HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19950517 i
' 1
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AND
HILLSBOROUGH TOWN COMMISSIONERS
QUARTERLY MEETING
MAY 17, 1995
The Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Hillsborough Town
Commissioners met on May 17, 1995 at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room of
the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. ,
and Commissioners William L. Crowther, Alice M. Gordon, and Stephen H.
Halkiotis
COUNTY COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Commissioner Don Willhoit
COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill
HILLSBOROUGH TOWN COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Commissioners Catherine
Martin, Richard Simpson and Remus Smith
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr. , Clerk to
the Board Beverly A. Blythe and Planning Director Marvin Collins,
TOWN STAFF PRESENT: Mayor Horace Johnson, Town Manager Eric
Swanson and Planning Director Margaret Hauth
The agenda was approved as written. The two boards agreed that
the meeting will adjourn at 9:00 p.m.
1. UP_ DATE ON THE CPZ
Marvin Collins reported that the Stoney Creek planning group has
been meeting for a couple of months and has finished the first phase.
Students from the University of North Carolina have prepared and
presented three plans for the area and a series of impact statements
for traffic, population, school children, etc. The plans were
conventional, open space and neotraditional. Staff will be presenting
two other alternatives -- one based on rural character and one with
flexible options. It will be early 1996 before this work will be
completed.
Margaret Hauth said that the Town Commissioners approved and
adopted the Economic Development District guidelines as presented by
the County.
In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon about a
formal cooperative planning agreement, Chair Carey said that even
though the County is interested in a cooperative planning agreement on
the entire joint planning area, his understanding is that Hillsborough
is more interested in working on small area plans. The two Boards
agreed that the cooperative planning initiative is off the table for
now.
Town Commissioner Smith said it was his understanding that
the Town was going to write the County about pursuing cooperative
planning with the County for the area from I-40 back to Oakdale Drive.
He is interested in protecting the two entrances on NC 86 coming into
Hillsborough.
Discussion ensued on the truck stop and the massage "All Girl
Staff" area at I-85, NC 86 intersection. Commissioner Halkiotis said
2
that by planning for that area, the good things can be saved and other
things can be renovated. Geof Gledhill said that this is an
opportunity to create an Economic Development District where the
permitted use table could control what goes in that area and be used as
a strategy to get rid of the establishments which are negative.
Hillsborough will work up a proposal for this area for the County
Commissioners to review and make comments. Economic Development
Director Ted Abernathy will assist the Town in this project. County
staff will bring forth a recommendation on the I-40 area north to
Oakdale Drive.
s COMPARISON OF ORANGE COUNTY AND HILLSBOROUGH RECREATION PLANS
ENO PARK PLANNING - DESIGN AND FUNDING
John Link said that a brainstorming session was held involving
County and Town staff and the Chamber of Commerce President. The Town
shared with them the plan that was created in 1986 which included a
park and "river walk" in that area. The floodplain and the deep gully
are natural constraints. Also not all the land along the entire creek
is publicly owned. John Link reported that the group did identify
participants in forming a committee to formulate and bring back a
proposal to the two Boards for comments and potential sources of
funding.
Commissioner Crowther suggested that to create a park
Hillsborough could pay for developing the property and the County could
take care of maintaining the area. Chair Carey indicated that there
would be no problem in reaching an agreement on the use of the
property. He suggested that the Board of County Commissioners approve
a resolution giving authorization for the Town and County to involve
private concerns and move forward, with the staff bringing back to the
Board of County Commissioners a proposal. A map of the floodplain will
be presented with the resolution. Commissioner Halkiotis noted he
would like for the Farmers Market to be included in the plan for the
area. Commissioner Gordon asked that County staff indicate any future
need the County might have for the land, including parking and/or
buildings.
3. NEW 861185 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
This item was discussed under #1 above.
4. SCHOOL SITES - PROCESS TO WORK WITH ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
Chair Carey said that this item is for the purpose of planning
ahead for new school site development or to identify areas that would
be conducive to schools in the areas of future growth. Town
Commissioner Remus Smith said that the Orange County School Board had
not contacted them on this issue. Margaret Hauth mentioned that most
of the houses are being built out in the County and not in the city of
Hillsborough. Geof Gledhill pointed out that the growth in the County
will cause a school to be built in the City. It was decided that the
Board of County Commissioners will address this issue with the County
administrators.
S. OLD LANDFILL
Chair Carey said that the County would like to deed back to the
Town of Hillsborough the old landfill. The Town did not respond to
3
this idea. The area is being used as a County park and there is a
continuing financial responsibility and liability for the area. John
Link wondered if the County should pursue aggressively putting
ballfields at this park. He feels that the County and the Town need to
work together to develop and maintain this area.
Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that he is firmly convinced that
the County needs to be in charge of the landfill including managing and
operating the County landfill.
Chair Carey said that there are two issues. One is who should be
responsible for maintaining and keeping landfills safe and who should
be responsible for developing them. He agrees that the current process
complicates the decision making process with regard to landfill and
landfill issues. With regards to Fairview Park and the Old Landfill,
this is an area that is useful and an area that can be used for
recreational purposes to serve a lot of Hillsborough citizens. He
asked that Hillsborough consider working with the County to jointly
improve the park area to utilize it and make it available for citizens.
Eric Swanson said that he is sure there are organizations
looking for areas such as this for sport activities. Maybe this
discussion will prompt that opportunity.
Commissioner Halkiotis feels that something needs to be
planned for that park area.
6. OTHER ITEMS OF IIM TUAL INTEREST
Town Commissioner Remus Smith said that they are still looking for
a place to put the weight scale. They are looking for a site within
five miles of Hillsborough.
On the question of the status of the Hillsborough reservoir, Eric
Swanson said that the survey teams are 70% complete. Last Monday
night, the Town Commissioners approved the design which means they will
now do further geotechnical work. They have sold the bonds to begin
purchasing land this summer and will shortly hire an appraiser to do
appraisals of the property. In answer to a question from Commissioner
Crowther, Mr. Swanson said that he is not aware of any legal maneuvers
from citizens in that area.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further items to be discussed, Chair Carey adjourned the
meeting. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, June 5, 1995
at Orange Grove Community Center in Bingham Township.
Moses Carey, Jr. , Chair
Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk