CHAPEL HILL - Last Monday, after Town Council member Laurin Easthom suggested requiring UNC to upgrade nearby streets before occupying buildings at Carolina North, colleague Matt Czajkowski wondered aloud whether the council had enough time on its calendar to consider such details before a scheduled vote tomorrow.

"You don't need a calendar," said council member Jim Ward. "You just need a clock. It's going to be a matter of hours and minutes to see how nimble we are."

After months of negotiation, the council aims to vote on the Carolina North development agreement Monday at its last meeting before summer break. The agreement will govern how the university develops the 937-acre Horace Williams tract over the next 20 years and restricts development on some parts of the tract for 50 years and even beyond.

The agreement would allow UNC to build on no more than 228 acres and to construct roads and other infrastructure but no buildings on another 400 acres within the next 50 years. It would also place about 300 acres in permanent conservation. It requires UNC to build enough housing to represent 15 to 25 percent of the overall development.

With UNC promising to produce no more carbon emissions than it absorbs by 2050, the agreement acknowledges that a sustainably designed Carolina North will have to "exceed carbon neutrality" in order to make up for emissions on the main campus. All buildings on campus will be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, with non-healthcare buildings achieving LEED Silver status.

"A new level of trust and credibility [between town and gown] has emerged from this joint process," said David Godschalk, former Town Council member and retired city planning professor.

Sticking points have centered on transportation issues.

The draft development agreement worked out by the Town Council and the UNC Board of Trustees already would require new traffic signals at each end of Airport Drive as soon as UNC builds access from Carolina North onto Estes Drive across from Airport Drive. The citizens group Neighbors for Responsible Growth wanted more roadway improvements before UNC occupies any buildings.

"We can quibble over the number of additional cars that Carolina North will put on our roads, but there's no doubt that the impact will be significant," said NRG member Alan Snavely.

Easthom said the council and UNC trustees were able to work out that conflict on Tuesday night. According to new draft language, town staff will require a new traffic analysis for each individual building permit, and UNC will improve roads as called for by the new traffic demand.

"Everything is supposed to be done prior to occupancy," said Easthom. "It's addressed. It's clarified. It's in there."

The widening of Estes Drive to three lanes near the west side of MLK, new turn lanes on Airport Drive, Estes Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard had been required by the time the total development reaches 800,000 square feet. But in the latest draft, nothing specifically triggers these improvements, something the council may need to address on Monday.

"We expect that will be a conversation," said Carolina North executive director Jack Evans.

If UNC manages to cut the ratio of parking spaces to commuters by 10 percent versus the main campus, then it could avoid paying for some roadway projects if the traffic impact improves enough.

Council member Sally Greene echoed another NRG request for a bike path between Carolina North and the main campus. School of Government professor David Owens, a consultant to the town on Carolina North, said the draft agreement requires the path but doesn't specify when or where it would be built.

"It seems too vague," said Greene.

The council and trustees talked about that Tuesday, and Easthom said they agreed to work "expeditiously" to find a location and funding for the bike path.

"They'd love it, we'd love it, if we could see our way clear to use the [Norfolk-Southern] railroad right of way," said Evans. But "we don't know enough yet."

Greenways Commission Chairman Glenn Parks said the university's commitment is "fragile."

"A designated, attractive, safe and efficient bike route (which uses Town streets, bike paths, and maybe parts of greenways) that is built now, will grow a biking (car-alternative) public for the near future," Parks wrote in an e-mail to the council.

Noting such outstanding issues, citizens suggested postponing the vote so that they and council members would have more time to consider such details.

"How can the public stay informed about a moving target such as this one?" asked council candidate Penny Rich. "Will the current timeframe allow for adequate review?"

Two-time council candidate Will Raymond accused the council of throwing a "hail Mary."

"Vital public input is being impeded," he said. "You're close, but you're not close enough to be done by next week."

"I'm worried about my council members," said NRG's Bob Henshaw.

"This is probably one of the biggest votes you will cast."

jesse.deconto@nando.com or 932-8760

WHAT'S NEXT

The Chapel Hill Town Council meets at 7 p.m. Monday in Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.