The Town of Chapel Hill is interested in identifying shared interests around a new approach to housing that clarifies where and how to build to be inclusive, sustainable, and an economically-competitive community. 

This initiative is a follow-up to the 2021 Housing Report. (Housing Report)(Presentation from September 2021). 

Town Council asked our consultant to help the Town find a list of the top global talent in this planning field to help Council determine a path forward.

The Town worked with the consultant to develop an RFP for a team to conduct a future visioning based on "meeting the need" for housing.

The Town hired a Team comprised of Jennifer Keesmaat & Alex Mather with The Keesmaat Group, Jennifer Hurley with Hurley~Franks & Associates, and Rod Stevens with Business Street.

 The Town of Chapel Hill has two complementary work programs underway. The planning and design firm, Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM), has been retained to undertake a detailed analysis of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit Corridor and two focus areas, as previously identified in the Future Land Use Map (FLUM). Subsequently, new regulations for development in the town will be developed under a separate contract. This work plan will unfold over several years.

The Complete Communities Strategy is assessing capacity throughout the entire town of Chapel Hill to determine where and how to meet current and future housing needs. In doing so, a dialogue with community leaders is being held over the next several months, and a pilot project will be proposed that demonstrates this new approach. This work plan will unfold over several months.

To implement the Complete Communities Strategy, an amendment was adopted to the Chapel Hill 2020 Comprehensive Plan. The update to the Plan includes Complete Communities Strategy (includes Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways), as well as Shaping Our Future: A Transportation and Land Use Initiative, and the Connected Roads Plan. (Town Staff Summary Report).