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Historic District Commission

Town of Chapel Hill · Historic District Commission
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 6:30 pm · RM 110 | Council Chamber

Regular meeting Historic preservationEnvironment and sustainabilityFaith and cultural communities

Agenda document Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved 1.January 13, 2026 Meeting Minutes approved · Pass · Commissioner Gurlitz moved, Connolly seconded, to approve the January 13, 2026, meeting minutes. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  2. Approved 3.304 N. Boundary Street COA Amendment approved · Pass · Madhu Beriwal, applicant and owner, presented the site plan, showing the location of the proposed solar panels and aerial photos of the property with renderings…

Another 2 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

The Historic District Commission takes up two certificates of appropriateness, which bind the property owner once granted, and continues two policy discussions without a vote. On the consent agenda, the commission is set to approve a written decision for 260 Glandon Drive, finalizing a certificate of appropriateness already granted rather than opening a new hearing. In new business, it takes up a Certificate of Appropriateness amendment for 304 N. Boundary Street to add rooftop solar panels with battery backup in the garage; the owner says a flat roof and parapet walls would keep the panels out of view from the street.

The commission also discusses an education and outreach effort tied to the state's 2025-2034 historic preservation plan, and possible changes to Historic District design standards, including letting staff approve some routine certificates directly and building a reference catalog of existing structures for applicants. Neither is scheduled for a vote.

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

The commission approved both certificates of appropriateness it took up, each by a unanimous vote among the four members present. On the consent agenda, it approved a written decision for 260 Glandon Drive, finalizing a certificate of appropriateness already granted rather than reopening the case. In new business, it approved a Certificate of Appropriateness amendment for 304 N. Boundary Street so owner Madhu Beriwal can add rooftop solar panels with battery backup in the garage. Beriwal told the commission the roof is flat behind parapet walls, so the panels would not be visible from the road. No one spoke against it, and the commission found the addition not incongruous with the district's character.

The commission continued its two policy discussions to a later meeting without voting. On education and outreach, members did not reach a decision tied to the state's 2025-2034 historic preservation plan. On design standards, staff asked the commission to consider letting staff directly approve routine certificates for solar panels, driveway and walkway materials, and fieldstone or landscape walls. Hornik suggested building a catalog of existing structures for applicants to reference, and Gurlitz asked for more detail on which signs are exempt from certificate review.

How the votes went

The commission voted unanimously on every motion, 4-0 among the members present: to approve the agenda, the January 13 minutes, the written decision for 260 Glandon Drive, and the Certificate of Appropriateness amendment for 304 N. Boundary Street. Vice-Chair Brian Daniels and Commissioner Nancy McCormick were absent and did not vote. No vote was taken on the education and outreach or design standards discussions.

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 (21 on this agenda)
  1. Opening
  2. Roll Call
  3. Black History Month acknowledgement
  4. Secretary reads procedures into the record
  5. Commission Chair reads public charge
  6. Approval of Agenda
  7. Announcements
  8. Petitions
  9. Approval of Minutes
  10. 1.January 13, 2026 Meeting Minutes
  11. Consent
  12. 2.260 Glandon Drive
  13. New Business
  14. 3.304 N. Boundary Street COA Amendment
  15. Discussion
  16. Education and Outreach
  17. 4.Education and Outreach
  18. Design Standards
  19. 5.Design Standards
  20. Adjournment
  21. Order of Consideration of Agenda Items: 1. Staff Presentation 2. Appl…

Agenda items (21)

Procedural · 7Other · 6Discussion item · 4Minutes approval · 2Consent agenda · 2
  1. Opening
    Other
  2. Roll Call
    Procedural
  3. Black History Month acknowledgement
    Other Faith and cultural communities
  4. Secretary reads procedures into the record
    Procedural
  5. Commission Chair reads public charge
    Procedural
  6. Approval of Agenda
    Procedural
    approved · Pass · Commissioner Moore moved, Gurlitz seconded, to approve the agenda. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  7. Announcements
    Procedural
  8. Petitions
    Other
  9. Approval of Minutes
    Minutes approval
  10. 1. January 13, 2026 Meeting Minutes
    Minutes approval
    Approval of the January 13, 2026 meeting minutes.
    approved · Pass · Commissioner Gurlitz moved, Connolly seconded, to approve the January 13, 2026, meeting minutes. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
  1. New Business
    Other
  2. 3. 304 N. Boundary Street COA Amendment
    Discussion item Environment and sustainabilityHistoric preservation
    Certificate of Appropriateness amendment for 304 N. Boundary Street to add solar panels, with battery backup in the garage; approved as the panels would not be visible from the road.
    approved · Pass · Madhu Beriwal, applicant and owner, presented the site plan, showing the location of the proposed solar panels and aerial photos of the property with renderings of the proposed solar panels. She explained that the structures are setback from the road, and the panels would not be visible. Beriwal said the back up battery would be located in the garage, and the panels are meant to reduce the cost of…
    • 304 N Boundary St · no matching parcel on file
  3. Discussion
    Discussion item
  4. Education and Outreach
    Other
  5. 4. Education and Outreach
    Discussion item Historic preservation
    Ongoing education and outreach discussion tied to the state's 2025-2034 historic preservation plan; continued to the next meeting.
    The commission decided to continue the discussion to the next meeting.
  6. Design Standards
    Other
  7. 5. Design Standards
    Discussion item Environment and sustainabilityHistoric preservation
    Discussion of potential changes to Historic District design standards, including letting staff directly approve routine COAs (solar panels, driveway/walkway materials, fieldstone or landscape walls) and creating a reference catalog of existing structures for applicants.
    Staff requested the commission consider allowing staff to review and approve COAs for solar panels, additional materials for driveways and walkways, and fieldstone or landscape walls. Hornik suggested exploring the feasibility of creating a catalog of existing structures for applicants to use in their applications. Gurlitz asked for more information about exempt signs requiring a COA. The commissi…
  8. Adjournment
    Procedural
  9. Order of Consideration of Agenda Items: 1. Staff Presentation 2. Applicant’s Presentation 3. Public Comment 4. Board Discussion 5. Motion 6. Restatement of Motion by Chair 7. Vote 8. Announcement of Vote by Chair Public Charge: The Advisory Body pledges its respect to the public. The Body asks the public to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous manner, both with the Body and with fellow members of the public. Should any member of the Body or any member of the public fail to observe this charge at any time, the Chair will ask the offending person to leave the meeting until that individual regains personal control. Should decorum fail to be restored, the Chair will recess the meeting until a genuine commitment to this public charge is observed. Unless otherwise noted, please contact the Planning Department at 919-968-2728; planning@townofchapelhill.org for more information on the above referenced applications. See the Advisory Boards page http://www.townofchapelhill.org/boards for background information on this Board.
    Procedural

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