The university wants to realign the conservation areas of the proposed campus to "improve the ecological value and connectivity of the 311 acres of the Carolina North property." The modification does not change the size of the areas, which are popular with local trail runners and hikers.

"The resulting modification consolidated some of the areas and extended others so they would meet, making it possible to preserve older, more mature forest and protect additional stream, stream buffer and wildlife corridors in the same amount of acreage," the town said in a prepared statement.

The overarching goal of this proposed minor modification is to improve the ecological value and connectivity of the 311 acres of the Carolina North property that are to be placed in conservation under the terms of the Development Agreement, according to a modification request submitted to the town manager.

The Conservation Area realignments proposed, according to the request, are designed to:
• Consolidate Conservation Areas to protect larger continuous tracts;
• Preserve more mature forest;
• Protect additional streams, wetlands and wildlife corridors;
• Eliminate areas such as the landfill that ought to be restored rather than conserved; and
• Maintain an equal number of acres being conserved.

The modifications were discussed at a public forum on Thursday.

The university will present additional information about the proposal at the Town Council business meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday.

The Town Council welcomes public input at the meeting.

Comments also may be emailed to carolinanorth@townofchapelhill.org before Feb. 10, 2012.