Do Chapel Hill boards play a role, offer diverse views? Council may say 9 should go.
Chapel Hill residents could lose several longtime options for weighing in on local issues if the town disbands over half of its advisory boards and committees.
The goal is to find better ways of getting public input, especially from residents who can’t attend meetings because of work or family responsibilities, town officials have said.
The Chapel Hill Town Council will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, and consider voting on each board after its discussion.
The town has been talking about the role that advisory boards and committees play for several years. Even board members have questioned their role and impact, surveys show.
The town has 16 advisory boards and committees on subjects like public and cultural arts, policing, housing, parks and recreation, environmental sustainability, stormwater and transportation. Some have already been revamped to focus on higher-level policies, rather than individual development projects.
The current proposal would disband nine boards and replace them on an as-needed basis with short-term task forces and working groups. The council would continue to accept public comment from residents at meetings.
The city of Asheville has been undergoing a similar restructuring process for a few years, in response to strains on staff and a desire for more diverse public input. Raleigh’s City Council voted in 2020 to disband 18 citizen advisory councils, which serve as liaisons between the city and neighborhoods, but reinstated those councils earlier this year.
Which boards could be affected?
Community Policing Advisory Committee; Cultural Arts Commission; Environmental Stewardship Advisory Board; Housing Advisory Board; Human Services Advisory Board; Library Advisory Board; Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission; Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board; and Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board
Which boards would remain?
Board of Adjustment; Community Design Commission; Criminal Justice Debt Program Advisory Committee; EZ Rider Advisory Committee; Grievance Hearing Board; Historic District Commission; and the Planning Commission.
The town also appoints members to Orange County, OWASA and Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership advisory boards.
What changes has the town already made?
The council approved changes in 2023 to limit concept and development plan review, requiring only the Planning Commission and council to weigh in. Other advisory boards were limited to higher-level policy discussions and proposed town rule changes.
The new process limits the Community Design Commission to reviewing how buildings and streetscapes look once projects are approved by the council.
Why is the town making these changes?
▪ To further streamline the development-review process, which used to take two years or more. Large projects are now approved in 12 to 18 months, and faster if they include at least 25% affordable housing.
▪ To reduce town staff time. Town employees now spend about 3,240 hours a year — equal to about $120,000 — preparing for and attending meetings, a report said.
▪ To clarify advisory board roles and responsibilities. Some boards meet sporadically, and others reported not having much to do. Council members are concerned about a lack of interaction with some boards and committees.
▪To involve more community members, after a survey found some residents feel left out of town decisions. That includes renters, people of color, low-income residents, immigrants and young people, the survey found, and many lack the time or ability to participate in the advisory board system..
Is this decision being rushed?
Town staff, council and residents have raised concerns about the role of advisory boards and commissions for at least a decade. The current conversation started just over two years ago.
In March 2023, consultant Jennifer Keesmaat brought an initial proposal to the council and said the large number of advisory boards was contributing to a dysfunctional system that dissuades potential developers and increases the cost of construction and housing.
The council delayed action, but in June 2023, six members submitted a petition asking staff to examine the role of advisory boards and committees.
That led to several council conversations and staff updates, including in September 2024, when town staff suggested other ways to get input, including the new Engage Chapel Hill website, focus groups, and compensating residents for their expertise.
The council could further adjust the Community Design Commission’s role as part of the current work of rewriting local land-use rules.
