After the Town Council passed the 2020 Comprehensive Plan, the Town began intensive community planning efforts to place density on major corridors in town. It made sense at the time because Chapel Hill enjoys a free bus service, but that was before the town experienced serious cut backs in federal supporting funds. The Central West planning effort resulted in an area plan that allows more density on Estes Drive. A large majority of the neighbors fought for a different plan, primarily because of traffic concerns, but they lost.
The neighbors met several time with the Hawthorne, the developer, and reached some tentative agreements. Unfortunately, the then sitting council undid those agreements which removed needed tree buffers.
Whit Rummel, a local resident and then member of the Transportation Board, was active in the Central West discussions. He was appointed by the Council to the Central West Steering Committee because he owned two key tracts at either side of Somerset Drive. He sold the eastern property to Hawthorne a few years ago and is thought to still own the western-most tract.