HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03-29-2012 APPROVED 5/15/2012
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL
JPA PUBLIC HEARING
March 29, 2012
7:00 p.m.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in joint session with the Chapel Hill
Town Council on Thursday, March 29, 2012. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel
Hill, North Carolina for the purpose of holding a Joint Planning Area Public Hearing.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Bernadette Pelissier and Commissioners
Valerie Foushee, Alice M. Gordon, Pam Hemminger, Barry Jacobs, Earl McKee, and Steve
Yuhasz
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton and Clerk to the Board Donna
Baker (All other staff members wifl be identified appropriately below)
CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL 1VAEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt, Jim Ward,
Laurin Easthom, Penny Rich, Lee Storrow, Gene Pease, Matt Czajkowski
CHAPEL HILLTOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Council Member ponna Bell and
Council Member Ed Harrison
Chapel Hill Staff Present: Town Manager Roger Stancil
A. INTRODUCTIONS AND OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR AND MAYOR
Chair Pelissier and Mayor Kleinschmidt made opening remarks and introductions were
made.
B. PUBLIC CHARGE
The Chair dispensed with the reading of the public charge.
C. INFORMATION ITEM
1. Historv of Joint Planninq Area
Chair Pelissier said that many of them are new to the JPA process and this hearing is
part of the Joint Planning Agreement, which dates back to the time when Chapel Hill and
Orange County entered into a mutual agreement to develop a land use plan to cover portions of
the County's planning jurisdictions outside of the planning of the Town. The goal of the land use
plan was to identify policies and strategies to ensure purposeful growth of the areas on the
outskirts of the corporate limits of the Town, while preserving the unique rural character of the
surrounding area. Ultimately, there was a mutual agreement amongst the County and the
Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro establishing a regulatory framework governing the
development of property in and around both municipalities. This Joint Planning Agreement was
adopted in 1987. She made reference to subsection `C' of the packet, which contains a brief
historical synopsis concerning the agreement.
In accordance with this agreement, this is a public hearing to hear a development
proposal that has been submitted to the Town of Chapel Hill. The Town of Chapel Hill Planning
staff will be providing the staff report on this item. Ultimately, both of the elected bodies are
required to adopt resolutions approving the application package in order for the zoning to be
altered as requested by the applicant.
Commissioner Gordon said that when there is courtesy review of projects, it means that
it goes to the staff. She thinks that there should be a good agreement with the staff as to what
the Board would like to review and when staff review would be sufficient
Commissioner Jacobs asked that this history item be added to the agenda since most of
the elected officials were not part of government at the time the agreement went into effect. He
said that it is unique in North Carolina.
D. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
1. Chapel Hill Joint Planninq Transition Area Zoninq Atlas Amendment -St. Paul
Villaqe
Request by Pastor Thomas Nixon of St. Paul AME Church for a Zoning Atlas
Amendment to rezone a 20.9 acre 5-lot assemblage at the northeast corner of
Rogers Road and Pure#oy Drive from Residential-1 (R-1)to Residential-5-
Conditional (R-5-C).
This reQUest is located in the Chapel Hill Joint Plannina Transition Area and reauires the
approval of the Chapel Hill Town Council and Oranqe Countv Commissioners.
Mayor Kleinschmidt chaired this portion. He said that this is in the Chapel Hill transition
area and eventually, this will be part of Chapel Hill. He said that typically they consider rezoning
applications and special use permits at the same time, but this is a public hearing on a rezoning
application only. The special use permit consideration would come later. Once the County and
the Town agree on the zoning, then the Town Council will handle the special use permit.
Phil Mason, Principle Planner from Chapel Hill Planning Department, said that this is
located in the joint planning area, and includes parts of Orange County, Chapel Hill and
Carrboro. It also includes transition areas and the rural buffer. This project is at the intersection
of Purefoy Drive and Rogers Road. The area is bisected by the urban service boundary.
Homestead Road is to the south and Weaver Dairy Extension is to the east. Some adjacent
uses to the site are Phoenix Place, Rush Hollow, and the Faith Tabernacle Church. The
request is to rezone this area from Residential 1 Joint Planning Area to Residential 5
Conditional. Also proposed is a place of worship campus, which is an allowed use in Chapel
Hill Residential Zoning districts. The rezoning is conditional with associated special use permit
application requiring Chapel Hill Town Council approval. The proposed zoning change would
allow additional height and intensity.
Staff believes the proposed conditional rezoning is consistent with the Joint Planning
Agreement and furthermore is warranted because of changed conditions in a particular area
due to new development in proximity to the rezoning site. The Chapel Hill and Orange County
Planning staffs recommend that the Town Council and Orange County Commissioners approve
the rezoning of the St. Paul Village site from Residential 1 to Residential 5 Conditional.
Gloria Sheeley was from the company that is the Program Manager for the St. Paul AME
Church. She pointed out other team members that were present. The plan is named St. Paul
Village. It is a community that incorporates full residential, worship and ministry, and recreation
in a very natural setting. She pointed out the map. The existing church is on Merritt Mill Road
and the original structure will be relocated to the new site. There will also be two 35-unit senior
independent housing, In the middle of the complex, there will also be 16 units of affordable
housing. There will also be a six-acre site of resource conservation with outdoor picnic sites,
etc. At the major complex, there will be a sanctuary, a fellowship hall with commercial kitchen, a
daycare, a health clinic, a "gymnatorium", and a museum. She said that this is a multi-
generational complex.
There are five land parcels that have been combined for the proposal.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Susan Levy, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, said that she
is speaking in favor of the rezoning request. She said that the services available in this complex
will be available to the homeowners of the Rogers Road area.
Commissioner Hemminger asked about the phasing and Gloria Sheely said that it is a
three-phase process. The first phase will be completed at the end of four years from approval
and the entire project should be completed no later than 12 years from the start. The first phase
will have the revenue-generating aspects: independent senior housing, gym, fellowship hall,
daycare, museum, and cemetery. The second phase will be the sanctuary. The third phase will
be the affordable housing and health clinic.
Jim Ward asked if there would be a park and ride lot and it was answered that there
would not.
Jim Ward asked if this project would be brought into the Chapel Hill Town Limits and
Gloria Sheely said that they have made a formal request to be annexed to the Town of Chapel
HiIL
Commissioner Jacobs asked if part of the site was limited by an illegal dump site. Gloria
Sheely said that they had done a Phase 1 Environmental Report when the site was purchased
in 2007. There has also been an updated report and there are no apparent hazardous site
areas.
Council Member Rich said that this is a wonderful project. She asked if there would be a
way to transport senior citizens around this very large complex. Gloria Sheely said yes and
there would be a shuttle service because of the church.
Mayor Kleinschmidt asked about the outreach on this complex to the community. Gloria
Sheely said that on a regular basis they have made presentations within their worship services
and they have worked with the Visitor's Bureau and Congressman David Price.
Jim Ward asked about the parking capacity and it was answered that there would be 100
lighted spaces and 343 parking spaces. Jim Ward asked how that would correspond with a
meeting space for 650 and Gloria Sheely said that there are different uses at different times and
they went through all of that with the Town of Chapel Hill to determine the best parking
arrangements.
Commissioner Foushee commended the applicant for the services that will be made
available to this community.
A motion was made by Councilmember Rich, seconded b�r Councilmember Pease to
recess this public hearing to a Town Council meeting on June 25' .
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
A motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger, seconded by Commissioner McKee
to recess the public hearing and refer this to the Orange County Planning Board for a
recommendation on May 2"d with a decision by the Board of County Commissioners by June
19th.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
E. ADJOURNMENT
With no further items to be discussed, the meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
Bernadette Pelissier, Chair
Donna S. Baker, CMC
Clerk to the Board
APPROVED 5/15/2012
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL
JOINT MEETING
March 29, 2012
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met with the Town of Chapel Hill for a Joint
Meeting on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill.
N.C.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Bernadette Pelissier and Commissioners
Valerie Foushee, Alice M. Gordon, Pam Hemminger, Barry Jacobs, Earl McKee, and Steve
Yuhasz
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton, Clerk to the Board Donna Baker
(All other staff members will be identified appropriately below)
CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt, Ed
Harrison, Jim Ward, Penny Rich, Lauren Easthom, Lee Storrow, Gene Pease, Matt Czajkowski
CHAPEL HILLTOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Donna Bell
CHAPEL HILL STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Roger Stancil
1. Economic Development Updates
a) Orange County-Steve Brantley
Economic Development Director Steve Brantley summarized the information in the
agenda abstract.
While Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill each operate their own economic
development programs, the two entities have developed a collaborative working relationship
that is mutually beneficial, which is intended to benefit the residents of the community as a
whole. Although each of the programs has developed a focus unique to its goals and
objectives, there are also common opportunities to collaborate. Several of these opportunities
include:
♦ Search for incubator space — The Town and the County have been working
on the development of incubator sites to facilitate innovation growth, both from
the University and local entrepreneurs. Over the past year, Town and County
economic development staff have met regularly to assess various potential site
locations, and talked with potential investors and incubator space operators.
Also, the County's Economic Development Department recently sponsored a
study conducted in 2011 by UNC's Department of City and Regional Planning to
evaluate the real estate needs of University entrepreneurs. The final report
included recommendations for development of innovation space in a variety of
campus and non-campus locations within Orange County, with specific site
suggestions recommended within the Town of Chapel Hill. One of the primary
goals of the County's study with UNC was to determine how to reverse the trend
where many hi-tech startup firms that originate out of the University eventually
move away to adjacent counties. Pursuit of this objective should remain a
priority for the Town and County in the coming year.
♦ Small business loans to Town businesses — Orange County's Small Business
Loan fund is a resource available to eligible small businesses located within the
County and its municipalities. Several Chapel Hill companies have utilized this
unique County funded resource, to include the Chapel Hill-based firm
"ServiceMaster by Santosha", which is a commercial cleaning business. In
addition, the County has pending loans with two (2) other Chapel Hill firms, and
one of these loans, to an information technology services provider, was
disbursed in the last two weeks.
♦ Joint promotion of tourism and the arts — The Chapel Hill/Orange County
Visitors Bureau (CHOCVB), located at 501 W. Franklin Street, represents a
very positive, productive and longstanding good partnership between the
County and Town. Led by Laurie Paolicelli, this office and staff are a part of the
Orange County Economic Development Department. The attached CHOCVB
document outlines the encouraging economic impact this joint Town/County
agency contributed to the local economy during 2011.
♦ Ongoing communication - both formal and informal — Economic
Development staffs from the Town and the County have made regular
communication a priority to ensure that each office is working with current
information when potential business investment prospects make inquiries. Staff
members from both departments participate in regular partner meetings that
include Economic Development professionals from affiliated organizations (to
include the Chamber of Commerce, and the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors
Bureau), as well as hosting one-on-one meetings during each month with Town
and County staff participating.
♦ New project collaboration — Although the County and Town may receive new
project opportunities from independent sources, such prospects are routinely
shared among the economic development professionals from the County and
Town in order to best meet the specific needs of the potential client. Such
shared information includes a joint review of potential real estate locations,
financing options, regulatory assistance, and other levels of cooperation to
promote collaboration among staff, and ultimately, the recruitment of new
business.
♦ Existing business collaboration — As with the joint effort to work
collaboratively to seek new businesses, the Town and the County have also had
the opportunity to work together to respond to the expansion and retention
needs of existing businesses in a variety of ways, from assistance in finding a
larger facility space to providing regulatory guidance. One current example
involves the County and Town meeting with a local software related firm that
has excellent growth potential to create additional high-tech employment in the
Town.
♦ Transition support — The County's Economic Development staff can provide
support, as requested by the Town, during upcoming economic development
staff transitions, and/or with specific business recruitment and retention issues
that may develop in the interim. Orange County's Economic Development
Department looks forward to continuing a close relationship with Chapel Hill's
economic development office in 2012 and beyond.
The attached document provides additional background information for the discussion. Staff
will provide any other information at the meeting, and the governing boards can discuss issues
related to this item as necessary.
Attachmenf 1 — Visitors Bureau Tourism Program in Conjunction with the Town of
Chapel Hill
Council Member Pease asked about the range of the loans and Steve Brantley said that
it was from $30,000-50,000 for up to 3-5 years. The purpose is to help small businesses that
have 5-10 employees.
Council Member Pease asked about the solar panel companies that were thinking of
coming to Orange County. Steve Brantley said that these two projects did not move forward
because of the Chinese competition for manufacturing.
Frank Clifton said that this was an issue beyond the region.
Commissioner Jacobs asked Steve Brantley to recap the '/.-cent sales tax revenue and
the projects it will reflect.
Steve Brantley said that he and the Finance Director will start structuring the revenue
and will put it online. Sixty percent is for utility and infrastructure primarily for the economic
development districts. Another large percentage will be added to the small business loan
program. There is also an area marked for agricultural economic development efforts. There
are other categories such as collaborative outreach and incubator programs.
Chair Pelissier said that the most recent report from UNC was an analysis of the
incubator space and she asked that this be shared with the other municipalities.
b) Town of Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Town Manager Roger Stancil said that they are working to maintain the pace
they were on with the loss of Dwight Bassett, the Chapel Hill Economic Development Director.
He said that they are working collaboratively with the County and other partners— Chamber of
Commerce, EmPOWERment, UNC, etc. There is a strategy and a strong Economic ',
Development Committee. The Visitor's Bureau is also a strong partner. He said that Chapel ,
Hill is open for business and to businesses. There is a marketing campaign with the alumni II
association for UNC to identify alumni that would like to relocate their businesses and come
back to Chapel Hill. The focus of the town is on the future of economic development being in
healthcare and innovation. Chapel Hill is working with some technology companies on some
start-up projects. Regarding retail, the Council has initiated two projects—The Edge on
Eubanks Road, which will require some changes to the interchange of I-40 and NC 86; and
Gateway to Chapel Hill at Ephesus Church Road. There will need to be some collaboration
with Orange County on the transportation changes for The Edge.
2. Solid Waste Issues
a) Update from Town of Chapel Hill
Town staff provided the attachment which addresses several issues related to solid waste,
the Orange County Landfill, Rogers Road, and future solid waste disposal. Staff will provide
any other information at the meeting, and the governing boards can discuss issues related to I
this item as necessary. �I
�II
�I�
Aftachmenf 2-a — January 23, 2012 Chapel Hill Town Council Agenda Materia/s — Information
Report on Landfill Related Items
Roger Stancil said that everything is in the agenda packet and Chapel Hill has hired its
consultant to look at options now that Orange County is closing the landfill. They hope to get
recommendations to the Town Council in June. He said that staff sees this as an opportunity to
look at the entire process from collection at home. One sustainable solution for the future is the
waste to energy option. This will take time, however.
Chair Pelissier said that she hoped that Chapel Hill and Orange County could collaborate
on waste to energy options.
Commissioner Hemminger said that Orange County went ahead with the single-stream
recycling and she asked if this would affect Chapel Hill's plans.
Roger Stancil said that because they are looking at everything they did not want to put
anyone in a position to stop or start the process. He was aware that Orange County has moved
forward with single-stream recycling.
Roger Stancil said that they were all speculating about the distance to Durham and with
the trial run, they now have actual real times to work with and to see about their residential
trucks on the interstates. He said that the estimate for additional costs is about $500,000-
700,000 to transfer Chapel Hill's trash to Durham.
Commissioner Hemminger said that she is hopeful that a better solution will be found than
transferring trash to Durham.
Commissioner Jacobs asked if Chapel Hill was reviewing the 61% trash reduction goal.
Roger Stancil said that they are looking at efficient operations and they are not giving up on the
goaL
Council Member Czajkowski asked if it was anticipated that the County will continue to
handle recycling collection after the landfill is closed.
Frank Clifton said that this is the County's plan and it will be single-stream recycling.
There is a contract service to do this.
Commissioner Jacobs said that it seemed there is a philosophical premise that they have
used for their solid waste assumptions. He would like a better understanding of how the County
can stick with the 61% reduction alone or if everyone should be focused on this. He said that
they may need to have a different set of assumptions.
Commissioner Yuhasz said that the commitment to that 61% waste reduction is still there
for the County and he would assume that it is with the municipalities also, but does not know in
the long run if the County can reach that goal on its own. Until it is known how the County is
going to be moving forward, it is difficult to say if the assumptions will remain the same.
Council Member Ward said that he is Chapel HiIPs representative on the SWAB and no
one has mentioned changing this goal. He said that they all realize that Chapel Hill is doing its �,
due diligence with the consultant's report. ,
Chair Pelissier made reference to the memo from North Carolina League of Municipalities '
about annexation. She has received questions recently about annexation and provisions of �,
water and sewer. This was on page 23 in the packet. She thinks it would be good for everyone
to have information about what that really means. '
Roger Stancil said that the annexation laws have changed so much, but for Chapel Hill I
annexation is no longer an option since the authority to grow has been taken from them by the
changes at the General Assembly. '
Council Member Rich said that this is ambiguous and the water system is run by OWASA.
Frank Clifton said that he thinks there is an opportunity for a conversation to occur about
the ro�e that OWASA can play versus the role that it does play.
Council Member Czajkowski said that Council Member Harrison made a request for staff
to come back with a report as to what can be done. He said that two days ago a Superior Court
judge ruled that what the General Assembly did was unconstitutional. He does not think that
they should start with the premise that all of those provisions are going to survive.
b) Greene Tract
Michael Talbert gave the history of the Greene Tract.
The Greene Tract (164 acres) was acquired in 1984 for $608,000 and came to Orange County
as an asset in the Solid Waste Fund. As a result of the Inter Local Agreement, 60 acres of the
Greene Tract was conveyed to Orange County for "Solid Waste management purposes". The
Inter Local Agreement (amended April 12, 2000) provided for the three owning partners to
determine, over a two-year period, the ultimate disposition of the remaining 104 jointly held
acres.
A Greene Tract Work Group that included representatives of all parties to the Inter Local
Agreement began meeting in 20a1 and presented Recommendations on March 21, 2002. A
Greene Tract Work Group Resolution, making recommendation on the 104 acres jointly owned
by Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro, was approved by the BOCC on December 10,
2002. The Agenda Abstract'�and Resolution from the December 10, 2002 Board of
Commissioners' meeting are p�ovided as an attachment. The remaining 60 acres of the
Greene Tract continues to be owned as an asset in the Solid Waste Fund.
A five-year payment plan for the 104 acres jointly owned by Orange County, Chapel Hill and
Carrboro was approved by all parties to the Inter Local Agreement. Fiscal Year 2011/12 is the
4th year of the five year plan. As of June 30, 2012, the end of the fourth year of the payment
plan, a total of $842,488 will have been paid to the Solid Waste Fund from Orange County,
Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Final payments will be made in Fiscal Year 2012/13.
The attachments also include an agenda abstract that was published for an April 29, 2008 Joint
Greene Tract Work Session (The Meeting was subsequently canceled; however, the
documents provide a brief history of activities related to the Greene Tract.)
Staff will provide any other information at the meeting, and the governing boards can discuss
issues related to this item as necessary.
Attachment 2-b-1 —April 29, 2008 Joint Greene Tract Work Session Agenda Abstract
Attachment 2-b-2 — December 10, 2002 BOCC Agenda Abstract — Approval of
Recommendations from the Greene Tract Work Group
Attachment 2-b-3—June 26, 2002 Greene Tract Concept Plan
Commissioner Hemminger said that during this time she was on the school board and
there was discussion about locating Elementary School #12 on this site along with affordable
housing.
Commissioner Jacobs said that his recollection was to preserve the 60 acres as a
natural area. He made reference to page 45 and the Greene Tract Work Group Resolution.
He said that Council Member Greene was very adamant about the County executing the
conservation easement on the 60 acres. He remembers that it was the intention of all three
governments that the County was going to pay for the 60 acres and preserve it as a natural
area. Somehow it is not captured fully in the documents.
Commissioner Foushee said that during those discussions, there was a County payment
plan discussed for those 60 acres.
Council Member Ward said that his sensitivity to economic development has changed
over the past 10 years and he does not know what prospects may be out there for this footprint.
He would like to explore some portion of the open space.
Solid Waste Director Gayle Wilson said that the Neville tract was purchased for dirt
cover for the landfill and when the landfill closes, then some soil will be used for the
construction of the final cap. Eight acres has been fairly heavily excavated. There is also a
considerable amount of aging mulch on the property, probably six or eight feet deep.
Orange County Planning Director Craig Benedict said that there was talk about the 18
acres and having some affordable housing or some sort of recreational area that might be
attached to the school.
Commissioner Gordon said that if they want to change the uses they would need to
change the agreement. She said that she does not recall any decision being made concerning
a conservation easement on the 60 acres.
Chair Pelissier asked when the next school is coming on line. Craig Benedict said that it
would be about five years out at this time. This would be Elementary School #12.
Commissioner Yuhasz asked if the Chapel Hill Small Area Plan would have to be
changed if the uses were changed for this property.
Mayor Kleinschmidt said that there is not anything approved for this area, so nothing
would have to be changed.
Commissioner Foushee said to send the CHCCS Board a letter and let them be
prepared to comment on this site.
The Clerk will draft a letter to the CHCCS Board.
c) Town Update on Rogers Road Small Area Plan
This information was on Attachment 2-a. J. B. Culpepper, Planning Director of Chapel
Hill, said that in 2007-2008 a task force of local residents met with Town officials and prepared
a report that the Council received in 2009. This report was sent out to the advisory boards and
in early 2011 the Town Council referred the recommendation of the Rogers Road Task Force to
the joint planning partners and asked that a hearing be scheduled. There was a suggestion
that the group of elected officials meet to discuss some of the issues that have come up, such
as the proposal for a school site on the Greene Tract. There is an elected officials group that
will be meeting on April 30tn
Chair Pelissier asked that the plan be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners.
Craig Benedict said that if there are any changes to the land use, the Planning staffs
could plot a timeline to meet some of these proposed guidelines.
Mayor Kleinschmidt said that these lines on the map should be read as connecting the
neighborhood to other places. They are symbolic of the interest to connect and not paved
roads.
Commissioner Yuhasz said that he is interested in looking at alternative access and
where it would occur and who would pay for it to access a school.
Mayor Kleinschmidt said that this is a long-range goal.
Commissioner Yuhasz said that they need to resolve these access issues in the short-
term rather than the long-term.
Council Member Ward said that five years is nothing to set up a school, so he agreed
with Commissioner Yuhasz to direct staff to move more explicitly and give them guidance.
Chair Pelissier suggested giving this to the Rogers Road Task Force.
Commissioner Yuhasz said that he would be hesitant to add to the charge of the Rogers
Road Task Force. The specific charge of this group is to give the County a basis for moving
forward on the water and sewer issues on Rogers Road. Anything added to that will delay the
recommendations on this issue.
Commissioner Foushee said that she would not want this group to miss the deadline
because of additional charges.
Commissioner Gordon echoed the concerns about adding to the charge. She agreed
that they need to move expeditiously on the school siting but to find another venue.
Council Member Ward asked if it cou/d be step two for this work group and all agreed.
Council Member Ward said to make sure that Carrboro is brought on board as well.
3. Countv Planninq for Southern Human Services Center Propertv
Asset Management Services Director Pam Jones brought the Boards up to date on the
Southern Human Services Center site.
In 1992 the County purchased 34.1 acres at 2500 Homestead Road on which to develop a
County campus for service offerings in southern Orange County. To date, two buildings have
been built on the site—the Southern Human Services Center and the Seymour Senior Center.
The Board of Commissioners approved a conceptual site master plan in 2006 — a copy of
supporting materials for that action is attached. Funding for a formal master plan of the
Southern Human Services campus is included in the current year Capital Investment Plan
(CIP). Proposals have been received from potential consultants and a recommendation will be
presented to the Board of Commissioners at their May 15, 2012 meeting.
Pam Jones said that recent discussions with County departments regarding their future
programming needs in southern Orange reflect a variety of potential uses for the site. An
updated study of current and future County-wide space needs will be conducted within the next
year and will more accurately identify and prioritize development that may be appropriate for the
Homestead Road campus. In the meantime, at such time the Board of Commissioners has
reviewed and approved the final master plan from the consultant, the County may choose to
move forward with some type of request to the Town to begin preliminary site work on building
locations identified in the Master Plan.
Attachment 3— October 3, 2006 BOCC Agenda Abstract and Attachments—Homestead
Road Campus Master P/an Approval
Commissioner Jacobs asked about the future location of a dental clinic.
Pam Jones said that she could speak to how the Southern Human Services Center
building was designed in 1998. She said that there is an extension to this building that would
double the size of the building. This was part of the original plan.
Commissioner Gordon said that at one time there was a plan for a $6 million expansion
of this building. She asked where this stood.
Pam Jones said that this was on hold until the master plan was finalized.
Commissioner Gordon said that this master plan is important because this will be
Orange County's southern campus. It is on the bus line and has other advantages too. This
campus is core to the County's vision for providing services in the southern part of Orange
County.
Commissioner Yuhasz reminded the Board that when the Board of Health reluctantly
recommended to the Board of County Commissioners that the dental clinic at Carr Mill be
closed and services be consolidated in Hillsborough, it was with a commitment by the Board of
Health to see the clinic built at this location as soon as finances allow.
Commissioner Gordon said that the dental clinic should be the first thing built here.
Council Member Ward asked about the public process for soliciting comments outside
of staff. He said that he would be pushing for something more dense than a single-story
building.
Commissioner Gordon said that the County Commissioners have just started on this
process but they have not talked about how it will be implemented. She said that they need to
talk about the building in the public outreach.
Commissioner Jacobs requested that as part of the budget process that the Board of
Health be asked to bring the County Commissioners a report on how the consolidation of
services has worked as far as serving people that have previously used the dental clinic in
Carrboro. The elected officials from Chapel Hill and Carrboro should also be present for that.
The elected officials of Chapel Hill and Carrboro should also see the page in the CIP regarding
this property and some of the funding projected for the next five years.
Commissioner Yuhasz said that there is a joint meeting with the Board of Health in April,
and this item is on the agenda.
4. Countv Update on Chapel Hill Carrboro Citv Schools Elementarv#11 Construction
CHCC Director of Facilities Bill Mullen gave an update on this.
Bill Mullen said that Elementary School #11 will be located in the Northside community
between Caldwell and McMasters Streets. The multi-story building design is proposed to
accommodate 585 students and will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) gold specifications.
Bill Mullen said Sanford Contractors has completed deconstruction of existing onsite
buildings. Over 70% of the building materials from the former buildings were recycled.
Additionally, Habitat for Humanity had previously removed windows, doors, mirrors, bulletin
boards, and light fixtures for reuse in their projects. Site grading is currently underway, with
rocks and unsuitable soils being removed and the building grade being reached.
Bill Mullen said that Bordeaux Construction Company has been awarded the contract to
build the new school. Bordeaux is currently mobilizing and has established a presence onsite.
The project schedule calls for a construction period of 15 months beginning in March 2012 and
completing in May 2013. Furniture and equipment would then be delivered and installed, with
the school scheduled to open in August 2013. Elementary School #11 will be funded with the
issuance of $21.5 million of Limited Obligation Bonds. The limited obligation bonds will be
underwritten by Branch Banking & Trust (BB&T) and Wells Fargo Bank N.A. The financing has
been approved by the Local Government Commission and we will close on March 29, 2012.
The annual debt service for the new school will be approximately$1,725,000 annually.
Council Member Rich said that at the 2020 presentation, there was discussion about the
LEED gold specifications. She asked about building to the LEED specifications, but saving the
$60,000 and investing it back into the school instead of getting the plaque on the wall.
Bill Mullen said that the construction policy has been updated by the school board and
these LEED standards are now being followed. He said that the $60,000 was on the high end
and it will not really be that much.
Commissioner Hemminger thanked Mayor Kleinschmidt for coming to the work session
on transit.
With no further items to address, the meeting was adjourned at 9:52 PM.
Bernadette Pelissier, Chair
Donna S. Baker, CMC
Clerk to the Board
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