Chapel Hill Board of Adjustment Meeting – October 1, 2026

The Town of Chapel Hill Board of Adjustment met at 6:30 PM on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Council Chamber, Room 110 at 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. All six voting members were present. The Board approved the prior meeting minutes, approved a draft variance decision for 219 Glenhill Lane, granted a dimensional variance for 739 Gimghoul Road, and recommended Peter Maniloff for appointment as an alternate member.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the meeting agenda by a 6-0 vote.
• Approved the September 3, 2026 draft meeting minutes by a 6-0 vote and directed that they be entered into the official record.
• Approved the draft variance decision for the dimensional variance at 219 Glenhill Lane by a 6-0 vote after members confirmed that the address and date on the decision had been corrected.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Applicant Vicky Parrot testified in support of the 739 Gimghoul Road variance, stating that the garage predates her ownership, was built with the house in the late 1930s/early 1940s, and that the property's steep slope and stone retaining walls make the garage's location the only practical place for an accessory dwelling unit. She said relocating the structure would cause erosion, tree loss, and additional expense.
• Applicant Blue Chattergy expressed support for the project, saying accessory dwelling units are consistent with Chapel Hill's housing goals, including affordability and housing for students in historic districts.
• No members of the public other than the applicants offered comment.

Discussion Items

• Dimensional Variance – 739 Gimghoul Road ([26-0321]): Planning staff presented the request for a property in the Gimghoul neighborhood east of UNC's main campus to reduce the required street setback from 26 feet to 9 feet and the interior setback from 10 feet to 4 feet to add an accessory dwelling unit above an existing garage. The applicant argued that the existing nonconforming garage, retaining walls, mature trees, and slope created an unnecessary hardship. Board members discussed whether the pre-existing nonconformity could be expanded, and the Board attorney explained that a variance supersedes the nonconformity rule and that the Board could impose conditions if it chose. The Board declined to add conditions, noting that any design would still need Historic District Commission approval. The Board then adopted Resolution A, directing staff to draft an order granting the variance, by a 6-0 vote.
• Membership Recommendations ([26-0322]): The Board reviewed applications and resumes for the third alternate position. Candidates discussed included Mr. Bennett, Trevor Leatherwood, Peter Maniloff, and David Weiner. After discussion, the Board voted 6-0 to recommend Peter Maniloff to the Town Council for appointment as an alternate member.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the agenda, the September 3, 2026 minutes, and the 219 Glenhill Lane draft variance decision.
• Granted the 739 Gimghoul Road dimensional variance through Resolution A, allowing the street setback to be reduced from 26 feet to 9 feet and the interior setback from 10 feet to 4 feet.
• Recommended Peter Maniloff for appointment as alternate to the Board of Adjustment.
• All votes taken during the meeting were unanimous, with six affirmative votes.