> SO THY WOULD PARK IN THAT BUILDING. SO THE UNGDZ GROUND PARKING WAS SEVERAL FLOORS OF UNDERGROUND AND SEVERAL FLOORS OF ABOVEGROUND AND WHEN THEY DISCOVERED BED ROCK, ALL HADDED TO BO ABOVEGROUND. TAKING THAT SAME DESIGN AND SHIFTING IT UP, THEN YO'D HAVE THOSE COUPLE OF FLORS POKE ABOVE THAT IMAGINARY 175 LINE AND SO IT'S STILL WOULD BE DESIGNED TO CONTAIN THE PARKING IN THAT BUILDING OR ON THE SITE. THERE COULD BE SHARED PARKING FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU HAD SOME OF THE RETAIL PARK IN THE OFFICE AND KIND OF USES BACK AND FORTH, BUT THEY WOULD ALL BE DESIGNED TO PARK ON THE SITE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. >> GOOD EVENING. SO I JUST WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY
MENTIONED IN THE LETTER, UM, AND WANTED TO ASK THE DEVELOPER A FEW QUESTIONS RELATED TO THOSE ISSUES BROUGHT UP BY THE COMMUNITY. UM, SO ONE, I GUESS, WHAT IT SOUNDS SLIEK THE REZONING AND THE HEIGHT IS REALLY A BIG CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO HAS THE APPLICANT CONSIDERED, UM, CREATING SURFACE PARKING TO STAY WITHIN THE EXISTING ZONING? I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
>> SURE. >> THERE'S ALSO MENTION OF THE GREEN SPACE POTENTIALLY NOT BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY ONCE THE DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETE. UM, HAS THE APPLICANT CONSIDERED DONATING THAT GREEN SPACE TO WHETHER IT BE ONE OF THE CHURCHES OR THE CITY UH IN ORDER TO LET THE BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY? UM, THERE'S ALSO MENTION OF THE NAME NO LONGER BEING HERITAGE
SQUARE, UM, AND JUST THE IMPLICATIONS BEHIND WHAT THAT MEANS AND ALSO THE CONNECTION TO HAYTI UH HERITAGE CENTER, UM, HAS THE APPLICANT CONSIDERED OR RECONSIDERED KEEPING HERITAGE SQUARE AS THE NAME? UH -- >> DOES ANYONE HAVE A COPY O THE LETTER? WE DON'T HAVE A COPY OF THAT SO IF I COULD FOLLOW ALONG IT'D BE EASIER FOR ME TO MAKE SURE -- IS THERE AN ADDITIONAL COPY? >> UM, THERE'S ALSO MENTION OF THE 2,500 SQUARE FEET O OF AFFORDABLE RETAIL SPACE, UM, THAT IS BEING OFFERED AT A 50% DISCOUNT BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE MENTION THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY RELATED TO PROVIDING THE 50% DISCOUNT TO THE COMMUNITY; WOULD THE APPLICANT CONSIDER PROVIDING SOME SORT OF FIRST RIGHT FOR THE
COMMUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT 50% DISCOUNT IN THAT RETAIL SPACE? UH, AND THEN HAVE YOU ALL HAS THE APPLICANT CONSIDERED JUST REDUCING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FLOORS SO THAT IT CAN FIT INTO OR STORIES RATHER SO THAT IT CAN FIT INTO THE CURRENT ZONING? THAT IS ALL. >> OKAY. I'M GOING TO TRY TO GO IN THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU ASKED THE QUESTIONS. UM, SURFACE PARKING SO BECAUSE IT'S A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF LIFE SCIENCE AND COMMERCIAL AS WELL AS APARTMENTS THAT ARE PLANNEDER FUT SITE UH YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIT THAT AMOUNT OF DENSITY WITH ALL SURFACE PARKING SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME STRUCTURE PARKING AND THAT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND SO TO OFFSET AND MEET GOALS OF DOWNTOWN WHERE WE WANT DENSITY TO AVOID SPRAWL IN PLACES LIKE EAST DURHAM AND OTHER PLACES,
THE STRUCTURE'S PARKING IS WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO AIM FOR. THERE WILL BE SOME ASPECTS OF SURFACE PARKING BUT IT WON'T BE ENOUGH TO THE WHOLE BUILDINGS AND IT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE TYPE OF MEANINGFUL JOB CREATION AND LIFE SCIENCE SPACE WE'RE COMMITTED TO BRINGING WITH DOING THE ENTIRE PROJECT WITH SURFACE PARKING. THE PUBLIC SPACE IN THE QUESTION WHETHER THE PUBLIC GATHERING AREA WOULD BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, IT WOULD BE. THAT'S PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPLYING WITH THE CHAPTER 16 REGULATIONS. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE ONE ACRE WE'VE COMMITTED THAT WE'RE WILLING TO PROVIDE, BUT WHATEVER OPEN SPACE WE DO PROVIDE UNDER THE CODE MINIMUMS WOULD HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE. THE NAME, WE DID HEAR FEEDBACK ON THE NAME AND CHANGING THE THE NAME AWAY FROM HERITAGE SQUARE AND THERE WAS A BIG DISCUSSION AFTER OUR DESIGN WORKSHOP AND A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE
COMMUNITY AND WE'RE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND CONSIDERING CHANGING THE NAME TO SOMETHING WITH A DERIVATIVE OF HERITAGE OR HAYTI. WE HAEN'T SETTLED ON THAT. WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE LAND ON SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY THE NEIGHBORS BUT WE ARE TAKING ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK INTO ACCOUNT AND ARE CONSIDERING THAT ACTIVELY. THE AFFORDABLE RETAIL AT 50%, WOULD WE CONSIDER MAKING A PREFERENCE TO THE COMMUNITY?
WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT AND WE'VE TALKED WITH THE LEASING AGENTS ABOUT HOW UH TO DO THAT. I THINK THERE'S RESTRICTIONS IN BEING CAREFUL ON HOW WE MAKE THAT AVAILABLE AND HOW THAT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK. THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE OPEN TO. OUR MAIN CONCERN IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DELIVERING ON THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY DID ASK US TO DO WHICH WAS MORE FOOD AND BEVERAGE, RESTORE OTHER OPTIONS SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE ALL VIBRANT AND USED. AND THEN REDUCING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FLOORS. IF WE COULD REDUCE THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF FLOORS AND AVOID A REZONING, WE WOULD. WE LOOKED AT THAT VERY, VERY HARD. THAT'S WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WERE, UM, IT WOULD BE MY LIFE WOULD BE A LOT EASIER IF E WE WEREN'T HERE REQUESTING THIS. IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT STERLING BAY TOOK LIGHTLY.
IT BECAME NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THEY COULD DELIVER THE PROGRAM. SO UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE LOOKED AT TAT BEFORE WE EVALUATED WHETHER TO GO FORWARD WITH REZONING REQUEST. MOST NOTABLY BECAUSE WE HAD SPENT TWO YEARS IN THE COMMUNITY TELLING THEM WE DIDN'T NEED A REZONING AND WE WEREN'T PURSUING ONE AND ONLY TO FIND WITH THE ROCK DISCOVERY IT DID BECOME NECESSARILY. WE LOOKED INTO THAT BEFORE WE FILED THE CASE AND WERE UNABLE TO REDUCE THAT FURTHER AND STILL MAKE THE PROJECT WORK WITH THE LIFE SCIENCE COMMITMENT THAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE PROJECT FINANCIALLY VIABLE.
THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT. >> QUICK QUESTION. WHAT'S PLAN B IF THIS DOESN'T GET APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL; WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE SITE?
>> THAT'S SOMETHING I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO FACE, BUT IF IT WERE TO COME TO PASS, THERE IS A LOAN ON THE PROPERTY THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID OVERTIME IF WE COULDN'T MAKE USEFUL, MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY, IT'S LIKELY THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD TAKE CONTROL THAT WOULD HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AT ALL. I BUILT MY LAND USE PRACTICE IN 2008 OUT OF THE FORECLOSURES OF THE HOUSING CRISIS. I HPED BANK UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY COULD DO WITH LAND THEY HAD FORECLOSED UPON AND THEY HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO WORK WITH CHUNTY. THE ONLY INCENTIVE THEY HAVE -- AND IT'S IN THEIR BUSINESS MODEL AND I'M NOT FAULTING THEM FOR IT IT'S REALITY -- TO FIGURE OUT WHAT STHEKD DO WITH THE LAND AND HOW TO SELL IT BUT BEFORE THEY DO IT, THEY SIT ON A LAND UNTIL
THEY MAKE SURE THEY REALLY DO HAVE TO SELL IT. UNFORTUNATELY, PLAN B REALITY IN THIS CASE IS IF COUNCIL WERE TO DENY THE ZONING, UM, I MENTAL WHAT I SAID WHEN I SHOWED THOSE PICTURES OF THE SITE LAST WEEK, THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD SEE. NO MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT, NO JOBS, NO HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, NO PIPELINE FOR NC CENTRAL STUDENTS TO LEARN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS FOR APPRENTICESHIP FOR ANY MWB WE'RE TRY UHHING TO BRING TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO AVOID THAT RESULT AT ALL COSTS, BUT I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY HAS OPINION P AN WE RESPECT IT, WE OB OBVIOUSLY DISAGREE WITH IT BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S IN THEIR INTEREST TO HAVE A PROJECT LIKE THIS GO FORWARD AND HAVE THE INVESTMENT POUR BACK IN A WAY THAT WILL PROVIDE MEANINGFUL GENERATIONAL WEALTH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. - FEW QUICK QUESTIONS HERE. SORRY IF I MISREAD THIS BUT
COULD YOU JUST WALK ME THROUGH THE PROPOSED MIX FOR THE PROJECT? I SEE THERE'S MAXIMUM 330 HIGH-RISE APARTMENTS BUT IS THAT WHAT YOUR PROPOSING FOR USES? IS RESIDENTIAL INCLUDED? >> I DON'T THINK WE HAD A SLIDE DETAILING BUT WE HAD THIS.
WE PLAN FOR THAT SO HAVE THE MIX OF APARTMENTS THAT UH YOU MENTIONED AS WELL AS I THINK IT'S 22,500 OF RETAIL WITH THAT 2,500 OF IT BEING COMMITTED TO THE REDUCED RENTAL RATE. SO RETAIL APARTMENTS, AND LIFE SCIENCE. >> GOTCHA. AND SO THE COMMUNITY CONCERN AROUND THE LACK OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROFFER FOR THE APARTMENTS IS TRUE, THEN?
>> WHETHER THERE'S COMMUNITY CONCERN ABOUT A LACK OF -- >> THERE IS NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROFFER AS A PART OF THE APARTMENT PIECE? >> THAT'S CORRECT. AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS THE EXCHANGE I EXPLAINED WHEN WE MET WITH HAYTI REBORN BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2022, UM, AND MANY OF THOSE MEMBERS ARE HERE TONIGHT AND EXPRESSED THAT BECAUSE FAYETTEVILLE PLACE WAS GOING FORWARD AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS NOT THE PATH TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF. THERE HAVE BEEN COMMUNITY MEETINGS WHEN FOLKSED ASKED US TO PURSUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE ASKED FOR THAT AT THE LARGER SETTINGS, BUT WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS WORK WITH MEDIATE NEIGHBORS AND THOSE INVESTED ALONG THE CORRIDOR AND RESPOND TO OUR MEET YAD NEIGHBORS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE CONCERNS WERE AS WE WENT FORWARD WHLE WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BY-RIGHT PROCESS. SINCE WE FILED THE ZONING, THERE
HAVE BEEN REQUESTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UH BUT WE'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH THROUGH JOB CREATION INSTEAD OF PROFFER. >> THANKS FOR TEEING ME UP THERE. ANOTHER CONCERN I SEE IN LETTER IS ACCESS TO THESE HIGH. PAYING JOBS IN THE BUILDING WOULD NO GO TO XHURN COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
HAS ANY ENGAGEMENT BEEN DONE WITH DURHAM TECH? >> YES, IT HAS. s BECAUSE THAT'S A COMMON MISCONCEPTION IN LIFE SCIENCE WORLD BUT THEY'D BE AVAILABLE TO FOLKS GRADUATING FROM PROGRAMS THROUGH DURHAM TECH SO WE'VE MET WITH BOTH NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL AS WELL AS DURHAM TECH AND ASKED THEM WHETHER THERE WAS A WAY TO PARTNER TO EITHER BRING PROGRAMS INTO OUR BUILDINGS OR HAVE OFFER SPACE FOR THEM TO HAVE NETWORKING OR INTERNALSHIPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT -- INTERNSHIPS. I MENTIONED THE CENTRAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS SOMETHING
THAT CENTRAL AGREED TO DO AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A STUDENT INVITED UP TO CHICAGO TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. WITH TECH, THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN MORE ON HOW WE CAN PROVIDE SKILLED TRAINING IN THE FACILITY ON A TEMPORARY BASIS. THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. D.
ABOUT HOW THEY COULD USE THIS SPACE ON A FLEXIBLE BASIS AND RUN EVENTS THROUGH THERE WHETHER IT BE TRAINING OR CERTIFICATION THROUGH THEIR SHORT TEM PROGRAMS THAT LAST MORE OF 16-WEEK CYCE. >> GOTCHA. I THINK THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS SO I DON'T THINK SPACE WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION, BUT I WOULD ASK THE APPLICANT TO CONSIDER ENDOWING A SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH THEIR FOUNDATION FOR HAYTI RESIDENCE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION YOU COULD MAKE TO HELP ENSURE ACCESS TO THOSE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ALREADY EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITY. ALSO FOR THE WET LAB SPACE, ITS, DO YOU HAVE AN ANCHOR TENANT IDENTIFIED? >> I'M NOT AT LIBERTY -- NOT AN ANCHOR TENANT BUT I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO DISCUSS. >> BEAUTIFUL.
I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I -- QUICK QUESTION FOR STAFF. WHEN YOU MENTIONED THOSE PROVISIONS FOR THE FEET OF HEIGHT ONE OF THEM WAS STORMWATER RETENTION ON-SITE. I IMAGINE THAT WOULD BE BEYOND WHAT THE UDO REQUIRES FOR STORMWATER RETENTION THEN TO GET THE PROVISION? >> BO DOBRZENSKI, PLANNING.
THAT'S SPEAKING TO USE OF RAINWATER/STORMWATER. WE'VE HAD FOR THOSE PROEGSS, THE MAJORITY OF INSTANCES WHERE THEY'VE BEEN USED, IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN USED FOR THE SMALL AMOUNT OF HEIGHT FOR ARTICULATION OF BUILDING FACADE AND DIFFERENT USE OF MATERIALS. MANY O OF THE OTHER PROVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED ACTUALLY HAVEN'T BEEN USED UNFORTUNATELY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT. >> QUICK FOLLOW-UP. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED I GUESS OBSERVATION IS O OF THE MILLION SQUARE FEET YOU'RE PROPOSING ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND OF THAT IS GOING TO THE COMMUNITY, VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, UM, JUST NOTE ON THAT SO THAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE FIGHT YOU PUT UP WAS FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS AND SO
THAT'S A NOMINAL IMPACT TO THE PROGRAM, THE OVERALL PROGRAM OF THE DEVELOPMENT. UM, AND SO SUGGEST MAYBE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE THERE. THE OTHER THING THAT I'LL ASK IS HAVE YOU CONSIDERED STANDING UP A FUND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO INVEST -- THINK LP MONEY. IS THERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO STAND UP A FUND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO INVEST TALK ABOUT OWNERSHIP, AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, TO SAY SURE, HERE'S A SED ASIDE FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN THIS DEVELOPMENT WE WIN/YOU WIN; HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT? >> THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN EARLY CONVERSATIONS AND WE EXPLAINED THAT ALL OF THE EQUITY THAT HAD BEEN USED TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY WA ALREADY IN PLACE AND WE'D HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM THOSE INVESTORS TO FURTHER ALLOW FOLKS INTO THE INVESTMENT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN TIED TOGETHER, AND SO THERE'S A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF OVERSIGHT THERE AND RESTRICTIONS THERE THAT WE WEREN'T COMFORTABLE AT THE TIME AND I THINK THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY, QUITE FRANKLY AND THE FINANCIAL MARKETS HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THAT TIME SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING I THINK WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR LENDER TO ACCEPT. SOMETHING W CAN CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT AND HAPPY TO DO THAT FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, UM, BUT WE DID RAISE IT, UM, AND WERE TOLD THAT WASN'T A VIABLE OPTION HERE. >> ANY OTHER QESTIONS? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. SO I PREPARING FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH INTO STERLING BAY'S KIND OF FINANCIAL OUTLOOK AND I SAW THAT A LARGE PROJECT THAT THEY HAD UNDERWAY IN CHICAGO,
THEY HAD TO BASICALLY SURRENDER A LARGE SECTION OF THAT AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, GIVEN THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY, SUPPLY CHAINS HOW STABLE IS THE FINANCING FOR THIS PROJECT CONSIDERING IT'S CURRENTLY ESSENTIALLY A VACANT PARKING LOT? >> I'M GOING ASK STERLING BAY UH TO ANSWER THT DIRECTLY. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR TIME. AS RELATES TO THAT PROJECT IN CHICAGO, FIRST IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE TO THE HERITAGE SQUARE PROJECT, AND I THINK IT'S SOURCES TO TAMMY UH TOUCHED ON HERE AS WELL JUST THE HEAD WINDS THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SECTOR AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME SINCE WE ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY IN JUNE/JULY 2022,
WE'VE SEEN ESCALATION GOING UP TO 20% IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS, INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT WITH NOW ADMINISTRATION TARIFFS, THERE'S A TON OF UNCERTAINTY SO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT LAND IN CHICAGO UNFORTUNATE, BUT THERE'S ALSO ON THE SUBJECT A LOT OF THESE HEAD WINDS THAT WE'VE SEEN, BUT AGAIN JUST TO FURTHER TERRIFY COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FUND TO WHAT HERITAGE SQUARE PROJECT [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> FOLLOW-UP? COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. >> ONE MORE QUESTION KIND OF PIGGYBACKING OFF OF COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT'S SDPG YU HAD CONSIDERED SOME SORT OF FUND, ONE FOR THE INVESTMENT PIECE, I LOVE THAT IDEA, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SECRET THAT ONCE THIS BUILDING IS BUILT IT WILL
INCREASE THE PROPERTY VALUES OF ALL THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS, SO HAD UH YOU ALL CONSIDERED SOME SORT OF FUND TO HELP TO OFFSET THOSE PROPERTY TAX AND ADDITIONAL FEES FOR THE COMMUNITY? >> SO, UM, I DO'T KNOW THAT WE GOTTEN THE REQUEST FOR FUND PRIOR AND THAT'S NOT SOUNDING FAMILIAR TO ME, BUT, UM, WHAT WE DID TALK ABOUT WITH THE COMMUNITY WAS THAT CONCERN ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX IS NOT ONLY FOR THE LOCAL BUSINESSES BUT FOR THE RESIDENTS AND EXPLAINS THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING ST CITY COUNCIL CONTROLS, THAT'S SET BY THE COUNTY AND THE WAY UH THAT THOSE TAXES WORK HAVE TO BE LEVELLED COMPARING LIKE PROPERTY TO LIKE PROPERTY UH SO JUST BECAUSE WE'RE INVESTING AND BUILDING THIS NEW BUILDING HERE DOES NOT MEAN THAT ITLL COMPARE THE PROPERTY TAX, THE PROPERTY VALUES OF THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS AND THEY'LL INCREASE BY UH THE SAME AMOUNT. WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A GREATER TAX BURDEN AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF WILL OFFSET SOME OF THE
RESIDENTIAL PROBLG PROPERTY THAT ONLY CAN COMPARE TO OTHER RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED ABOUT A FUND TO MY KNOWLEDGE BEFORE TONIGHT, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT AND EVALUATE WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TONIGHT, BUT HADN'T BEEN SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO EVALUATE AS FAR AS KI RECALL FROM ALL OF THE DISCUSSIONS -- I CAN REALL FOM ALL THE DISCUSSIONS. AGAIN, WE DID NOT RECEIVE THIS SHEET OF PAPER UNTIL COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT SHARED IT WITH YOU SO IF THAT WAS IN HERE AS PART OF THE REQUEST -- >> IT'S NOT IN THERE AND I UNDERSTAND IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY VALUES, BUT TO SAY THAT IT LIKE THAT IT'S JUST GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE VALUE, THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IS INACCURATE, UM, SO THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW, BUT, UM, YEAH, THANK YOU. >> AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THE
PROPERTY TAXES WON'T GO UP. I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN THEY HAVE AND GENERALIZED THE HOUSING MARKET WENT UP, WE EXLAINED TO THE COMMUNITY AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MISRESPECT IT HERE TO THOSE WOULD BE EVALUATED DIFFERENTLY BY THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BEING VALUED [INDISCERNIBLE]. THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
[LOW AUDIO]. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT. P ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS YOU'RE WILLING TO MAKE TO ADDRESS SCOMPLUNTY CONCERNS SHARED TONIGHT -- COMMUNITY CONCERNS SHARED TONIGHT?
>> SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS RAISED WERE GOOD ONES. SOME OF THEM WE JUST HEARD TONIGHT SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT MOVING FORWARD AND WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO CHANGE AND OFFER. MUCH OF WHAT WE HEARD TONIGHT WAS JUST A REQUEST TO VOTE NO UNDER FEAR OF GENTRIFICATION AND CHANGE AND I UNDERSTAND THA, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS AN ACTUAL PROFFER THAT WE'RE
ABLE TO RESOLVE WITH ONE ZONING CASE OR TEN, SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE DIFFERENT PROFFERS THAT WE COULD MAKE AND CHANGES BETWEEN NOW AND THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION WHENEVER THAT'S SCHEDULED, I'M NOT PREPARED TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT THOSE WOULD BE AND JUST LIKE T REMIND THAT WE CAN'T ACTUALLY MAKE PROFFERS WITH THE CASE BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN ZONING DISTRICT HAS A POLICY OF IT'S GENERAL REZONING ON PURPOSE BECAUSE CHAPTER 16 AS ALL PROVISIONS. THIS IS NOT A DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT UH YOU TYPICALLY SEE OUT IN EAST DURHAM WHICH HAS THE ABILITY TO ADD THOSE CONDITIONS AND THAT'S BY DESIGN BECAUSE OF THE TRANSLATIONAL ZONING HAPPENED, THERE WAS A IDEA TO HAVE ALL THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS GOVERNED BY CHAPTER 16 PR SOME PREDICTABILITY AND UNIFORMITY SO WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS CASE TO THE CITY STAFF WHO'D WE'D ALREADY INFORMED GOING BY RIGHT AND NOTIFIED THEM WE WERE HAVING TO PURSUE ZONING HAD A VERY LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE
POSSIBILITIES WERE AND WHAT POINTED IN THAT DIRECTION. SO WE ARE, UM -- WE WILL CONSIDER ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE TAKEN HERE TONIGHT. WE'RE COMMITTED TO GOING FORWARD WITH THOSE MEET INNINGS APRIL. WE HOPE THE COMMISSION ACTS TONIGHT AND WILL TAKE ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK SERIOUSLY AND EVALUATE WHETHER THERE'S OTHER COMMITMENTS WE CAN MAKE IN WHATEVER FORM THIS WOULD TAKE.
>> THANK YOU. >> JUST VERY QUICKLY, WHAT YOU WOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS WHAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE DESIRE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE DEVELOPMENT? >> WE'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. SIONERS AND THE - >> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
READY TO TAKE THIS T A VOTE? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS CASE FORWARD? >> CHAIR, AS RELATES TO CASE Z2400037, 401 EAST LAKEWOOD AVENUE I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION WE MOVE THIS CASE FORWARD WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. >> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS TO MOVE CASE Z2400037, 401 EAST LAKEWOOD AVENUE FORWARD WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. MAY I HAVE THE ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. I GO LAST. [ROLL CALL VOTE].
MOTION FAILS 10-0. >> IT IS 7:30 WE ARE ON A TEN-MINUTE BREAK. COME BACK HERE AT 7:40.
>> NEXT CASE IS 2. Z2400020 METHODIST STREET TOWNHOUSES. MAY WE HAVE STAFF REPORT? >> GOOD EVENING CHAIR CAMERON, VICE CHAIR CHAGARIS, AND COMMISSIONERS.
I AM PEYTON BURGESS, AND I AM HERE TO PRESENT Z2400020 METHODIST STREET TOWNHOUSES. 126 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF UP TO 18 TOWNHOUSES. THE EXISTING ZONING IS COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SITE IS SURROUNDED BY THE SAME, WITH OFFICE AND INSTITUTIONAL ACROSS SOUTH MIAMI BLVD AND RURAL RESIDENTIAL BEHIND THE PROPERTY. THE AERIAL MAP SHOWS THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE PROJECT.
-- PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ON THE PLACE TYPE MAP. THE PROPOSED ZONING IS INCONSISTENT WITH THIS DESIGNATION, SO A PLACE TYPE MAP CHANGE TO APARTMENT AND TOWNHOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD IS RECOMMENDED. -- IF THIS ZONING IS APPROVED.
THE TEXTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN COMMITS TO BUILD ONLY UP TO 18 TOWNHOUSES AND TO ACCESS THE SITE FROM METHODIST STREET. THE APPLICANT HELD NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS ON MARCH 13 AND DECEMBER 19, 2024. NO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED EITHER MEETING, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMMENTS RECEIVED ON DURHAM REZONING EXPLORER IN RELATION TO THIS CASE. THE PROPOSAL IS CONSISTENT WITH 9 OF 21 APPLICABLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES, BUT IT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE PLACE TYPE MAP DESIGNATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
IF THE ZONING MAP CHANGE IS APPROVED, STAFF RECOMMENDS A NEW PLACE TYPE OF APARTMENT AND TOWNHOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD. STAFF AND THE APPLICANT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR IS OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MAY WE HAVE THE APPLICANT COME FORWARD? >> GOOD EVENING. VINCE DEFREEDIS IN CARY AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER MR. SING.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A VACANT SITE. IT IS NOTED BY STAFF WITH THE TEXTUAL APPLICATION WE'RE PROPOSING UP TO 18 TOWNHOMES. BY NATURE OF BEING TOWNHOMES THESE ARE SMALLER RESIDENTIAL UNITS THAT WILL BE BUILT AT A MORE AFFORDABLE PRICE RANGE AD IT'S ALSO CONSISTENT WITH OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE IN THE AREA. THE PLAN IS TO BUILD ENERGY EFFICIENT UNITS AND AS STAFF A ALSO MENTIONED WE HELD TWO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, THERE WERE NO QUESTIONS AND NO OPPOSITION FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 126 PLANNED RESIDENTIAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> YOU DONE? OKAY. UM, IS THERE A SIGNUP SHEET FOR THIS?
ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THAT HAS NOT SIGNED UP? IS THERE ANYONE ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR IS CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE ARE NOW OPEN FOR COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION AND QUESTION. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER WOUK. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. SO YOU -- I -- SO YOU JUST SAID THESE ARE GOING TO BE ENERGY EFFICIENT UNITS, DOES THAT COUNT AS LIKE A GREEN BUILDING TECHNIQUE? I GUESS THIS IS FOR STAFF.
I WANTED TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE LOW COST. DOES THAT FALL INTO THE AFFORDABILITY? -- DESIGNATION? >> SO I'LL ANSWER THE PORTION OF THE GREEN BUILDING TECHNIQUE FIRST.
SO ENERGY EFFICIENT UNITS WE CAN BUILD ANYWHERE FROM A LOWER HER SCORE INCLUDING NET ZERO HOMES DEPENDING ON WHAT THE OWNER DECIDES ON, WE'LL BE BUILDING UNITS THAT ARE MORE EFFICIENT THAN STANDARD CODE CONSTRUCTION, AT LEAST 40% MORE EFFICIENT THAN A STANDARD-BUILT; THAT WOULD BE MINIMUM. SORRY THE SECOND QUESTION RELATED TO -- AFFORDABILITY. WHEN I SAY AFFORDABILITY THERE, THEY DON'T MEET THE DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I'M JUST SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE THAN FOR INSTANCE SAY LARGER, MORE E ELABORATE-TYPE PROJECT OR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, THAT KIND OF THING. >> THANK YOU. I UH JUST HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS. ONE WAS THERE'S AN UNFULFILLED REQUEST FOR BUS PULLOUT, AND I
WAS WONDERING IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO WHY THAT WAS NOT FULFILLED FROM TRANSPORTATION AND AS WELL AS YOU'VE NO COMMITMENT TO LIKE SOMETHING SO SIMPLE AS LIKE NATIVE PLANTINGS, SO, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. >> YEAH. SURE WE COULD CERTAINLY I'M - ACCOMMODATE THAT. THE BUS PULLOUT, WE DIDN'T, UM, APPROVE THAT OR AT LEAST AT THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE, IT'S SUCH A SMALL PROJECT.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO WIND UP WITH CLOSER TO 15 UNITS INSTEAD OF 18. WE CAN LOOK AT IT AGAIN BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING DIFFICULT TO INCLUDE IN THE PROJECT. >> I UH JUST WANT TO CHECK REALLY QUICK, WAS THAT A FORMAL COMMITMENT TO USING NATIVE PLANTINGS? >> YES.
>> OKAY. IS THAT FOR 100% O OF REQUIRED PLANTINGS? >> YES. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER WOUK, WERE YOU DONE? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU SAID MORE AFFORDABLE; WHAT IS THE PRICE POINT THAT YOU ANTICIPATE THESE SELL FOR? >> UNDETERMINED STILL AT THIS POINT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SITE DEVELOPMENT COSTS TO GET INTO BEFORE WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT THE PRICE OF THE UNITS WILL BE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THEN ARE WE READY TO MOVE THIS CASE FORWARD? MAY I HAVE A MOTION?
>> AS RELATES TO CASE Z2400020 METHODIST STREET TOWNHOMES, I MAKE A MOTION WE MOVE THIS CASE FORWARD WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. >> SECOND. >> MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT; SECONDED BY XHUSHGS WILLIAMS TO MOVE CASE Z2400020 METHODIST STREET TOWNHOMES FORWARD WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE? [ROLL CALL VOTE].
MOTION PASSES 10-0. >> THANK YOU. NEXT CASE 3. Z2400026 - 1606 AND 1608 EAST CORNWALLIS ROAD.
MAY WE HAVE THE STAFF REPORT, PLEASE? >> GOOD EVENING CHAIR CAMERON, VICE CHAIR CHAGARIS, AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM PEYTON BURGESS, AND I AM HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT Z2400026 - 1606 AND 1608 EAST CORNWALLIS ROAD. 205 TO ALLOW FOR UP TO TEN TOWNHOUSE UNITS.
AGAIN, THE EXISTING ZONING IS RESIDENTIAL SUBURBAN-20. THE SITE IS SURROUNDED BY THE SAME, RESIDENTIAL SUBURBAN-M, AND COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THE ROAD. THE AERIAL MAP SHOWS THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE PROJECT.
THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ON THE PLACE-TYPE MAP. THE PROPOSED ZONING WAS DETERMINED INCONSISTENT WITH THE DESIGNATED PLACE TYPE. THE APPLICANT HAS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING TEXT COMMITMENTS: UP TO TEN TOWNHOUSES. NO TOWNHOUSES SHALL FRONT ON EAST CORNWALLIS ROAD.
BUS PULL-OUT AND CONCRETE PAD/BUS SHELTER. NORTHBOUND LEFT TURN LANE. $1,000 DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS DONATION. $5,000 DURHAM DEDICATED HOUSING FUND DONATION.
INTERNAL PRIVATE ACCESS/COMMON AREA DRIVEWAYS. ALL INTERNAL CROSSWALKS SHALL BE STRIPED. NATIVE PLANTINGS. NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WERE HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING GUIDELINES ON MAY 29, 2024, AND MARCH 4, 2025. THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE FIRST MEETING, AND ONE AT THE SECOND. THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMMENTS RECEIVED ON DURHAM REZONING EXPLORER IN RELATION TO THIS CASE.
WHILE THE PROPOSAL IS CONSISTENT WITH 13 OF 21 APPLICABLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES, IT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE PLACE-TYPE MAP DESIGNATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES. IF THE ZONING MAP CHANGE IS APPROVED, STAFF RECOMMENDS A NEW PLACE TYPE OF APARTMENT AND TOWNHOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD. STAFF AND THE APPLICANT ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR IS OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD THE APPLICANT PLEASE COME FORWARD? >> GOOD EVENING. PAM PORTER WITH TMTLA ASSOCIATES AND TONIGHT I'M HERE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER. 205 FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF UP TO TEN
TOWNHOMES. SOME OF YOU WHO WERE ON PLANNING COMMISSION BACK IN 2022, MAY RECALL THE PREVIOUS ZONING CASE FOR THIS LOT WAS DENIED BY BOTH PLANNING AND CITY COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME T FUTURE LAND USE MAP CALLED THIS PARCEL OUT OF COMMERCIAL. THE PREVIOUS ZONING CASE WAS REQUESTING TO REZONE FROM RS-20 TO COMMERCIAL GENERAL.
THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WAS THAT THE PARCEL MAY BE GETTER SUITED FOR RESIDENTIAL. SIT WORTH NOTING THAT THE HOUSE AT 1604 EAST CORNWALLIS ROAD SITS ABOUT 12 FEET FROM THE SHARED PROPERTY LINE SO ANY COMMERCIAL WOULD BE IMPACTFUL TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ON THAT LOT. AFTER HEARING COMMENTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS, PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL, THE OWNER DECIDED TO CHANGE DIRECTION AND APPLY FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING. AS STAFF NOTED, WE ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE PLACE-TYPE MAP DESIGNATION WHICH IS CURRENTLY NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE. AFTER THE XHEN PRAYER THE
INITIAL ZONING REQUEST, IT SEEMED THS PARCEL WOULD BE BETTER SUITED TO HAVE AN APARTMENT AND TOWNHOME DESIGNATION AND WOULD MATCH BETTER ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF EAST CORNWALLIS ROAD. AS MENTIONED, WE HAD TWO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS FO THIS. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE NEIGHBOR WHO LIVES AT 1604 EAST CORNWALLIS ROAD WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY VERY OPPOSED TO THE COMMERCIAL ZONING EXPRESSED HIS SUPPORT FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL ZONING FOR THIS AND IT IS ON THE RECORDING FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING. OTHER THAN A NEIGHBOR AT THE SECOND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WHO WAS ASKING ABOUT TRAFFIC IMPACT WHICH IS QUITE MINIMAL THAT HAS IS ONLY GOING TO BE UP TO 10 TOWNHOME UNITS WE WERE NOT MET WITH ANY OPPOSITION TO OUR PROPOSAL.
HIGHLIGHT TEXT COMMITMENTS. COMMITTING TO MAXIMUM OF 10 UNITS AND TEY'LL BE TOWNHOMES. IF DEEMEDNESS AT SITE PLAN THE TRANSIT STOP ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF THE SITE WILL BE UPGRADED TO GO DURHAM/GOTRIANGLE STANDARDS WITH WITH BUS PULLOUT AND
CONCRETE PAD/BUS SHELTER. IN OUR COVERSATIONS, THEY WERE NOT SURE IF THE TRANSIT STOP WAS GOING TO REMAIN OR RELOCATED. WE WILL FIND THAT OUT AT SITE PLAN SO IF IT'S RELOCATED WE WILL NOT BE BUILDING THE BUS SHELTER, BUT IF IT REMAINS, BUS SHELTER WILL BE CONSTRUCTED. DONATION TO DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
E DONATION TO DEDICATED HOUSING FUND FOR $5,000, AND NATIVE PLANTINGS AS DEFINED IN THE LANDSCAPE MANUAL WILL BE USED FOR ALL REQUIRED LANDSCAPING. THE OWNER IS A LOCAL DURHAM RESIDENT. HE IS NOT AN OUT OF TOWN DEVELOPING. HE WANTS TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY UH WHERE HE LIVES AND THIS SMALL INFILL PROJECT IS GREAT INVESTMENT AS IT WILL ADD NEEDED HOUSING STOP. WE'RE CONSISTENT WITH THE UDO AND GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE COMP PLAN. I MENTIONED BEFORE WE'RE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE PLACE-TYPE MAP, BUT I THINK OUR REQUEST IS REASONABLE TO HAVE THAT CHANGED IF THIS GETS APPROVED.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY NOTES. THANK YO FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR REQUEST. I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? IS THERE A SIGNUP SHEET? ANYONE ONIT? ONE PERSON.
IS THERE ANYONE ON THE ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS CASE? AT TIS TIME T PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. WE ARE NOW OPEN FOR COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION AND QESTONS. ANY QUESTIONS?
ARE WE READY TO MOVE THIS CASE FORWARD? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE TIS CASE FORWARD? >> CHAIR, AS RELATES TO CASE Z 2400026, 1606 AND 1608 EAST CORNWALLIS ROAD, I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION WE MOVE THIS CASE
FORWARD WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. >> SECOND. >> BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT AND SECONDED BY COCHAIR CHAGARIS TO MOVE CASE Z2400026, 1606 AND 1608 EAST CORNWALLIS ROAD FORWARD WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. MAY I HAVE THE ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE?
[ROLL CALL VOTE]. >> MOTION PASSES 10-0. >> THANK YOU. YOU HAVE ANY COMMITTEE UH UPDATES? NONE? MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS:
1. UPDATED RULES AND PROCEDURES. >> SO WE'VE FINALLY GOT TON THE POINT OF THE AGENDA WHAT EVERYBODY IS HERE FOR: YOUR UPDATED RULES AND PROCEDURES. MAKE SURE FOR THE RECORD THAT IT'S OCTOBER 8TH, 2024, RETREAT AT THE DURHAM PLANNING COMMISSION AT ITS OCTOBER 8, 2024 RETREAT, THE DURHAM PLANNING COMMISSION DIRECTED STAFF TO DRAFT AN UPDATED VERSION OF ITS RULES OF PROCEDURE TO AMEND SECTION 5, ATTENDANCE, TO CONFORM TO THE ADOPTED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
STAFF WAS ALSO ASKED TO IDENTIFY OTHER AREAS OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE THAT MAY NOT BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED THREE INSTANCES WHERE EITHER THE RULES OF PROCEDURE DO NOT CONFORM TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT OR THE RULES OF PROCEDURE DO NOT FOLLOW COMMON PRACTICE, AND NO GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED BY THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. 1B, SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS. ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE LAST SENTENCE TO CLARIFY THAT TERMS CONTINUE PAST JUNE 30 IF THE GOVERNING BODY HAS NOT APPOINTED A REPLACEMENT. SO IF YOUR TERM ENDS ON
JUNE 30TH AND YOUR REPLACEMENT HAS NOT BEEN MADE, THEN YOU ARE STILL ON THE COMMISSION -- CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT. [LAUGHTER] >> IS THAT, I MEAN, MY QUESTION WITH THAT IS -- WHAT IF THE PERSON THAT IS STAYING PAST JUNE 30TH, THEN EITHER DIDN'T APPLY TO STAY OR DOESN'T GET REAPPOINTED AND WE HAVE A MEETING AND THEY'RE SITTING SUPPOSEDLY; IS THAT LIKE SOMEONE'S GOING TO COME BACK AND SAY IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW? >> SO IF LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT DECIDES NOT TO REAPPLY FOR HIS NEXT TERM, UM, ONCE HIS APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE BY, I BELIEVE IN YOUR CASE IT'S CITY COUNCIL, CORRECT -- ONCE THE APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE BY CITY COUNCIL AFTER JUNE 30TH, HIS TERM IS OVER. THIS IS JUST IF FOR SOME REASON, FOR WHATEVER REASON THE CITY COUNCIL DID NOT GET AROUND TO MAKING THE APPOINTMENT PRIOR TO
JUNE 30TH, HE IS ALLOWED TO STAY ON THE COMMISSION UNTIL THAT APPOINTMENT IS MADE. IT'S NOT CONSIDERED A VACANT SEAT. NOBODY CAN FORCE COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT TO KEEP COMING TO MEETINGS, OF COURSE, BUT HE DOES HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY SHOULD HE CHOOSE TO DO SO. UM, THAT'S BASICALLY HOW THAT WORKS.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION LAST JUNE WHEN WE HAD PEOPLE WITH EXPIRING TERMS AND THEY HASN'T BEEN APPOINTED YET SO I WANTED TO PUT THIS IN THE RULES OF PROCEDURE AS WE'RE APPROACHING END OF TERMS THAT THAT IS THE CASE. 8, ELECTION OF OFFICERS. ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE CLARIFIES THAT OFFICER ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER, AS IS CURRENT PRACTICE. THAT'S THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT BUT IT'S NOT IN THE INTERLOCAL OR RULES OF PROCEDURE SO THIS CODIFY UHS YOUR CURRENT PRACTICE. 3, GOVERNING BODY NOTIFICATION. AMEND LANGUAGE TO CONFORM TO THE ADOPTED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, REQUIRING THAT THE GOVERNING
BODY BE NOTIFIED ONCE A COMMISSIONER HAS MISSED THREE MEETINGS IN A TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD. THOSE MEETINGS DO NOT NEED TO BE CONSECUTIVE. JUST REMINDER THAT THE PROCESS AND HOW SIT SPELLED OUT IN INTERLOCAL UH AGREEMENT; IF YOU'VE MISSED THREE MEETINGS IN ANY 12-MONTH PERIOD -- SO NOT JANUARY TO DECEMBER OR JULY TO JUNE IT CAN BE ANY 12-MONTH PERIOD, THE GOVERNING BODY THAT APPOINTED YOU, THE CLERK'S OFFICE NOTIFIED THAT YOU'VE VIOLATED THE MEETINGS REQUIREMENT T ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT AND CAN TAKE ACTION OR NOT AS THEY SO CHOOSE. IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED, IT'S SIMPLY A NOTE ANY FI CASE PROCEDURE TO THE BOARD. WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. 5 IT SAYS CHAIR SHALL STATE THE MOTION AND OPEN THE FLOOR UP WITH DEBATE.
WE DEBATE BEFOREHAND. WE REALLY DON'T DEBATE AFTER THE MOTION'S BEEN MADE. DOES IT MATTER. DO W DEBATE BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE?
>> I THINK THE WAY YOU DO IT IS PERFECTLY FINE. YOU HAVE TE PUBLIC HEARING. YOU THEN HAVE DISCUSSION, AND THEN YOU MAKE THE MOTION AND VOTE. I THINK THAT'S -- RULES AND PROCEDURE WOULD ALLOW YOU TO HAVE -- MKE THE MOTION AND THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION, BUT YOU ALL DON'T GENERALLY DO THAT.
>> YEAH. OKAY. DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THESE? >> YES.
I WOULD APPRECIATE A VOTE ON THIS. >> ALL RIGHT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? >> -- HOLD ON, BEING TOLD TO HOLD ON. >> THE LAWYER.
1B SAYS SHALL. 1B FOR EVERYBODY EXCEPT FOR MR. CUTRIGHT. 1B. 1B TO CHANGE THE SHALL STAY TO MAY STAY, UH -- >> ALL RIGHT S THERE A SECOND? >> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CUTRIGHT; SECONDED
BY COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS TO APPROVE THE 1. UPDATED RULES AND PROCEDURES. 1B TO CHANGE THE WORD FROM SHALL TO MAY. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ANY STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS? >> NO. >> WE'RE ADJOURNED.