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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 09-18-2012 - 7a 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date:September 18, 2012 Action Agenda Item No.7-a SUBJECT: Siting Criteria for SouthernBranch Library –FinalRecommendation DEPARTMENT:Asset Management ServicesPUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N)No (AMS), Library ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Southern Branch Library Locational Lucinda Munger, (919) 245-2528 CriteriaMichael Harvey, (919) 245-2597 Map Denoting Southwestern Orange Michael Talbert, (919) 245-2308 County PURPOSE: To approve the siting and locational criteria governing the review and site selection process for the southern branch of the Orange County library. BACKGROUND: At the June 14, 2012BOCC work session,staff presented the DRAFT copy of the siting criteria for the southernbranch libraryfor review and discussion. During this meeting, the BOCC reviewed and discussed comments from the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and subsequent staff suggested modifications.The attached criteria incorporate(s) these revisions. It should be noted that in arecent articleprinted withinThe Chapel Hill News,dated Sept 5, 2012, the Town of Carrboro has already begun aninternal process of evaluating possible sites for the library based on compliance with local development regulations and processes. Designation of library:In past memoranda,staff has consistently referred to this project as the ‘southwestern branch of the Orange County library’. The term was coined in the 2004 Library Task Force Reportwhere the Carrboro Library Workgroup recommended a ‘southwest regional branch library’ be established by combining existing services and staff into a new library ‘centered in the Town of Carrboro’. At the June 14, 2012 BOCC work session, staff was taskedwith defining what ‘southwest’ Orange Countyreferred to in the context of this project. In reviewing the matter, staff determined the ‘southwest’ quadrant of the County did not necessarily correspond to the highest concentration of population density inthe area and did not properly identify all County residents intended to be served by the project. Staff suggestsit would be more appropriate to refer to this project, in current and future discussion and correspondence, as the ‘southern branch of the Orange County library’. The 2 change in nomenclature is intendedto properly identify the population base the project willserve and eliminate confusion over the anticipated locationof the facility. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no financial impacts associated with the adoption of the library siting criteria. The review of potential library locations, within Phase 1,would be conducted by County staff within adopted budgetary parameters. Phase 2 of the process may requirea financial investment to secure development rights for selected properties.Funds for the previously considered 210 Hillsborough Street properties in Carrboro were allocated from the $215,000 set aside for future propertyacquisition. The County invested approximately $60,000 for examination of the 210 Hillsborough Road sitein Carrboro. This included $25,000 in earnest money and $10,000 for the 120 day extension(Note: The County received the $25,000 in earnest money back). Any further ‘investment’ will vary depending on the individual property. The remaining balance of $436,000 would be debt financed. There is funding totaling $7,525,000 in the 2016-17 Capital Investment Plan (CIP) (page21) for building construction and design services. This phase may also include the need for the County to incur ‘initial due diligence’ costs to ensure the viability of selected properties. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1.Approve the attached Southern Branch Library Locational Criteria; and 2.Authorize the Chair to send aletter to the Town of Carrboro that: a.Transmits the Board-approved locational and site selection criteriato the Town, and b.Requests that the Towninitiate public solicitation and review of properties for the southern branch of the Orange County library property based on the approved criteria. 3 ORANGE COUNTY SOUTHERNBRANCH LIBRARY LOCATIONAL CRITERIA Guiding Principles When selecting a site for a new or expanded library, the Library system takes into account three fundamental factors: The Library System recognizes that as a regional serviceprovider, the o location of libraries must provide for optimal service to the most number of residents within the entire System service area. This takes precedence over political boundaries or undeveloped neighborhoods. The Board is committed to providing an equitable level of service o throughout the entire County. The placement of a library in a manner that maximizes its use will be more o valuable over the long term than the original investment made in land or building. Typically, the original cost of a newbuilding is exceeded in just three years by its cumulative operating costs. **As amended by the BOCC at itsJune 14, 2012 work session PRELIMINARY PHASE–TECHNICAL SITE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT Visibility: Visible from the street Classification of street where property will be accessed from (i.e. private, local, arterial, collector, major thoroughfare, etc.). Visual appeal Site Capacity: Able to providecomprehensivelibrary services to all the residents of southern Orange County. Meets minimum acreage (urban services vs. rural services) Space for building and on-site parking Adequate utilitiesand availability Space for future expansion (building to allow for additional library services, parking, etc.)to serve all the residents of southernOrange County. Space to accommodate the necessary setbacks, road expansions and other site amenities. Access: Accessibility for pedestrians 4 Accessibility for vehicles Accessibility for public transportation Design capacity and existing traffic load of roadway proposed to access site. Alignment with Planning Tools (Comprehensive Plan): Alignment with planning tools applicable for the subject property (County Comprehensive Plan, adopted Small Area Plans, Strategic Plans, etc.) Lease versus Purchase: Analysis of the long term viability of the site Availability of property for lease Centrality of Location: Existing and potential future populationin a given area Growth and developmentopportunities/constraints in a given area (i.e. what is future development, as embodied in applicable plans, going to look like and how will it impact the proposed library) Proximity to schools Proximity to retail Proximity to other libraries Site Conditions, Allowances, and Constraints: The cost-benefit conclusions of physical, legal, and land-use allowances/constraints Technical and environmental assessments (planning/zoning, jurisdictional processes, etc.) Environmentally sustainable (C&A, storm water mgt, buffers, energy “net zero” capacity) Operationally sustainable Defeats obsolescence Cost and Availability: Cost for site acquisition Availability of property for lease Analysis of long term viability of site Timeframe for development of the site Terms for site control necessary for development process 5 ORANGE COUNTY SOUTHERNBRANCH LIBRARY LOCATIONAL CRITERIA: **As amended by the BOCC at itsJune 14, 2012 work session PRIMARY PHASE –PUBLIC INPUT AND ASSESSMENT Community Preference Input from elected officials Input from a board cross-section of the area to be served Orange County & CarrboroFriends of the Library Partnerships Co-location with other private or public entity Mutually beneficial joint development Enhances service possibilities MAP DENOTING NORTH 6 SOUTHWESTERN ORANGE COUNTY 1 VWLII1j412 i k plivait i ; * lii1 ,I WA �I Ill El 4" lir U AINVAridr I ,, rivri . OA, : it i tOy#0111rek.=15,f, f X11 C_ �1iY...„ , vJf WEST liprompliniliNt�"— Et^" ; Town of Hillsborough M-_Alsatioriamoo ri v,....41.1 ntk ..___., e.,,, ..,,,,___ , . .4111:1-11•Salii. i 0 pip r • rig; fr7 q ,, +� - EAST o SOUTHILWES,TrQUADRANT 1 gpfi °0 � OF ORANGE'COUNTY ; " �t/ .1;616, :1011V.4 FA 1 ■ ( iy�4 , o C Approximate cis 4, Center Point „, e Town of Chapel Hill , IVA i • .w1.aiT, !1 If& i U4_, Al, ii1.2realCzNiNdij I . 4 4- diti-iii ' ,Avi rd -534IY,#1,6 Mal vao --*;-W *6.1. ''''',,,A,citi 6.4' '''' Air '1 '' ,i 1 \14'aeYr,�', ►�` , 01 v,�1 ,,„A. lil, f „,,,,... I rte,:: ;_ � , ,o a Town of Carrboro rt 00p0p �� 00 ,,,,..,...<„, >p o _ 7 • _—. _— _ —j Data shown ,this map is obtained from Orange County -_ r_V^V� GIS and is for reference only. Exact locations and boundaries should be verified. SOUTH Map prepared by Orange County Planning&Inspections. ■ USGS Water Feature CI Parcels Q Zoning 0 100 YR Floodplain(Effective 02/02/07) N Soils Survey Water Feature 1::31 Township = City Limits I Floodway(Effective 02/02/07) £ M OC Updated Water Feature co School System Boundary 0 ETJ 500 YR Floodplain(Effective 02/02/07) =Water Body Contours Conservation Easements 0 Buildings M Held by Others 1 inch=16,299.149 feet 0 River Basins 0 County Boundary ®Water and Sewer Boundary =Watershed Z;;Soils - Orange County 0 6,500 13,000 26,000et Conservation Easements