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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Community Design Commission Meeting - April 30, 2026

Meeting Portal — Thursday, April 30, 2026

BodyChapel Hill, North Carolina

SessionMeeting Portal

DateThursday, April 30, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:52:37

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

No.

0:01

It's 5 32.

0:05

And I'm Heather Washburn.

0:07

And we're gonna start off with our roll call.

0:11

I'm just gonna go down the line.

0:13

If you're here, please yell out so that we can see you or raise your hand, but I would prefer you to use your voice on this one.

0:21

Kimberly Andrews.

0:27

John Biggs.

0:31

Kelsey Brinkley.

0:33

Here.

0:34

Jim Farron.

0:36

Present.

0:38

Annie Ullman.

0:40

Yeah.

0:41

Patrick Brennan.

0:43

Here.

0:44

And as I stated, I'm Heather Washburn and I'm your chair.

0:48

Did everybody get a chance to um take a look at the agenda today?

0:54

Yes.

0:55

And I'm gonna see if I can change this view so I can see gallery.

1:00

There we go.

1:01

That's much easier.

1:02

Um and uh does anybody have any questions or can I get a motion for approval of the agenda?

1:11

I'll make a motion to approve the agenda.

1:14

I second that.

1:16

Great.

1:17

All right.

1:18

Can all use your um uh hands up for uh those that agree, approve.

1:28

All right, all approved.

1:30

Motion carries.

1:32

Um I have an announcement, but does anybody else have an announcement?

1:40

No.

1:41

Um, so it's come to um knowledge to me that my term is gonna be ending in June, uh, June 30th.

1:50

And after a lot of um soul searching and looking at uh what I have on my books coming forward, I have made the hard decision that I'm not gonna be renewing.

2:04

I'm gonna roll off um at the end of June.

2:07

Um I I feel that my practice needs me, and I've got other things that are going on that um I need to uh shift my time into other places, and so um we'll pick this up.

2:23

I think you saw all on the agenda that that's gonna be part of our new business that we're gonna be speaking to, but I want to let you guys know that and how much I have enjoyed being on the commission, and um I felt like I have had a chance to do a lot of things, and I need now I need to do more things and um and explore other opportunities.

2:48

Well Heather, as you're as your vice chair, I just want to take a moment to say thank you so much for your amazing service to the town of Chapel Hill.

2:56

Uh I have benefited uh from your expertise and your knowledge and and how you have uh uh led this commission, and we're we're uh lucky to have been associated with you.

3:06

So thank you for uh for for for this.

3:09

Whoever takes over for you will have massive shoes to fill.

3:12

So thank you.

3:14

I appreciate it.

3:15

Annie, your hand is up, but I'm not sure that that's for me.

3:18

I think that might just be from the previous vote.

3:22

But do you know that it's actually not from the previous vote?

3:25

Okay, well, please go ahead.

3:27

Um, I do not mean to seal your thunder, but if you are sharing that announcement, then I will also share that um when I took on this role, I was filling an existing vacancy and that term ends in June as well.

3:40

Um I would have loved to continue with this, but unfortunately I am moving out of state in September, so I will not be continuing.

3:47

Um likewise it's been an honor to be here, even if it's only been for a few months.

3:52

I've learned a lot.

3:53

It's been really exciting for me personally and professionally.

3:55

So thank you all for letting me share the stage with you.

3:59

Yeah, and thank you, Annie.

4:00

Um, thank you so much for your time.

4:02

And Jim, you were trying to say something.

4:06

Yes, no, I I would echo Patrick's sentiment.

4:09

And my question too, also is although you're going off the board, you have amount, uh, excellent amount of expertise.

4:17

Would you be available?

4:18

Say if I had a question on something, would I contact you?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Land Use Management█████████████████████████████████33%

Personnel Matters██████████10%

Procedural█████████9%

Public Engagement████████8%

Public Safety████████8%

Community Engagement███████7%

Affordable Housing█████5%

Transportation Safety█████5%

Zoning Regulations█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Community Design Commission Meeting - April 30, 2026

The Chapel Hill Community Design Commission met virtually on April 30, 2026, at 5:30 PM. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, review and action on two new business items (701 Martin Luther King Blvd and 11 White Oak Drive), and a recommendation to council for two new commissioner applicants. Chair Heather Washburn and Commissioner Annie Ullman announced their upcoming departures at the end of June.

Consent Calendar

Approved two items: (1) an elevation modification for the affordable housing project at 107 Johnson (Peach Apartments) and (2) a minor Certificate of Appropriateness modification for a mural on a screen wall and pool equipment room at 1301 Fordham Blvd (Millennium Chapel Hill). Both were approved unanimously without discussion.

Discussion Items

701 Martin Luther King Blvd – The Paces (Landmark Properties): The applicant presented a five-level podium project with 190 units, a public plaza, and a multi-use path. The design includes a masonry base, metal panels, fiber cement siding, and a “mountain scape” parapet. Commissioners raised concerns about the building’s height (seven stories), monolithic massing, lack of pedestrian-scale features, and material choices (too much fiber cement, gray color). Some praised the public plaza and transit connections. The commission voted 4–2 to approve the project. Voting in favor: Kim Andrews, John Biggs, Jim Faron, Kelsey Brinkley, Patrick Brennan. Voting against: Annie Ullman, Heather Washburn (who expressed a desire for more design refinement).
11 White Oak Drive – Muze Chapel Hill (Zom Living): The applicant presented a 400-unit project (384 flats and 16 townhomes) on a site with an ephemeral stream and preserved vegetation. The design features gable and flat-roof forms, dark brick, fiber cement siding, and extensive landscaping with a pet park, greenway, and outdoor amenities. Commissioners praised the thoughtful site design, massing, materials, and integration with nature. A few comments suggested using red brick instead of black brick to match regional vernacular. The commission voted unanimously to approve (all voting members in favor).

Key Outcomes

The Paces: Approved (4–2) with a note that no further commission action is required.
Muze Chapel Hill: Approved unanimously.
Commissioner Vacancies: The commission reviewed two applicants (Kelly Mills and Rachel), discussed their limited design background, but ultimately voted unanimously to recommend both to Town Council for appointment. The recusing chair and outgoing commissioner abstained. The next meeting is scheduled for May 26, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

No. It's 5 32. And I'm Heather Washburn. And we're gonna start off with our roll call. I'm just gonna go down the line. If you're here, please yell out so that we can see you or raise your hand, but I would prefer you to use your voice on this one. Kimberly Andrews. John Biggs. Kelsey Brinkley. Here. Jim Farron. Present. Annie Ullman. Yeah. Patrick Brennan. Here. And as I stated, I'm Heather Washburn and I'm your chair. Did everybody get a chance to um take a look at the agenda today? Yes. And I'm gonna see if I can change this view so I can see gallery. There we go. That's much easier. Um and uh does anybody have any questions or can I get a motion for approval of the agenda? I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. I second that. Great. All right. Can all use your um uh hands up for uh those that agree, approve. All right, all approved. Motion carries. Um I have an announcement, but does anybody else have an announcement? No. Um, so it's come to um knowledge to me that my term is gonna be ending in June, uh, June 30th. And after a lot of um soul searching and looking at uh what I have on my books coming forward, I have made the hard decision that I'm not gonna be renewing. I'm gonna roll off um at the end of June. Um I I feel that my practice needs me, and I've got other things that are going on that um I need to uh shift my time into other places, and so um we'll pick this up. I think you saw all on the agenda that that's gonna be part of our new business that we're gonna be speaking to, but I want to let you guys know that and how much I have enjoyed being on the commission, and um I felt like I have had a chance to do a lot of things, and I need now I need to do more things and um and explore other opportunities. Well Heather, as you're as your vice chair, I just want to take a moment to say thank you so much for your amazing service to the town of Chapel Hill. Uh I have benefited uh from your expertise and your knowledge and and how you have uh uh led this commission, and we're we're uh lucky to have been associated with you. So thank you for uh for for for this. Whoever takes over for you will have massive shoes to fill. So thank you. I appreciate it. Annie, your hand is up, but I'm not sure that that's for me. I think that might just be from the previous vote. But do you know that it's actually not from the previous vote? Okay, well, please go ahead. Um, I do not mean to seal your thunder, but if you are sharing that announcement, then I will also share that um when I took on this role, I was filling an existing vacancy and that term ends in June as well. Um I would have loved to continue with this, but unfortunately I am moving out of state in September, so I will not be continuing. Um likewise it's been an honor to be here, even if it's only been for a few months.

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