NC govwatch

← All meetings

Town Council

Town of Chapel Hill · Town Council
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 6:00 pm · RM 110 | Council Chamber

Regular meeting Housing and affordabilityRezoningAppointments and personnelEnvironment and sustainabilityHealth and human servicesLand conversion and large developmentStormwater and floodingDrugs and addictionFarmland and open spaceLitigation and settlementsParks and recreationPublic facilitiesRoads and transportationTransitZoning text amendment

Agenda document Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved 5.September 10, 2025 Meeting Minutes adopted · Pass · The minutes were approved as amended.
  2. Continued 6.Open a Legislative Hearing for a Conditional Zoning Application at 860 Weaver Dairy Road continued the Legislative Hearing · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Ryan, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, that the Council continued the Legislative Hearing t…
  3. Continued 7.Open a Legislative Hearing for a Conditional Zoning Application at 115 Chapel Point Road continued the Legislative Hearing · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Ryan, seconded by Council Member Berry, that the Council continued the Legislative Hearing to October…
  4. Continued 8.Open a Legislative Hearing for a Conditional Zoning Application at 5640 Old Chapel Hill Road continued the Legislative Hearing · Pass · A motion was made by Council Member Sharp, seconded by Council Member Berry, that the Council continued the Legislative Hearing to Novem…
  5. Received CLOSED SESSION (AS NEEDED) entered Into closed session as authorized by General Statute Section 143-318.11 · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Ryan, seconded by Council Member Berry, that the Counci…
  6. Received [25-0429]0.05 Christopher Esposito Requests Assistance from Staff Regarding Briar Cliff Flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal. received and filed · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Ryan, seconded by Council Member Searing, that the Council received and filed the petitions to the Manager and Mayor…
  7. Approved 9.A Resolution to Authorize the Town Manager to Enter the Town into Opioid Settlement Agreements. adopted · Pass · A motion was made by Council Member Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, that the Council adopt the resolution. The motion carried by a unanimous vot…

Another 6 items passed on the consent agenda, which is a single motion covering routine business. See the list.

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Chapel Hill's town council opened legislative hearings on three conditional zoning applications: a mixed-use project of up to 575 apartments and 135 townhomes at 860 Weaver Dairy Road, a 170-unit project at 115 Chapel Point Road, and a 76-unit townhome development at 5640 Old Chapel Hill Road. The council heard extensive public comment and staff and applicant presentations on each, then continued all three hearings to later meetings rather than voting on them that night. The council also adopted a resolution authorizing the town to enter opioid settlement agreements and called a hearing on an omnibus set of land use ordinance changes covering housing, permitting, signs and parking.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

During public comment, a resident representing the Briarcliff and Ridgefield Park neighborhoods asked the town to study what caused flooding there during Tropical Storm Chantal, particularly the effect of the Pinehurst Road bridge, and requested an engineering analysis using FEMA flood models; the council voted to receive and file the petition.

The council then opened three separate rezoning hearings. For 860 Weaver Dairy Road, the applicant presented a revised plan for 350 to 575 multifamily units and 100 to 135 townhomes with 10% affordable rental units; council members raised concerns about stormwater runoff, traffic safety, tree canopy loss, noise from I-40, and a lack of outreach to the Weatherstone neighborhood, and more than a dozen residents from nearby communities spoke about flooding, environmental and safety concerns. For 115 Chapel Point Road, the applicant presented a revised 170-unit plan with 10% affordable apartments; council members were largely supportive and asked the applicant to consider a conservation easement on the site's undeveloped northern portion. For 5640 Old Chapel Hill Road, the applicant proposed 76 townhomes with 15% affordable units and asked to reduce required tree canopy from 30% to 20%; council members raised concerns about retaining walls affecting neighboring properties and parking calculations. All three hearings were continued without a vote on the applications themselves, to October 22 for the first two and November 12 for the third.

The council adopted a resolution authorizing the town manager to sign opioid settlement agreements with secondary manufacturer defendants and to participate in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement. After a closed session, the council appointed James Baker as interim town attorney.

How the votes went

The council approved its consent agenda unanimously, including the climbing wall contract, NSBRT property acquisition, an amended employee grievance ordinance, calling the LUMO text amendment hearing, and the September 10 minutes as amended. It voted unanimously to continue all three zoning hearings, to adopt the opioid settlement resolution, to receive and file the Briarcliff flooding petition, to enter closed session, and, after closed session, to appoint James Baker as interim town attorney.

From the published minutes.

Speaking at this meeting

Town of Chapel Hill's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Jump to an item (27 on this agenda)
  1. WELCOME to a COUNCIL MEETING!
  2. ROLL CALL
  3. OPENING
  4. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
  5. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PETITIONS
  6. CONSENT
  7. 1.Chapel Hill Community Center Climbing Wall Reconstruction Contract
  8. 2.Property Acquisition for the North-South Bus Rapid Transit (NSBRT)
  9. 3.Amend Ordinances That Regulate Grievance Procedures For Probationary…
  10. 4.Call a Hearing to Consider an Omnibus Land Use Management Ordinance T…
  11. 5.September 10, 2025 Meeting Minutes
  12. DISCUSSION
  13. ZONING ATLAS AMENDMENT(S)
  14. 6.Open a Legislative Hearing for a Conditional Zoning Application at 86…
  15. 7.Open a Legislative Hearing for a Conditional Zoning Application at 11…
  16. 8.Open a Legislative Hearing for a Conditional Zoning Application at 56…
  17. CLOSED SESSION (AS NEEDED)
  18. ADJOURNMENT
  19. [25-0425]0.01 Mayor Anderson Regarding Employee Appreciation Month.
  20. [25-0426]0.02 Mayor Anderson Regarding Recognition for Staff and Community Mem…
  21. [25-0427]0.03 Mayor Anderson Regarding Artificial Light and Migrating Birds.
  22. [25-0428]0.04 Council Member Berry Regarding Hunger Action Month.
  23. [25-0429]0.05 Christopher Esposito Requests Assistance from Staff Regarding Br…
  24. 9.A Resolution to Authorize the Town Manager to Enter the Town into Opi…
  25. OTHER ATTENDEES
  26. Approval of the Consent Agenda
  27. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

Agenda items (27)

Consent agenda · 6Other · 4Procedural · 4Discussion item · 3Public hearing · 3Proclamation or recognition · 3Minutes approval · 1Closed session · 1Resolution · 1Appointment · 1
  1. WELCOME to a COUNCIL MEETING!
    Other
  2. ROLL CALL
    Procedural
  3. OPENING
    Other
  4. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
    Procedural
  5. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PETITIONS
    Procedural
  1. 5. September 10, 2025 Meeting Minutes
    Minutes approval
    Approval of the September 10, 2025 meeting minutes, as amended.
    adopted · Pass · The minutes were approved as amended.
  2. DISCUSSION
    Discussion item
  3. ZONING ATLAS AMENDMENT(S)
    Other
  4. 6. Open a Legislative Hearing for a Conditional Zoning Application at 860 Weaver Dairy Road
    Public hearing Housing and affordabilityLand conversion and large developmentRezoningStormwater and flooding
    A conditional zoning application for a mixed-use development of 350-575 multifamily units and 100-135 townhomes at 860 Weaver Dairy Road, with 10% affordable rental units. Residents and council members raised stormwater, traffic, tree canopy and neighborhood-outreach concerns.
    continued the Legislative Hearing · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Ryan, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, that the Council continued the Legislative Hearing to October 22, 2025. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
    • 860 Weaver Dairy Rd · no matching parcel on file
  5. 7. Open a Legislative Hearing for a Conditional Zoning Application at 115 Chapel Point Road
    Public hearing Environment and sustainabilityFarmland and open spaceHousing and affordabilityRezoning
    A conditional zoning application for 170 units, including 10% affordable apartments, at 115 Chapel Point Road. Council members were largely supportive and asked about a conservation easement on the site's undeveloped northern portion.
    continued the Legislative Hearing · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Ryan, seconded by Council Member Berry, that the Council continued the Legislative Hearing to October 22, 2025. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
    • 115 Chapel Point Rd · no matching parcel on file
  6. 8. Open a Legislative Hearing for a Conditional Zoning Application at 5640 Old Chapel Hill Road
    Public hearing Housing and affordabilityLand conversion and large developmentRezoning
    A conditional zoning application for a 76-unit townhome development at 5640 Old Chapel Hill Road with 15% affordable units, requesting reduced tree canopy from 30% to 20%. Council members raised concerns about retaining walls and parking calculations.
    continued the Legislative Hearing · Pass · A motion was made by Council Member Sharp, seconded by Council Member Berry, that the Council continued the Legislative Hearing to November 12, 2025. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
    • 5640 Old Chapel Hill Rd · no matching parcel on file
  7. CLOSED SESSION (AS NEEDED)
    Closed session
    entered Into closed session as authorized by General Statute Section 143-318.11 · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Ryan, seconded by Council Member Berry, that the Council entered into closed session as authorized by General Statute Sections 143-318.11(a) 3, 143-318.11(a) 6, and 143-318.11(a) 5. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  8. ADJOURNMENT
    Procedural
    Council recessed the meeting at 9:09 p.m. to enter into Closed Session and adjourned the meeting following the conclusion of Closed Session at 10:47 p.m.
  9. [25-0425] 0.01 Mayor Anderson Regarding Employee Appreciation Month.
    Proclamation or recognition
    Mayor Anderson's remarks recognizing Employee Appreciation Month.
  10. [25-0426] 0.02 Mayor Anderson Regarding Recognition for Staff and Community Members Who Helped with Tropical Storm Chantal.
    Proclamation or recognition
    Mayor Anderson recognized town staff and community members who assisted during Tropical Storm Chantal.
  11. [25-0427] 0.03 Mayor Anderson Regarding Artificial Light and Migrating Birds.
    Discussion item Environment and sustainability
    Mayor Anderson raised the effect of artificial light on migrating birds.
  12. [25-0428] 0.04 Council Member Berry Regarding Hunger Action Month.
    Proclamation or recognition Health and human services
    Council Member Berry's remarks recognizing Hunger Action Month.
  13. [25-0429] 0.05 Christopher Esposito Requests Assistance from Staff Regarding Briar Cliff Flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal.
    Discussion item Stormwater and flooding
    A resident asked the town to investigate flooding in the Briarcliff and Ridgefield Park neighborhoods during Tropical Storm Chantal, including the role of the Pinehurst Road bridge, and requested a FEMA-model engineering analysis.
    received and filed · Pass · A motion was made by Mayor pro tem Ryan, seconded by Council Member Searing, that the Council received and filed the petitions to the Manager and Mayor. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  14. 9. A Resolution to Authorize the Town Manager to Enter the Town into Opioid Settlement Agreements.
    Resolution Drugs and addictionHealth and human servicesLitigation and settlements
    Authorizes the town manager or attorney to sign opioid settlement agreements with secondary manufacturer defendants and to participate in the Purdue Pharma/Sackler bankruptcy settlement.
    adopted · Pass · A motion was made by Council Member Berry, seconded by Council Member Miller-Foushee, that the Council adopt the resolution. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  15. OTHER ATTENDEES
    Other
  16. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
    Appointment Appointments and personnel
    Following closed session, the council appointed an interim town attorney and authorized the town manager to sign the associated contract.
    appointed · Pass · A motion was made by Council Member Sharp, seconded by Council Member Nollert, that the Council appointed James Baker as Interim Town Attorney and authorized Town Manager Voorhees to execute the contract. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Other recent meetings of this board