Board of Adjustment Meeting – September 3, 2026

The Chapel Hill Board of Adjustment met on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included approval of the agenda and minutes from July 2, 2026, a public hearing and deliberation on a dimensional variance for 219 Glenhill Lane, and a discussion on filling the remaining alternate seat on the board. The variance was granted unanimously (7-0), and the membership recommendation was tabled to the next meeting on October 1, 2026, pending further outreach to applicants.

Approval of Agenda and Minutes

• The agenda was approved unanimously.
• The draft minutes from the July 2, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public offered testimony on the variance. One attendee asked a procedural question about variance applications but did not comment on the case.

Dimensional Variance: 219 Glenhill Lane

• Applicant Presentation: Coulter and Kelsey Brinkley, residents of 219 Glenhill Lane, requested a variance to reduce the required 26-foot street setback to 20 feet to construct a 10-foot by 12-foot storage shed. They cited the property's steep topography and irregular corner lot as unique hardships, noting that the only flat area for the shed lies within the setback. They argued the variance would have minimal visual impact, preserve existing trees, and maintain sight lines.
• Board Discussion: Board members questioned the applicants about alternative locations, the cost of grading, and the impact on driveway use. The applicants stated that other flat areas were either within other setbacks or would require significant grading and tree removal, which would be financially burdensome. The board considered the four criteria for a variance: unnecessary hardship, unique property conditions, self-created hardship, and consistency with ordinance intent.
• Key Support: Board members expressed that the topography and corner lot created a unique hardship, that the applicants did not create the conditions, and that the variance would not affect neighboring properties or streetscape. The board noted the small size of the encroachment (6 feet) and the limited visibility of the shed.
• Vote: The motion to grant the variance (Resolution A) passed unanimously (7 ayes, 0 nays).

Membership Recommendations

• The board reviewed four applications for the remaining alternate seat. Applicants included David (preferred Board of Adjustment), Peter (preferred Planning Commission), Bert Bennett (preferred Downtown Partnership), and Trevor Leatherwood (an ETJ resident).
• Discussion: Several members favored David due to his enthusiasm for the BOA and a student perspective, while others noted Peter's environmental background. Concerns were raised about Trevor Leatherwood's application quality (misspellings, grammar) and Bert Bennett's focus on downtown development. The board decided to contact the top two candidates (David and Peter) to confirm their continued interest before making a recommendation.
• Decision: A motion to continue the item to the next meeting on October 1, 2026, passed unanimously (7 ayes). Staff will reach out to the applicants and report back.

Key Outcomes

• Dimensional Variance Granted: The variance for 219 Glenhill Lane (6-foot encroachment into the street setback for a 10x12 shed) was approved unanimously.
• Membership Recommendation Tabled: The board will reconsider the alternate seat at its October 1, 2026 meeting after staff contact David and Peter about their interest.