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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19970409ARPROVED MAY 21, 1997 9'71 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APRIL 9, 1997 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in joint session with the Hillsborough Town Commissioners on Wednesday, April 9, 1997 at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room at the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. • Chair William L. Crowther and Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Moses Carey, Jr., Alice M'. Gordon and Stephen H. Halkiotis ROTTr Mayor Horace Johnson and Commissioners Kenneth E. Chavious, Richard 0. Simpson, Evelyn Lloyd, Catherine Martin and Remus Smith Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESE=: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Rod Visser and Albert Kittrell and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) UL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TQ IN ZEMM MINUTES IN ?F PERRn MET AGEND 8 FIDE IN = CLERK' S OFFICE-._ ALL RECORDING TAPES 2E =E MEETI WILL BE KF12T FOR FIVE JUL YEARS- Introductions were made. Commissioner Gordon expressed appreciation that Catherine Martin is well after her car accident. Mayor Johnson said that hopefully this is the beginning of a good relationship to enhance all the laves of everyone in Orange County with joint efforts on parks and recreation. The Town has the will and hopefully funds will be available. AGENDA. r la-. EM RIMER PARK Director of Economic Development Ted Abernathy distributed colored maps of the proposed park. He summarized the components of the park. They have applied for grant monies from the Kirby Foundation and the Hillsborough Tourism Board. The plan for Stillhouse Creek will go to the two governing boards upon completion in a few weeks. Commissioner Gordon noted that the plan utilizes all of the land and does not reserve any space for future county needs, including parking, as the Commissioners had requested. Commissioner Carey agreed and suggested that perhaps the section marked "open field" would be appropriate. The County Manager is to review the plans and provide a recommendation concerning space that should be reserved for Orange County needs. Town Commissioner Chavious asked about the plan for a parking deck which would serve as parking for the courthouse and for downtown Hillsborough. In answer to a question about the bridges over the creek, Ted Abernathy said that they have not yet been designed. Two of these bridges will be substantial. While they have identified money for site preparation, they have not identified funds for the bridges. Chair Crowther mentioned that this park does not have a name which is awkward when applying for grants. He would like to see a process for determining a name for this park -- maybe a contest to name this park. Discussion ensued on funds allocated by the Town and the County. Commissioner Halkiotis suggested listing the total value of this piece of land. Unless that is done, the contribution by Orange County is underestimated. Right now only the original purchase price of 'a piece of land in the center of the tract is included, whereas the value of the whole tract that the County is allowing for use as a park is much greater. Even though the County is not donating the land, the accurate value should be used. The chart showing dollar amounts will be redone to show the status of each item. lb-, ELANS FOR FAIRVIEW PARKLAM Town Manager Eric Swanson said that the Town and Eurosport want to work together to provide additional opportunities to play soccer. They looked at the 20 acres along the Eno River that was part of the Cone Mill facility. Because of utility easements and flood issues, they cannot use this property for this purpose. They then looked at Fairview Park. The County owns some of this property and the town owns about 20 acres. They have talked with County Manager John Link and Parks and Recreation staff about using this area jointly for soccer fields. They feel that the first step is to proceed with a feasibility study of this site. This property is in the extraterritorial transition area but not in the city limits. Recreation and Parks Director Bob Jones said that the county owns 41 acres and the town owns 20 acres. The proposed plan was to build ballfields and to develop a community park. Eric Swanson said that they would like to work with the County in their programming needs for soccer fields. They want to proceed with the feasibility study as soon as possible. Commissioner Carey feels that it is desirable to have more soccer fields but it needs to be considered in the Recreation and Parks r.. plan that is being updated at the present time. He feels that a public-- private financing plan could be considered. C Commissioner Gordon expressed opposition doing anything on this at this time that would require an expenditure of County funds. If Hillsborough just needs the land, the County may be able to make the land vailable. Commissioner Halkiotis said that he is totally in support of this concept. He wants to know how this could fit into the County's master recreation and parks plan. He feels the County should look at this area and if there is an opportunity to do something with the Town, he would be very supportive of moving ahead. He noted that the playground equipment is already outdated. Commissioner Carey feels that the public private piece is significant. Everyone knows that the need for recreation activities and space is increasing in this county. Mayor Horace Johnson said that they recognize the need for recreation. The population is increasing and the needs for recreational activities has increased. Commissioner Halkiotis commended Sports Endeavors (Eurosport) for hiring from the community and thanked them for contributing to the community. He wants them to build soccer fields in Orange County. The representatives from Sports Endeavors said that they are talking about contributing funds for this endeavor as well as helping to work with the youth. Commissioner Halkiotis said that he heard that a task force is looking at the possibility of locating soccer fields in this area. Eric Swanson said that he will work with John.Link and look at formalizing this group with a representative from the County serving on this task force. Commissioner Halkiotis would like to know exactly what the Town would like from the County. 1c •_ H.JL L?=&Q9GA ANNEXATION PLANS Eric Swanson said that the Town has received a letter of interest from the owner and developers of the proposed Scotswood project, a mixed-use development on 330 acres at the intersection of U.S. 70 E. and St. Mary's Road. This letter of interest will follow the process they have in place for annexations. Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the Capital Needs Task 7orce because this development would mean one more elementary school for Orange County Schools. If the annexation is approved and water and sewer is extended to that area, it will have a big impact on Orange County schools. It, Eris Swanson said that they just received this letter of 974 interest. He is not sure if the Town Commissioners are interested in pursuing this for annexation or not. The Town will keep the County Commissioners informed on what happens. Chair Crowther noted that the Town and County need to work on cleaning u their extraterritorial jurisdiction lines. There are fingers of County property surrounded by City land. 0-=S . PLANS Eric Swanson made reference to the information in the agenda. They plan to start construction in the fall of'this year. They plan to complete the reservoir in the fall of 1998. In answer to a question from Commissioner Brown about water quality, Eric Swanson said that there are no plans for a study at this time. He noted that they are providing ,a 100-foot buffer to ensure water quality. Commissioner Carey asked about the process the town is using to acquire land. Eric Swanson said that they have seven properties under contract. The process is that they have a committee that is negotiating with the land owners. If they cannot reach a settlement, they will give a 30 day notice for condemnation. The town will make a deposit with the courts and then acquire the property. Commissioner Brown asked if they are using the county tax evaluation as a base. Eric Swanson said that their appraisers say that there are other ways to value property. Geoffrey Gledhill said that the condemnation process is that the town files a lawsuit against the property owner. At that time, the town will make a deposit with the Clerk of Courts. Once that complaint is filed, the Town will own the land and can begin the reservoir project. A jury will decide how much the land is worth. There could be water in the reservoir before all cases are resolved. Commissioner Brown said that she feels the zoning is below what needs to be required in that area. Commissioner Carey said that the standards the County adopted for this area are above state standards. Commissioner Halkiotis asked that the people owning property being purchase by the town for the reservoir be treated in a fair and equitable way. le. HILLSBOROUGH APPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY BOARDS Commissioner Gordon asked that the Town Commissioners consider the diversity of the representatives being recommended for appointment by the County Commissioners on the Hillsborough Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment. Planning Director Margaret Hauth said that they cannot get 97.5 volunteers to serve on these two boards. They generally receive applications from white males. NOTE: Major Horace Johnson said he would like to meet with Director of Economic Development Ted Abernathy for the purpose of helping them get industry in Hillsborough.. 2-a, REPORT FROM g aT nge COUNTY &=OLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD Howard Pearson, General Manager of the ABC System in Orange County gave this report. He said that they do not prepare a budget each year. He summarized their goals, expected expenditures and revenues. Bill Thorpe, Chair of the ABC Board, also answered various questions. Commissioner Gordon said that she would like to have a budget for the ABC System. U JOUR=NT With no further items to be considered, Chair Crowther adjourned this work session. The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, April a 16, 1997 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel Hill Town Council Chambers in Chapel Hill , North Carolina. Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk William L. Crowther, Chair 5