Town Council

Meeting Minutes - Final

January 07, 2026, 6:00 PM

Library, Meeting Room B

WELCOME to a COUNCIL MEETING!

We’re glad you’re here. Want to know more about the meeting logistics,

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, Interim Town

Attorney James Baker, Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing Susan Brown,

Planning Director Britany Waddell, Long-Range Planning Manager Tas Lagoo, Chief of Staff Jeanne

Brown, Patrol Captain Johnnie Britt, Assistant Town Clerk Brenton Hodge, and Town Clerk Brittney

Hunt.

OPENING

Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

CLOSED SESSION

General Statute 143-318.11(a)(6)

[26-0007]

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

Member Nollert, that the Council entered into closed session as

authorized by General Statute Sections 143-318.11(a)(6) and

143-318.11(a)(3). The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

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

Member Ryan that the Council adjourn closed session at 6:28 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Mayor Anderson made an announcement regarding the next Council Regular

Meeting scheduled for January 21, 2026 at 6 p.m., the Town's transition to

chapelhillnc.gov, and the importance of public engagement, encouraging

community members to provide input on upcoming topics.

AGENDA ITEM(S)

Land Use Management Ordinance Council Discussion

[26-0008]

Council discussed proposed updates to the Town’s Land Use Management

Ordinance (LUMO), focusing on an omnibus text amendment scheduled for

a formal vote on January 21, 2026. The discussion built on previous work

from the November 19, 2025 meeting and was guided by the Town’s

Complete Community Strategy and recent housing studies. Mayor

Anderson noted the goal of the discussion was for Council to provide clear

policy direction to staff in preparation for the upcoming vote and would

highlight the following elements of the LUMO: Site Plan Review, Concept

Plan Review, Conditional Zoning process, two-family housing options, and

parking regulations.

Council members began with a review of the staff’s recommendations to

streamline the site plan review process. Council generally agreed that

removing Planning Commission site plan review for most development

projects would reduce unnecessary barriers and improve efficiency. Council

also supported treating all site plan reviews consistently, including those

required by Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) rules, recognizing

that this approach would modernize the process while maintaining

essential neighborhood protections.

Following site plan review, Council discussed the concept plan review

process, highlighting whether to eliminate the requirement entirely or

make it voluntary. Some Council members valued concept plan review as a

tool for early feedback and public engagement, while others viewed it as a

potential barrier, especially for small-scale or incremental development.

Concerns were raised about the risk of a voluntary process becoming “de

facto” mandatory, and whether eliminating the requirement might reduce

opportunities for community input. Staff clarified that transparency and

public access to development proposals would remain priorities, even if

the formal review process was streamlined. Council members noted the

elimination of mandatory concept plan review, with the understanding that

the impact of this change would be evaluated and revisited, if necessary.

The discussion then shifted to the conditional zoning process. Council

members supported consolidating the Town’s three existing conditional

zoning processes, favoring the expedited “Community Priority Process for

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Affordable Housing” as the new standard. They noted that this process

had proven effective for affordable housing projects, though less so for

mixed-income developments. Council noted that consolidation would

improve predictability and efficiency for applicants. Council proposed an

amendment to require above-ground stormwater management areas to be

shown on district-specific plans.

Council members expressed a range of views regarding the appropriate

maximum size for two-family housing options, including duplexes,

accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and cottages. Some advocated for a

cautious approach, suggesting a limit of 3,600 square feet, while others

supported the staff’s recommendation of 5,000 square feet. Discussions in

favor of larger units included increased flexibility for families,

multi-generational living arrangements, and the realities of Chapel Hill’s

expensive housing market. Those favoring smaller units emphasized

affordability, the need for missing middle housing, and concerns about

incentivizing large, expensive homes or student stuffers. Council also

discussed the potential for future amendments to allow triplexes and

quadplexes, recognizing that a broader range of housing types would

better address affordability and community needs.

Council considered parking regulations including whether to maintain the

four-vehicle parking maximum for duplexes or eliminate it altogether.

Some Council members stated that maintaining the maximum would

support climate goals, reduce impervious surfaces, and encourage

walkability and transit use. Others pointed out that families and

multi-generational households often require more parking, and that

eliminating the maximum would remove barriers to infill development.

Staff clarified that the four-vehicle maximum applied specifically to

outdoor parking spaces, and that environmental standards such as tree

canopy and impervious surface limits would still apply.

Council also addressed proposed changes to subdivisions and lot layout

standards. Council members supported procedural improvements that

would make Town staff responsible for all subdivision approvals, reduce

minimum lot sizes and related dimensions, and allow zero-frontage lots

and flag lots. Council highlighted the potential for more flexible lot

layouts to support diverse housing types and incremental growth, while

balancing development with neighborhood character and infrastructure

capacity. Staff provided examples illustrating how reduced lot sizes and

new lot types could enable more housing options without sacrificing

quality or safety.

Council further discussed manufactured home communities and sign

regulations. Council members agreed that protecting existing

manufactured home parks was important for housing stability and

affordability. They also supported updates to sign regulations, which

would reflect current practices and allow greater flexibility in residential

districts.

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