University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
PAE-3: Physical Campus Plan

The 2001 Campus Master Plan (updated in 2006) meshes the critical pieces needed for smart growth in the 21st century – transportation, parking, housing, utilities and environmental sustainability – with the program needs of a growing campus. Participants in the Master Plan process looked at the campus as a whole and especially at the condition of its natural systems. This holistic approach influenced the design process for all future building on campus. The plan incorporates a full range of sustainability principles: mixed uses; compact buildings; multi-modal, pedestrian-oriented transportation; varied housing types; preservation and creation of green space; a predictable regulatory arena; and regular give and take among a large and diverse group of stakeholders. The Master Plan includes the following environmental goals: o Balance growth with preservation of the natural drainage system o Manage stormwater as an opportunity, not a problem o Recognize that the University is part of the Cape Fear Watershed o Reinforce the University's position as a role model o Decrease single-occupancy vehicle use o Increase and diversify on-campus housing The Campus Development Plan resulted in rezoning the campus in order to implement the Master Plan and to build 6 million square feet of new space. The Development Plan specifically addresses sustainability issues including: stormwater management, transportation planning, lighting, noise reduction, and interaction with perimeter neighborhoods. In the 2006 Update to the Master Plan, sustainability was recognized even more explicitly and led to a closer examination of resource use throughout the campus. The University is planning a new academic and research campus, Carolina North, on a 947-acre tract of land two miles north of the main campus. Planning for the new campus, which strives to "be a model of sustainable community" began with an ecological assessment that identified the areas of the tract that were least and most suitable for development. The resulting Master Plan concentrates development on already developed portions of the site, leaving the majority of the site undeveloped with over 300-acres in permanent conservation easement. Among the guiding themes for the Master Plan are: respect for the ecology of the site, support for a transit-oriented development, maximization of stormwater management, maximization of energy conservation, and carbon reduction. The plan is oriented east-west along a former airport runway to support solar collection potential. The Carolina North Master Plan was adopted in 2007 and Carolina North Design Guidelines in 2008. Information may be found at http://research.unc.edu/carolina-north/index.htm