Public Meetings - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

No agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided for this meeting. Therefore, a summary of discussion items, decisions, or public comments cannot be generated based on the available information.

No agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided for this meeting. Therefore, no summary of proceedings can be generated.

The Driver's License Restoration Fund Board (the Board) met on July 21, 2025, to consider applications for financial assistance to restore driver's licenses and related barriers. The Board reviewed eight applications, including two holdovers from the previous month. Decisions included approvals, partial approvals, continuations, and one additional fee approval from a prior case. All votes were unanimous. Approvals and Actions - Michael Petiford (Orange County pot): Approved $ (amount unspecified) for a DWI assessment only. He may reapply for further assistance. Motion by [unstated], second by Ty. Vote: 8-0. - Andrew Lanier (Chapel Hill pot): Approved full payment of all listed court costs ($1,634.69), fines ($40), and DMV reinstatement fee ($120), plus any additional amount owed on a Union County civil judgment. Motion by [unstated], second by Tiffany. Vote: 8-0. - Tuana Clark (Chapel Hill pot): Approved $3,031.50 in court costs, condition that she pays her $20 fine; DMV reinstatement fee denied due to unresolved FTAs. Motion by [unstated], second by April. Vote: 8-0. - Jameson Ingram (Orange County pot): Approved court costs for two Guilford County cases ($258 each, total $516), condition that he pays the $125 fines; denied all other fees (Alamance County costs, restitution, DMV fee). Motion by [unstated], second by Ty. Vote: 8-0. - Sunday Jones (Orange County pot – holdover): Approved $60 fee for an Alamance County case (appointed attorney fee). Motion by [unstated], second by April. Vote: 8-0. - Jessica Scott (Chapel Hill pot – additional fee from prior case): Approved $465 remaining balance on a Wake County case after verification by staff. Motion by [unstated], second by Donna. Vote: 8-0. Continuations - Christian Davis (Chapel Hill pot): Continued to August 18 meeting. He will be one week past the five-year mark since his violent felony conviction on July 24; he also has multiple orders for arrest. The Board recommended he update his application after reaching eligibility and resolving OFAs. Motion by [unstated], second by Donna. Vote: 8-0. - Tiffany Curran (Chapel Hill pot – holdover): Continued to August 18 meeting. If no contact is made by then, her application will be denied. Motion by [unstated], second by Ty. Vote: 8-0. Funding Update - Sarah reported that the Chapel Hill fund has at least $20,000 and Orange County at least $6,000 (no Carborough applicants this cycle). An exact carryover amount is pending. Next Meeting - Scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2025.

The Chapel Hill Town Council met at 6:00 PM on June 25, 2025, in Council Chamber, Town Hall. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, discussion on a conditional zoning application, approval of funding for the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness, appointment of a new Town Manager, and a resolution of appreciation for outgoing Council Member Karen Stegman. The meeting adjourned at 7:29 PM. Proclamation - Parks and Recreation Month: Mayor pro tem Ryan proclaimed July 2025 as Parks and Recreation Month in Chapel Hill, highlighting the national theme "Build Together, Play Together." The proclamation recognized parks and recreation staff for their service. Announcements - IotaComm Relocation: Mayor Anderson announced that IotaComm Inc., a wireless communication and data services company, is relocating its corporate headquarters to downtown Chapel Hill. - Open Chapel Hill Day: Scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, offering tours of seven town facilities and the OWASA water treatment plant, with transportation provided by Chapel Hill Transit. - Fourth of July Celebration: Fireworks at Southern Community Park; details on the town website. Consent Calendar - Council unanimously approved the Consent Agenda (R-1), which included approval of minutes, budget amendments, a construction contract increase for the Homestead Park Skatepark Reconstruction Project (up to $709,750, an increase of $100,000), a bid award to Sunrock Industries LLC for street patching/milling/resurfacing/re-striping, and other routine items. - Human Services Funding Program (Item 9): Council Member Miller-Foushee was recused from voting due to a conflict of interest (she serves on the board of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, a funding recipient). The funding plan for FY 2026 was approved 8-0. Public Comments & Testimony - Hillmont Development Safety Concerns: Four community members (Gayle Roberts, Jennifer Layton, Craig Nishimoto, Jeffrey Brown) from Littlejohn Road and Sherwood Forest expressed fear and frustration over falling trees from the adjacent Hillmont construction project. Residents reported that a 60-foot tree had fallen on Jeffrey Brown’s house, damaging a nursery room window. Arborist Craig Nishimoto testified that the developer violated the town’s tree ordinance by placing silt fencing within critical root zones of protected trees, leading to root damage and instability. He stated that three large trees had fallen in eight weeks within a 20-foot span, and others were leaning dangerously. They requested the Council hold the developer accountable and conduct a thorough investigation. The matter was received and filed. - Town Budget Comments: Anna Lynch, leader of UNC’s Urban Planning and Local Policy Club, suggested alternative revenue sources to property tax increases, such as a student parking program at the new Rosemary Street Parking Deck. She noted that the town owns underdeveloped land on Franklin Street valued at $10 million and has many empty parking spaces that could be leased to students. - Petition for Middle/Workforce Housing: Mayor pro tem Ryan presented a petition, co-signed by five council members, asking the Town Manager to accelerate planning for missing-middle and workforce housing in Southern Chapel Hill, following the 2023 expansion of the Urban Services Boundary. Council Member Berry expressed confusion over the sudden prioritization and lack of open discussion. Mayor pro tem Ryan clarified the petition was a procedural tool to initiate conversation, not to give direction. The petition was received and referred to the Mayor and Manager by a 7-2 vote (Council Members Berry and Searing dissenting). Discussion Items - Funding for Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness: Council Member Stegman proposed allocating $61,109 from the $100,000 set aside in the FY 2025-26 budget to fill a gap in the Partnership’s funding, ensuring no staff cuts to the Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection (SOHRAD) program. The other partners (Carrboro, Hillsborough, Orange County) had already fully funded their shares. The interim Town Manager noted that staff had not yet recommended how to allocate the $100,000, and there were competing requests. Council Member Searing expressed reluctance, preferring to consider other initiatives that provide housing units. After debate, the motion passed 8-1 (Council Member Searing opposed). - Conditional Zoning for 200 South Elliott Road: The Council reopened a public hearing on a conditional zoning application for a six-story apartment building at 200 South Elliott Road. The original approval on April 9, 2025, did not take effect because the property owner did not consent to conditions. The applicant, Rockwood Development, presented a modified site plan and offered either 10% of units at 80% Area Median Income (AMI) or a $1.5 million payment-in-lieu for affordable housing. The Council had previously raised the payment to $2 million, but the developer stated that was not financially feasible. Land planner Jessie Hardesty explained changes: relocating amenity space and loading areas, and potentially moving stormwater under the parking deck to open more amenity space. In public comment, Eric Clayton, operations manager at Extraordinary Ventures (which operates on the site), passionately urged Council to prioritize helping the disabled employees and nursing home residents affected by the development. Susanna Dancy of Rockwood Development stated they are working with Extraordinary Ventures to find a new location. Council members expressed disappointment at the lower affordable housing offer but many supported the $1.5 million payment, noting it could fund deeper affordability (e.g., 30-50% AMI) through Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects. The Council closed the public hearing, approved the resolution of consistency (R-7), and approved an amended ordinance (O-9) requiring the $1.5 million payment-in-lieu at final zoning inspection (estimated three years from now). Vote: 8-1 (Council Member Berry opposed). - Appointment of New Town Manager: Mayor Anderson announced that after a national search, the Council appointed Ted Voorhees as the new Town Manager, effective August 11, 2025. Voorhees, currently County Administrator of Orange County, Virginia, has 20 years of local government experience in North Carolina. He pledged to serve with empathy and listen to the community. The Council approved the employment contract (R-9) unanimously. - Resolution of Appreciation for Council Member Karen Stegman: Council Member Miller-Foushee read a resolution honoring Karen Stegman for eight years of service, highlighting her leadership on affordable housing, community safety reforms, climate action, and social justice. Stegman expressed gratitude to family, colleagues, staff, and the community. The resolution (R-10) was adopted unanimously. Key Outcomes - Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously, including budget ordinances, street resurfacing contract, skatepark contract increase, and minutes. - Human Services Funding: Approved 8-0, with Council Member Miller-Foushee recused. - Petition on Housing: Received and referred to Mayor and Manager (7-2). - Homelessness Funding: $61,109 allocated to Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (8-1). - 200 South Elliott Road Conditional Zoning: Approved with a $1.5 million payment-in-lieu for affordable housing (8-1). - Town Manager Appointment: Ted Voorhees appointed unanimously, effective August 11, 2025. - Resolution for Council Member Stegman: Adopted unanimously. - Meeting Adjourned: 7:29 PM.

The Community Design Commission (CDC) held a virtual meeting on June 24, 2025, at 5:30 PM. The meeting included recognition of outgoing Chair John Weis and Vice-Chair Susan Lyons, approval of the May minutes, and a unanimous consent agenda. The commission also elected new leadership for the upcoming term. Consent Calendar - Approved the agenda, May minutes, and a consent agenda item: a sign permit for 400 Market Street, Unit 200, in Southern Village, all by unanimous votes. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments or petitions were received. Discussion Items - Staff and Member Recognition: Staff, fellow CDC members, and Councilmember Berry expressed gratitude to Chair Weis and Vice-Chair Lyons for their combined 13 years of service. Both outgoing members offered reflections on the commission's work and its influence on development in Chapel Hill. - Chair and Vice-Chair Election: The commission elected Heather Washburn as Chair and Patrick Brennan as Vice-Chair. Both nominations were made by outgoing Chair Weis and seconded, with unanimous approval. Brennan affirmed his commitment to community service despite time constraints. Key Outcomes - Unanimously approved the agenda, May minutes, and consent agenda (sign permit). - Unanimously elected Heather Washburn as Chair and Patrick Brennan as Vice-Chair for the upcoming term. - The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 26, 2025; no July meeting due to summer break. - Meeting adjourned at 5:41 PM.

The Chapel Hill Town Council met on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. Mayor Jessica Anderson presided, with Council Members Adam Searing and Karen Stegman absent and excused. The seven present members voted on a contentious FY 2025-2026 budget, approved multiple land-use items for the Rogers Road and Parkline areas, and unanimously supported a UNC tennis facility expansion. Consent Calendar - Items 2–4 were approved unanimously (7-0) without discussion: approval of all routine consent items, submittal of the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development Programs in Orange County, and approval of the 2025-2026 HOME Investment Partnerships Program Annual Plan spending $375,939.67. Public Comments & Testimony - Jennifer Leighton (Littlejohn Road resident) described a tree from the Hillmont development falling toward her home, alleging that tree protection ordinances were being treated as guidelines rather than enforceable rules and that planning staff had not responded to her outreach. - Craig Nishimoto (arborist) provided specific evidence of violations: the developer failed to identify rare/specimen trees within 50 feet of disturbance and did not install protective fencing according to town standards, creating a hazard for neighboring properties. - Neal Bench (Chapel Hill homeowner) opposed the proposed tax rate, arguing the 5.8 cents over revenue neutral constituted a 13% increase on the average homeowner and urged the Council to find cost reductions. - Fifteen community members spoke in opposition to the conditional rezoning at 11 White Oak Drive (Old Chapel Hill Apartments). Key themes: the building’s 250-foot, four-story massing on Old Chapel Hill Road would be an overwhelming wall; the applicant had not submitted a binding revised design; the project would add 3,000 daily car trips; and the developer’s attitude toward neighbors was dismissive. Speakers included Chuck Berlin, Walter Hinton, Anne Hartley, Joanna Pomerantz, David Adams, Adam Vane, Kathleen Smith, Dottie Fiddleman, Linda Convissor, Chris Zugelder, Mark Walters, Charles Humble, Chris Deschene, Steve Jernigan, and Doris Smith. Discussion Items FY 2025-2026 Budget Adoption Interim Town Manager Mary Jane Nirdlinger presented the final recommended budget totaling $164,112,486 (general fund $94.9 million, a 4% increase). The proposed property tax rate was 50.0 cents per $100 valuation (5.8 cents over revenue neutral, including 0.3 cents dedicated to transit). Key elements: a 5% pay increase for town employees, $1.5 million for operating budget focus areas, reduction of fund balance reliance to $1 million, and resilience against declining sales tax revenues. Council debate reflected deep division. Council Members Sharp, Miller-Foushee, Nollert, Berry, and McCullough supported the budget, arguing it was necessary to address employee pay that is 17–20% below neighboring communities, deferred maintenance, and core services. Mayor pro tem Ryan and Mayor Anderson opposed it, citing the revaluation-driven tax burden on residents and the need to adjust to changing economic conditions. A motion to enact Ordinance O-1 carried 5-2 (Aye: Berry, Miller-Foushee, Nollert, McCullough, Sharp; Nay: Anderson, Ryan). LUMO Text Amendment – Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood District Assistant Planning Director Judy Johnson explained the amendment would simplify entitlements, expand allowed uses, create a transition zone, and clarify buffers in the Historic Rogers Road Mixed-Use Zoning District. The public hearing was closed and Resolution R-4 and Ordinance O-2 were adopted unanimously (7-0). Conventional Rezoning – 1900 Purefoy Drive (Greene Tract) Senior Planner Jacob Hunt presented a rezoning of the Greene Tract, a parcel jointly owned by Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County. Council Member Ryan confirmed the rezoning would keep the land under town ownership; a market analysis and development solicitation package are expected by the end of 2025. The public hearing was closed and Resolution R-6 and Ordinance O-3 were adopted unanimously (7-0). Conditional Zoning – 11 White Oak Drive (Old Chapel Hill Apartments) Applicant Jessica Hardesty and architect Aaron Moody described changes since the May 21 meeting: removal of a dedicated 30-foot right-of-way easement on the north end (at staff recommendation after hearing council consensus against it) and massing adjustments including a flat roof on 50% of Building One’s south façade and a three-story transition. Senior Planner Charnika Harrell recommended approval, noting the rezoning would allow up to 400 multifamily units with 10% affordable at 80% AMI. Council Members Berry and Sharp opposed, citing the loss of the Danziger Drive connection (a complete communities vision) and insufficient design commitments. Council Member Nollert supported the project, arguing housing density near a transit corridor and grocery store outweighed design concerns. After public comment, motions to adopt Resolution R-8 and Ordinance O-4 both carried 5-2 (Aye: Anderson, Ryan, Miller-Foushee, Nollert, McCullough; Nay: Berry, Sharp). Special Use Permit Modification – 251 Friday Center Drive (UNC Tennis Center) Senior Planner Katherine Shor conducted an evidentiary hearing for a two-story team operations building. Attorney LeAnn Brown presented witnesses: architect Jackson Wall and UNC Athletics Director Rick Steinbacher, who testified the facility would provide essential amenities for varsity tennis, host NCAA events, and enhance contiguous property values. Staff found all four required findings of fact were satisfied. No opposition testimony was offered. The hearing was closed and Resolution R-10 approving the permit was adopted unanimously (7-0). Key Outcomes - Budget adoption (5-2) – FY 2025-2026 budget with 50-cent tax rate and 5% employee pay raise. - Rogers Road LUMO amendment (7-0) – Adopted text changes to the historic district. - Greene Tract rezoning (7-0) – Approved conventional rezoning to facilitate future development. - 11 White Oak Drive conditional zoning (5-2) – Approved up to 400 units with 10% affordable at 80% AMI; the Danziger Drive right-of-way was removed. - UNC Tennis Center SUP modification (7-0) – Approved two-story team operations building. - Appointments – Council filled seats on the Board of Adjustment, Community Design Commission, Grievance Hearing Board (with a unanimous motion to extend two term-limited positions for one year), Historic District Commission, and Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board. - Closed Session – The Council voted unanimously (7-0) to enter closed session under NCGS 143-318.11(a)(5) and (a)(3) to discuss personnel and compensation matters. - Special Meeting Called – Mayor Anderson announced a special meeting on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 8:30 AM for a closed session on a personnel matter.

The Chapel Hill Planning Commission met on June 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Town Hall. The meeting included approvals of a minor subdivision, two site plan reviews, and a conditional zoning request, along with farewells to two departing members and a discussion of the commission's summer retreat. All votes were unanimous (6-0) except where noted. Consent Calendar - Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved unanimously with a note to add a discussion of the summer retreat. The chair also led a resolution thanking outgoing commissioners E. Strother Murray-ndinga and Erik Valera for their service; the resolution passed unanimously. - Approval of Minutes (June 3, 2025): The draft minutes were approved unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - 108 Highland Drive: The property owner, Carol, requested that the payment-in-lieu fee for a sidewalk be waived due to her assisted living situation and the lack of sidewalks in the subdivision. She noted the fee is $38 per linear foot and that town staff support removing the requirement. The chair clarified the commission lacks authority to waive the fee. Discussion Items - Minor Subdivision for 108 Highland Drive [25-0329]: Staff presented a preliminary plat to subdivide the lot into two lots, both meeting LUMO standards. The applicant noted the payment-in-lieu fee is consistent with market prices (May 2025). The commission approved Resolution A (approving the application) unanimously (6-0). The commission clarified it cannot waive the fee. - 318 McDade Street Site Plan Review [25-0330]: Staff presented a site plan to demolish an existing single-family home and replace it with a single-family home, a two-car garage, and an attached accessory dwelling unit. The property received a variance from the Board of Adjustment in December 2024 for additional square footage. The commission approved Resolution A (approving the application) unanimously (6-0). - 303 Knolls Street Site Plan Review [25-0331]: Staff presented a site plan to demolish an existing single-family home and build a new single-family home within the Pine Knolls Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD). No members of the public were present. The commission approved Resolution A (approving the application) unanimously (6-0). - Conditional Zoning: 5640 Old Chapel Hill Road (East Lakeview Townhomes) [25-0332]: The applicant, Ernie Brown, proposed a rezoning from R-1 to R-6-CCD for a 4.02-acre site to build up to 76 townhomes or stacked townhomes for sale. The project includes a 100-year stormwater system, a pond with a walking trail, and connections to a future greenway network. The commission discussed density (18 units per acre if stacked), tree canopy (applicant requested 20%, staff recommends 30%), and the closure of an existing right-of-way. Commissioner questions addressed affordability, physical accessibility, and market demand for stacked townhomes. The commission approved Resolution A (consistency with the comprehensive plan) unanimously (6-0) and then voted (6-0) to recommend Ordinance A to the Town Council with a condition that the developer meet the 30% tree canopy requirement. - Summer Retreat: The commission agreed to hold a retreat on August 17, 2025, at the community center. Topics proposed included reviewing the commission's remit, lessons learned from policy sessions, potential small area plans, and a park and recreation strategic plan update. New board liaison Josh noted the retreat must be noticed as a public meeting. - Farewells: The commission thanked outgoing members Strada (E. Strother Murray-ndinga) and Erik Valera, and outgoing staff liaison Jacob for his service. Jacob will join the City of Raleigh's long-range planning department. The chair also noted the upcoming retirement of long-time staff member Judy after 28 years. Key Outcomes - All four applications (108 Highland Drive, 318 McDade Street, 303 Knolls Street, 5640 Old Chapel Hill Road) were approved or recommended for approval unanimously (6-0). - For the 5640 Old Chapel Hill Road conditional zoning, the commission recommended Ordinance A with an additional condition requiring 30% tree canopy. - The summer retreat is scheduled for August 17, 2025.

The board convened on June 16, 2025, with six members present (quorum) and approved the agenda and previous month's meeting minutes. Funding balances were reported: Chapel Hill pot $7,843 (with an expected $20,000 disbursement next fiscal year), Carbor pot $6,487 (expecting $7,000 soon), and Orange County bail bonds group $726 (dissolving, with a final $6,000 MOU in process). The board reviewed seven applications, making decisions on each. Discussion Items Funding Balances Matt reported that the Orange County bail bonds group is dissolving, affecting funds for rural Orange County residents. He noted exploring options to broaden Chapel Hill funding scope to cover that area. Applicant: Tiffany Curran (Tapel Health Funds) Lauren presented: 35-year-old white female, resides in Chapel Hill in an Oxford house, 93+ days sober, unemployed, three children, owes $393 Orange County case with $50 fine and $133.50 DMV fee, three FTAs. Matt noted her license is suspended due to FTAs. He recommended continuing the application for one month so she can work with him to resolve FTAs and avoid collateral consequences. Motion to continue passed (Mark absent, others voted yes). Applicant: Dana Penley (Chapel Hill Funds) 37-year-old white female, residence in Chapel Hill, attending UNC Horizons, Hurricane Helene victim, owes $3,187 on three Buncombe County cases (civil judgment with accruing interest), plus $70 DMV restoration fee. Motion to approve full amount plus a few extra dollars for accrued interest, including DMV fee. Seconded and passed (Mark abstained, Donna, Tiffany, Olivia, Amber yes). Applicant: Rachel Mead (Chapel Hill Funds) 38-year-old white female, attending UNC Horizons, owes $200 Lee County case, $120 DMV fee, fine of $25 (likely able to pay). License reinstatement needed. Motion to approve court costs and restoration fee contingent on her paying the fine. Passed unanimously. Applicant: Sunday Jones (Orange County Funds) 57-year-old Hispanic female, unsheltered in Levin, lost job and housing, owes $260 on two cases (Alamance and Orange), $8,350 DMV fees (likely typo, but transcript says $8,350), one FTA with court date June 23. Motion to continue to July meeting to assess needs after court appearance. Passed unanimously. Applicant: Anna Wall (Chapel Hill Funds) 31-year-old Hispanic female, attending UNC Horizons, owes $60 on a 2014 Chatham County marijuana possession case (debt relief had cleared other tickets). License is inactive but not suspended. Motion to approve $60 to close the case. Passed unanimously. Applicant: Anthony Sanders (Chapel Hill Funds) 60-year-old white male, previously at IFC shelter, owes $1,773 court costs, $425 fines, $130 DMV fee, multiple FTAs and pending cases. No contact since April despite multiple attempts. Motion to deny application for lack of contact, with option to reapply. Passed unanimously (Mark, Tiffany, Danielle, Olivia, Amber yes). Key Outcomes - Tiffany Curran: Application continued to July 2025 meeting to resolve FTAs with Matt's assistance. - Dana Penley: Approved for full amount plus additional for accrued interest (Chapel Hill funds). - Rachel Mead: Approved for court costs and restoration fee contingent on fine payment (Chapel Hill funds). - Sunday Jones: Application continued to July 2025 meeting after June 23 court date. - Anna Wall: Approved for $60 court cost (Chapel Hill funds). - Anthony Sanders: Application denied due to lack of contact (Chapel Hill funds). - Next meeting: Scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025.

The Chapel Hill Town Council met on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. Seven members were present (Mayor Anderson, Mayor pro tem Ryan, Council Members Berry, Miller-Foushee, Searing, Stegman, Nollert); two were excused (McCullough, Sharp). The meeting included a proclamation, announcements, public comments, a consent agenda, a budget vote, discussion items on land use text amendments, the 828 MLK property, and the North-South Bus Rapid Transit (NSBRT) project, followed by a closed session. Consent Calendar - Approved all consent items as a block (R-1) with a technical correction and removal of item 4 (Sunrock Industries bid for street patching, etc.), which will return at a future date. - Items approved included: Miscellaneous Budget Ordinance Amendment for FY 2024-25 (fund adjustments), authorization to increase the Homestead Road construction contract with Carolina Sunrock by $281,314 to $3,725,000, adoption of the Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy and revised lease, preliminary approval for multifamily housing revenue bonds for Elliott Woods and Chase Park Apartments, adoption of the 2025-26 CDBG Annual Action Plan, adoption of the Safe Routes to School Action Plan, adoption of the Triangle West Vision Zero Action Plan, modification of the Advisory Board Membership Policy to discontinue interviews for semi-autonomous board applicants, and adoption of the Council meeting calendar through December 2025. Public Comments & Testimony - Scott Morrison (Chapel Hill resident): Commented on the Chapel Hill Transit budget, arguing that the system is not free for property tax residents and that only about 13% of town taxpayers use it. He suggested renegotiating with partners (UNC, UNC Medical Center) to shift the financial burden and proposed a $2 per ride charge for non-residents. - Thomas Zanglir: Submitted general comments to the Town Clerk; no specifics provided. Discussion Items - Budget Vote (Added Item): Council Member Searing moved to add the Manager's Recommended 2025-26 Budget to the agenda. The motion carried 6-1. A subsequent motion by Council Member Nollert to approve the budget failed 3-4 (Ayes: Berry, Miller-Foushee, Nollert; Nays: Anderson, Ryan, Searing, Stegman). The item will return on June 18 when two absent members (McCullough, Sharp) are present and two absent members (Searing, Stegman) will be excused. - Land Use Management Text Amendment – Article 8 (Boards & Commissions): Zoning Administrator Corey Liles presented a proposal to reduce board sizes to seven members (Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Historic District Commission, Community Design Commission) and update the Advisory Board Membership Policy. Board of Adjustment Chair Tom Grasty spoke in opposition to reducing seats, requesting that current members be reappointed with alternates. Council debated voting thresholds (four-fifths for variances) and the pros/cons of different board sizes. A motion by Council Member Nollert to amend the ordinance to set the Board of Adjustment at five members failed 2-5. The public hearing was closed 7-0. Resolution A (consistency with comprehensive plan) passed 6-1. Ordinance A (text amendment with seven seats for all boards except BOA at seven) passed 5-2. Resolution B (Advisory Board Membership Policy amendment) passed 6-1. - Update on 828 MLK Property: Community Sustainability Manager John Richardson presented updated soil/water sampling results, the signed Brownfields Agreement with NCDEQ, community engagement efforts (over 1200 page views, 68 survey responses, 100+ face-to-face interactions), and an initial vision for future uses (transit station, recreation courts, parking, potential municipal services center). Council discussed remediation costs ($2.9M cap-and-cover to $25.9M full removal), environmental justice, equity, and the need for funding. Public speakers included Isabel Geffner (encouraged consultation with SELC), Nick Torrey (SELC senior attorney, stressed responsible cleanup and full encapsulation), and Stephen Fleck (expressed deep concern, urged more public awareness). The matter was received and filed. - North-South Bus Rapid Transit (NSBRT) Milestone Update: Transit Development Manager Katy Fontaine reported that the project has reached 60% design completion, with 5.7 miles of bus-only lanes and 17 station areas. Key updates included site-specific lane adjustments, a new South Creek local stop, bike lane reroutes, and coordination with NCDOT for cost-sharing agreements. The project schedule anticipates federal grant application, right-of-way acquisition in 2026, construction start in 2027, and launch in 2029. Council discussed federal funding prospects, contingency plans, and safety concerns about a planned stop near the Columbia Street bridge. The matter was received and filed. Key Outcomes - Budget: Motion to add Manager's Recommended Budget to the agenda passed 6-1; motion to adopt the budget failed 3-4 (to be reconsidered on June 18). - Land Use Text Amendment: Public hearing closed 7-0; Resolution A (consistency) adopted 6-1; Ordinance A (reducing board seats to seven) enacted 5-2; amendment to set BOA at five seats failed 2-5; Resolution B (Advisory Board Policy) adopted 6-1. - 828 MLK Property: Received and filed; staff to return with concept sketches and cost estimates in fall 2025. - NSBRT Project: Received and filed; staff to advance to 90% design and continue federal engagement. - Closed Session: Motion to enter closed session (GS 143-318.11(a)(6)) passed unanimously at 8:42 PM; meeting adjourned after closed session.