AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
A popular retirement community in Chapel Hill could become home to more aging adults if a plan to redevelop and expand is approved.
Read more A Raleigh tiny-home village will give veterans a permanent place to call home
Carol Woods, a nonprofit continuing care retirement community, has been buying land around its 119-acre campus at 750 Weaver Dairy Road for a few years. It now has a decades-long master plan for building over 330 units and is seeking a conditional zoning permit to build taller buildings and up to eight units per acre.
The master plan will create flexibility as the campus, built in 1979, expands and modernizes over the next few decades, officials said.
The first phase, on eight acres south of the main campus at 719 Weaver Dairy Road, would add 60 independent-living carriage homes in five, three- and four-story buildings. There would be private balconies and more windows to let in sunlight, said Marianne Ratcliffe, president and chief executive officer.
Future construction could replace 74 one-story cottages on the main campus with 274 new units, for a total of 30 new buildings campuswide. That part of the plan depends on resident demand, financial and market conditions, and other factors, the plan states.
The new buildings would have elevators and parking underneath, in addition to parking lots. Existing greenway trails would be extended to serve the new housing, the application states.
There is no timeline for redeveloping the main campus, and further development there is limited by steep slopes, five streams and required landscaping buffers, the application states.
Carol Woods now offers 119 health care units and 314 one-story independent living cottages and apartments in two- to four-story buildings. It serves roughly 485 residents, about 400 of whom live independently, Ratcliffe said.
“As we look to the future of Carol Woods, our goal is to plan in a way that is both visionary and grounded,” she said. “This work is about ensuring that the community remains strong, connected, and true to its values for generations to come.”
In 2025, over 18% of Orange County’s 152,498 residents were age 65 and older — a roughly 15% increase since 2020, according to the U.S. Census.
Carol Woods is one of two continuing care retirement communities in Chapel Hill, offering a spectrum of services and housing, from independent living to nursing home and hospice care.
Admission is selective, with an Early Acceptance program for local residents that lets them participate in the community before moving to the campus.
The cost last year ranged from $2,787 a month for a studio apartment, plus a $106,000 entry fee, to $7,920 a month, with an entry fee of $622,400, for a two-bedroom duplex cottage with a den and sunroom, according to Orange County’s 2025 Senior Housing Guide.
Read more New artwork lights up downtown Raleigh with limited-time installation
Carol Woods does not offer traditional affordable housing, but has financial assistance available for residents who run out of money, plus diverse options, smaller units, and a separate program for younger residents to secure a place in its assisted living and nursing facilities, officials said.
The community also partners with PACE — Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly — which is a comprehensive medical and social services program for older adults who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Carol Woods has over 2,000 people on a priority waitlist, with the average admission for independent living and Early Acceptance taking nearly 12 years, depending on the housing type and entry program, Ratcliffe said.
A group of neighbors has already raised questions about the proposed building size and scale in a letter to the town. They also want more information about how the expansion could affect stormwater, flooding, traffic and the surrounding environment.
“We support only development consistent with single-family homes similar in scale and character to those on Steeplechase Rd, Derby Ln and adjacent neighborhoods,” the letter says.
They are asking the town to delay the proposal while they hire independent experts to review engineering and planning issues. Neighbors have also asked to meet with Carol Woods officials, the project team and town staff.
The plan shows some housing units built near streams before modern rules existed will be removed, and traditional pavement will be replaced in some areas with surfaces that let water infiltrate the soil. In addition, up to a dozen stormwater ponds are planned to handle runoff from a 100-year storm, and more rooftop solar is planned to help with energy efficiency.
The release noted Carol Woods has maximized its current solar power production and is exploring battery backup solar storage.
While some trees will be removed for construction, Carol Woods officials said “the woodsy feel of the existing development is one of the hallmarks of this community and preservation of the mature canopy is a priority.”
A traffic study is pending, the application states.
Ratcliffe said questions and concerns that neighbors have shared since the conversation started this summer has been appreciated, and their continuing input is welcome.
“The Town’s review process will provide additional opportunities for public input, and we remain committed to listening carefully and considering that feedback as planning moves forward,” she said. “Our goal is to pursue thoughtful development that is compatible with both the Carol Woods campus and the surrounding community while preserving the qualities that make this area special.”
The News & Observer’s Inside Look takes readers behind the scenes to illuminate the people and places in our community.
Read more Investigating the Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes and What They Mean for the Case
This story was originally published August 25, 2026 at 10:47 AM.