Town Council

Meeting Minutes - Final

January 21, 2026, 6:00 PM

RM 110 | Council Chamber

WELCOME to a COUNCIL MEETING!

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see https://www.townofchapelhill.org/at-the-council-meeting

ROLL CALL

Present:

9 - Mayor Jessica Anderson, Mayor pro tem Camille

Berry, Council Member Wesley McMahon, Council

Member Melissa McCullough, Council Member Paris

Miller-Foushee, Council Member Theodore Nollert,

Council Member Louie Rivers, Council Member Amy

Ryan, and Council Member Elizabeth Sharp

OTHER ATTENDEES

Town Manager Theodore Voorhees, Deputy Town Manager Mary Jane Nirdlinger, Deputy Town

Manager Loryn Clark, Interim Town Attorney James Baker, Executive Director for Strategic

Communications and Marketing Susan Brown, Planning Director Britany Waddell, Zoning Administrator

Corey Liles, Long-Range Planning Manager Tas Lagoo, Affordable Housing Manager Emily Holt,

Funding Programs Coordinator Melissa Peters, Police Officer Shane Osborne, Fire Marshal Tony

Massey, Assistant Town Clerk Brenton Hodge, and Deputy Town Clerk Amy Harvey.

OPENING

Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and noted several

agenda changes.

Proclamation: Mentor Month

[26-0010]

Council proclaimed January 2026 as Mentor Month in the Town of Chapel

Hill. Mayor pro tem Berry invited representatives Lorie Clark from the Blue

Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program, Jeff Dooley from Big Brothers, Big

Sisters of the Triangle, and Nicole Hunter Moore from Volunteers for Youth

to the podium for the proclamation and a group photo. The proclamation

emphasized the importance of mentoring in supporting both youth and

adults, encouraged community involvement, and recognized the

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contributions of local programs.

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS

1.01 Mayor Anderson Regarding Winter Weather this

Weekend.

[26-0020]

Mayor Anderson discussed winter-weather preparedness resources and

encouraged residents to sign up for emergency alerts.

1.02 Mayor Anderson Regarding the People's Academy.

[26-0021]

[26-0022]

Mayor Anderson noted that registration for Chapel Hill's People's Academy

is now open. The program begins on March 3, 2026, and will be offered in

both English and Spanish.

1.03 Mayor Anderson Regarding the new Town

Attorney, Nick Yates.

Mayor Anderson shared the appointment of the new Town Attorney, Nick

Yates.

1.04 Mayor Anderson Regarding National Holocaust

Remembrance Day.

[26-0023]

Mayor Anderson announced a public program honoring International

Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, 2026 at the library.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

The Public Comment Period allows the public to address Council on items

not on the printed agenda. To speak, please sign in at the Clerk’s desk

with your name and email. When called, step to the podium, adjust the

microphone, and state your name for the record. Comments are limited

to 3 minutes (or 2 minutes if more than 14 speakers). Large groups are

asked to select a spokesperson. Council does not act or deliberate on

items raised during this time.

1.05 Rose Baragwanath Regarding the Glen Lennox

Development.

[26-0024]

Rose Baragwanath and Tim Crothers expressed concerns regarding the

Glen Lennox development proposal including potential tree loss and

neighborhood impacts.

CONSENT

All items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine, to be enacted by

one motion without discussion. Council member(s) may request

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discussion of an item. If such motion passes, then the item is removed

from consent and considered separately.

Approval of the Consent Agenda

A motion was made by Council Member Ryan, seconded by Mayor pro

tem Berry, to approve the amended Consent Agenda including:

R-2.1 adopt the Town Attorney's Employment Contract

R-2.2 continue the 860 Weaver Dairy Road Conditional Zoning Hearing

R-2.4 authorization of purchase for six Rectangular Rapid Flashing

Beacons for MLK Jr Blvd and Estes Drive. The motion carried by a

unanimous vote.

Donate Equipment to Chatham Community Library

[26-0009]

[26-0011]

This resolution(s) and/or ordinance(s) was adopted and/or enacted.

Valentine v. Town of Chapel Hill, 21-CVS-1314

Settlement Agreement

This resolution(s) and/or ordinance(s) was adopted and/or enacted.

2026 Council Liaisons Board and Committee

Assignments Amendment

[26-0012]

[26-0013]

The liaison board and committee assignments amendment was

approved.

November 12 and 19, and December 3 and 10, 2025

Meeting Minutes

The minutes were approved.

5.1 Town Attorney's Employment Contract

[26-0018]

[26-0016]

This resolution(s) and/or ordinance(s) was adopted and/or enacted.

5.2 860 Weaver Dairy Road Continued Legislative Hearing

Date

This resolution(s) and/or ordinance(s) was adopted and/or enacted.

5.3 Sole Source Contract to Purchase Six Rectangular Rapid

[26-0019]

Flashing Beacons (RRFBs)

This resolution(s) and/or ordinance(s) was adopted and/or enacted.

DISCUSSION

Public Hearing: 2025-26 Community Development Block

[26-0014]

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Grant Program Plan Amendments

Funding Programs Coordinator Melissa Peters provided an overview of the

proposed amendments. She explained the Department of Housing and

Urban Development (HUD) requires updates to plans when funding

allocations change and mandates a public hearing for substantial

amendments. She outlined the Town’s objectives for CDBG funding,

reviewed priorities in the Five-Year Consolidated Plan and the Annual

Action Plan, and described circumstances under which staff recommend

changes to the funding plan.

Ms. Peters discussed staff proposal of reallocating $253,229 to current

2025-26 program year activities and neighborhood revitalization funding.

She also noted the 30-day public comment period opened on December

22, 2025, and will close on January 22, 2026.

Council Member Ryan requested clarification on moving Hope renovations

to local funding. Affordable Housing Manager Emily Holt explained that the

project would be supported through the Town’s Affordable Housing funding

program, with the Town Manager authorized to approve up to $100,000 for

specific purposes, allowing for more strategic use of CDBG resources.

A motion was made by Council Member Ryan, seconded by Council

Member McCullough, that the Council close the public hearing. The

motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Aye:

9 - Mayor Anderson, Mayor pro tem Berry, Council

Member McMahon, Council Member McCullough,

Council Member Miller-Foushee, Council Member

Nollert, Council Member Rivers, Council Member

Ryan, and Council Member Sharp

A motion was made by Council Member Ryan, seconded by Council

Member Nollert, that the Council adopted R-2.3. The motion carried

by a unanimous vote.

Aye:

9 - Mayor Anderson, Mayor pro tem Berry, Council

Member McMahon, Council Member McCullough,

Council Member Miller-Foushee, Council Member

Nollert, Council Member Rivers, Council Member

Ryan, and Council Member Sharp

Omnibus Text Amendment to the Chapel Hill Land Use

Management Ordinance and Town Code

[26-0015]

Long-Range Planning Manager Tas Lagoo presented an overview of the

omnibus text amendment package, noting that it follows public hearings

held on October 22 and November 19, 2025, as well as a Work Session on

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January 7, 2026. He explained that the package includes changes to both

development processes and development standards, and clarified the

ordinance before Council reflects the original staff proposal. Mr. Lagoo

also reminded Council that a separate document containing the

amendments discussed during the January 7th Work Session was provided

for reference.

Council Member Ryan expressed support for the omnibus amendments as

a step toward achieving Complete Community goals, including more

diverse housing options, better land use connectivity, and environmental

protections. Council Member Ryan also noted concern about allowing

5,000-square-foot duplexes, cautioning that such provisions could

encourage construction of larger, less affordable homes.

A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Berry, seconded by Council

Member Miller-Foushee, that the Council close the public hearing.

The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Aye:

9 - Mayor Anderson, Mayor pro tem Berry, Council

Member McMahon, Council Member McCullough,

Council Member Miller-Foushee, Council Member

Nollert, Council Member Rivers, Council Member

Ryan, and Council Member Sharp

A motion was made by Council Member Ryan, seconded by Mayor

pro tem Berry, that the Council adopt R-3. The motion carried by a

unanimous vote.

Aye:

9 - Mayor Anderson, Mayor pro tem Berry, Council

Member McMahon, Council Member McCullough,

Council Member Miller-Foushee, Council Member

Nollert, Council Member Rivers, Council Member

Ryan, and Council Member Sharp

A motion was made by Council Member Ryan, seconded by Council

Member McCullough, that the Council approve a motion to amend

O-1 according to staff provided January 7 summary document.The

motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Aye:

9 - Mayor Anderson, Mayor pro tem Berry, Council

Member McMahon, Council Member McCullough,

Council Member Miller-Foushee, Council Member

Nollert, Council Member Rivers, Council Member

Ryan, and Council Member Sharp

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A motion was made by Council Member McCullough, seconded by

Mayor pro tem Berry, that the Council enact O-1 as amended. The

motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Aye:

9 - Mayor Anderson, Mayor pro tem Berry, Council

Member McMahon, Council Member McCullough,

Council Member Miller-Foushee, Council Member

Nollert, Council Member Rivers, Council Member

Ryan, and Council Member Sharp

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

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