HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-03-2003 - 9aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 3, 2003
SUBJECT: Proposed Master Plan for Little River Regional Park
DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource
Conservation; Recreation and
Parks
Action Agenda
Item No. 9 _ a
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Draft Master Plan (Park Entryway Area)
Rich Shaw, 245 -2591
Map of Proposed Trail System
Lori Taft, 245 -2673
Construction Cost Estimate
David Stancil, 245 -2590
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732 -8181
Chapel Hill 968 -4501
Durham 688 -7331
Mebane 336- 227 -2031
PURPOSE: To consider a proposed master plan for the Little River Regional Park and
Natural Area.
BACKGROUND: Establishing the new Little River Regional Park and Natural Area is a
cooperative project among the partners Orange County, Durham County, the Triangle
Land Conservancy and the Eno River Association. The 391 -acre park will be jointly
owned and managed by Orange and Durham counties.
In 2001, both the Orange and Durham county boards of commissioners approved a
preliminary conceptual plan that incorporates the following elements: entrance road and
parking area, picnic shelter, restroom facility, children's play area, group camping area,
and trail system (with separate walking /hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails).
The next important action for Board consideration is to consider and approve a master plan
for the layout and construction of the park facilities. Orange County hired a design firm
(Haden - Stanziale) in May 2002. Over the past year, Haden - Stanziale has worked with staff
from both counties to develop a plan consistent with the previous guidance from both boards
of commissioners and the Little River Park Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee
held two public meetings for citizen input.
2 1-
The draft master plan was presented to the Little River Park Advisory Committee on May 14.
The committee comments were generally favorable about the Master Plan, with a request
that a stormwater detention pond be considered for the parking lot area.
On May 16, both counties were informed that some remains of prehistoric stone tools were
discovered near the park entranceway. Further investigation of those finds by the contractor
will determine what affect that may have on the project, and staff will report on June 3.
Funding for the park design comes from a grant from the Land and Water Conservation
Fund (LWCF), awarded to Orange and Durham counties for developing the Little River
Regional Park. The LWCF grant (originally $262,000) is due to expire on September 30,
2003. Staff intends to request an extension (a second and final extension) once the
master plan is approved and both counties sign an interlocal agreement. The interlocal
agreement will specify a 50 -50 cost -share arrangement between the two counties. These
steps, plus a contract for park construction, should enable the LWCF guidelines to be met.
Note: In order to obligate the funds in this manner, both boards will need to approve
the master plan and inter -local agreement prior to July 1.
Following master plan approval by both the Orange and Durham county boards, a site
plan will be submitted for approval and the design contractor will prepare construction
drawings, which will be used to solicit bids for park construction. Construction is expected
to begin in late Fall 2003, and the Little River Regional Park should be open to the public
by Spring 2004.
The Orange County Recreation and Parks Department will operate and maintain the park
consistent with a proposed interlocal agreement between Orange and Durham counties.
Construction cost estimates were received from the consultant on Wednesday, May
14. The consultant's initial estimate of $812,000 has been adjusted twice, once by
the consultant (to $712,000) and once by Durham and Orange staff to yield a
$624,139 project. The financial impact section below contains scenarios for funding
which the Board may wish to discuss.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The full master plan, as designed by the consultant, is projected to
cost $712,232. Orange and Durham staffs have deleted some items from the consultant's
estimate, and revised the estimate to move some facilities (approximately $45,000) into a
second phase — leaving a cost estimate of $624,139.
Construction Cost Estimates
Source Amount Available
Consultant Estimate — 5/14/03 $821,942
Consultant Revised Estimate — 5/14/03 $712,232
Staffs Refined Estimate - 5/21/03 $624,139
Additional facilities that have been designed in the Master Plan (beyond those envisioned
in the LWCF grant application) include a park entrance turn lane, a picnic loop walking trail
(ADA accessible), caretaker residence, park office and maintenance shed. Some of these
additional facilities will be funded from outside sources. Construction of an $85,000 turn
lane from Guess Road will be funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT), but is not included in the master plan cost estimate. Construction of the picnic
area loop walking trail is expected to be paid for from a $50,000 grant from the state
Recreational Trails Program.
Funding for the park has been previously identified from the aforementioned LWCF grant
($262,000) planned as the primary funding source for the park construction. A total of
$221,472 from LWCF grant remains (subtracting cost of site design, archaeological survey
and topo survey), and the Board has previously authorized $45,000 toward a caretaker
residence to be moved to the park from Heritage Hills. Durham County has also budgeted
$100,000 to be matched by Orange County toward additional construction costs.
Table 1 - Previously ADDroved Revenues
Source
LWCF grant — remainder
Amount
$221,472
Trails grant
$50,000
Caretaker House relocation — Orange County portion
$45,000
SUBTOTAL
$316,472
Other Possible Revenue Sources
Durham County already allocated — requires Orange County match
$100,000
Orange County Payment -in -Lieu funds (not yet authorized,
remainder of match is $45,000 in house relocation funds above)?
$55,000
TOTAL - ALL SOURCES
$471,472
If Orange County were to match Durham County's $100,000 (recommended to be
accomplished by allocating $55,000 in additional funds from the Northern District Park
Payment -in -Lieu fund), the differential between the staff - revised cost estimate and the
available funds is $152,667 (or $76,334 for each jurisdiction).
There are two options the Board may wish to consider to address the funding shortfall:
Option 1 — Additional Revenue: To address the remaining County portion of the
estimated construction cost (assuming Durham County does likewise), the Board could
opt to "borrow" $76,334 from one of the County park facility projects funded through the
2001 bond — borrowing from a project that is designated for construction beyond 2004 and
replenishing those funds in a future CIP prior to construction of the park. A budget
amendment would be prepared identifying the temporary funding source if this option is
chosen.
Option 2 — Deferral of Facilities: The Board could opt to defer some of the facilities not
originally part of the LWCF project. Some options might include:
Table 2 — Possible Facilitv Deferrals
Even with the deferral of the above facilities (which would lower the project construction
cost to $535,139), and the use of the remaining payment -in -lieu funds ($55,000 as shown
in the first chart above), an additional $31,834 of County funds would be needed to
build the remaining facilities. As detailed in option 1 above, staff recommends that the
Park office $35,000
Gravel instead of paved entrance road
$30,000
Picnic Shelter
$24,000
TOTAL Deferred
$89,000
Even with the deferral of the above facilities (which would lower the project construction
cost to $535,139), and the use of the remaining payment -in -lieu funds ($55,000 as shown
in the first chart above), an additional $31,834 of County funds would be needed to
build the remaining facilities. As detailed in option 1 above, staff recommends that the
4 '
Board consider borrowing funds from another park facility project that is not yet ready for
construction.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
a) Discuss and approve the proposed Little River Park master plan with revisions as
needed;
b) Discuss the two funding options as listed above and select a method of funding;
c) Authorize ERCD and Recreation & Parks to submit the master plan for Planning
Department site plan review and approval; and
d) Develop construction drawings necessary to solicit bids for park construction in
accordance with the approved plan.
10
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/,. GROUP PICNIC
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RESTROOMS
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GROUP PICNIC SHELTER
(30'X 609 TO EQUESTRIAN I I
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TRAIL TO PARK OFFICE ! RESTROOMS I " - -" - -' --
LOOP TRAIL ! TRAIL HEAD GATEWAY f� TO 810 i
- - - -- - -- - - — - - -- - - -... - - - -- - - -- - (RELOCATED CORN CRIB)
CARETAKER'S 34 CAR PAVED ill
couNry
DURHAM HOUSE PARKING LOT
III � AND
ADVENTURE (i ORANGE COUNTY
PLAYGROUND 1JJ /if -------------__.-
Cpd1ATNlEY
I HadenStanziale
EXISTING t ^ ' / : �.' a.�_'i. `A- ftw"`�
FARMHOUSE J"" f
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29 CAR GRASSY -_. -�
PARKING LOT
OVERSIZE VEHICLE
ARKING SPACES - f'
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SEE INSET
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MEADOW
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\ PARK OFFICE
'`"F Amovm: vE
MAINTAINED ~ MAINTENANCE/ ORAGE
MEADOW _ _ _ (CONVERTED TOBACCO BARN)
MASTER
SEPTIC FIELD FOR .. - PLAN
CARETAKER'S RESIDENCE
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SHEET: P•1.0
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Little River Regional Park - Proposed Trail Network
/^\/ Bike Trail 5.42 miles • Archaeological Sites
/\v/ ' . `• a r `° /\v/ m
Hardsurface Walkway .35 mile Streas
N Horseback Riding Trails 3.43 Miles little River Regional Park Boundary •,,,
N Hiking Trails 7.12 miles Parcel Boundary 300 0 300 600 Feet
6 Contours C—Vao—g.
Dv k. ,
conmrv�m r
Park Entrance Facilities shown on separate site plan. 912W
7
LITTLE RIVER PARK CONSTRUCTION BUDGET SUMMARY
Phase 1 Improvements Cost
INFRASTRUCTURE/ SITE WORK & UTILITIES
$
15,000
Stabilize existing farm house @ entrance
$
10,000
Relocate /repair /remove Corn crib, Packhouse, Chicken house
$
7,300
Repair Tobacco barn for re -use as Maintenance Shed
$
6,000
Park Office
$
35,000
Restroom Facility
$
48,000
Group Picnic Shelter (30x60)
$
26,625
Septic systems/ fields
$
37,000
Well, Utilities, Site Clearing, Culverts etc.
Road grading, gravel base, mat & seal coating
$
$
47,780
106,436
HARDSCAPE - Gravel parking, striping, gates, bollards, picnic
pads
$
9,235
CARETAKER RESIDENCE
$
90,000
SITE FURNISHINGS- Trash receptacles, water fountain, grills,
picnic tables
$
28,105
SIGNAGE - Entrance sign, directional & regulatory signage
$
16,000
NATURE TRAILS (signage, bridges, culverts)
$
36,000
ADA PICNIC LOOP TRAIL
$
43,418
LANDSCAPING - flowering trees, shrubs, screening plant, grassed a $
20,500
Construction Subtotal
$
567,399
10 % Contingency
$
56,740
ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION
$
624,139
*Note: ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COST BASED ON PLAN TITLED "LITTLE
RIVER PARK" - MASTER PLAN
Phase 2 Additions
Second Group Picnic Shelter (20 X 30)
$
15,000
Grills and picnic tables for shelter
$
4,700
Childrens play area
$
25,000
Phase 2 Total
$
44,700