HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 10-11-2012 APROVED 12/11/2012
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN
JOINT MEETING
October 11, 2012
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Bernadette Pelissier and Commissioners
Valerie Foushee, Alice Gordon, Pam Hemminger, Barry Jacobs, Earl McKee and Steve
Yuhasz
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Valerie Foushee
COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton, Assistant County Managers
Gwen Harvey, Michael Talbert, Clarence Grier, and Clerk to the Board Donna S. Baker (All
other staff inembers will be identified appropriately below)
CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Mark Chilton and
Aldermen Randee Haven-O'Donnell, Lydia Lavelle, Sammy Slade, and Michelle Johnson
CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN MEMBERS ABSENT: Dan Coleman, Jacquelyn Gist,
David Andrews, Town Manager
Welcome and Openinq Remarks
Chair Pelissier said that Commissioner Foushee was out of town and unable to attend.
Mayor Chilton said that Alderman Dan Coleman would not be here tonight and Michelle
Johnson would be late. He said that he appreciated that the County staff and Board of County
Commissioners achieved an agreement with Triangle Transit and DCHC MPO to move forward
with the proposal for a '/�-cent sales tax for transit.
Chair Pelissier pointed out some handouts at everyone's places:
- Information related to Access Road to Twin Creeks Park as requested by
Commissioner Gordon
- Summary of the Joint Economic Development activities for item #2
- Copy of legislation related to the new town hotel tax in Carrboro
Introductions were made.
1. Access Road — Twin Creeks Park/ Ballentine Subdivision (MI Homes)
Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation Director Dave Stancil
introduced this item. He made reference to the adopted master plan for Twin Creeks. The
map dates back to May 2005 and in March of 2006 the plan was presented to the Town of
Carrboro. One thing that has changed is that the funding that was identified to build Phase I of
the park was not adequate to build Phase I as planned. The staff then came back with a
revised Phase I. In the fall of 2008-09 there was an economic downturn and this caused the
park to be put on hold. If this park were built in total, it would cost about $8-12 million. There
are no funds to construct this park at this time. Another Phase I was generated, which was to
create a greenway in 2010-11. This greenway was built with stimulus funds. It should be
noted that the greenway crosses Jones Creek. Another question in 2007-2009 was that when
the park came forward, what form would the approval process take. The idea was that there
could be a development agreement between the Town and County. This was discussed with
a very informal letter. Nothing was done further to create an interlocal agreement.
Over the last few years, the County and MI homes have had several discussions about
a cost share agreement for an access road. The map shows it as Road A. It is an east to
west road, which begins at Old NC 86 and straddles the property line of MI homes and Twin
Creeks. When the road was proposed in 2005, it was before the Ballentine subdivision and
there had not been discussion about extending the road to the east. After the master plan was
adopted and the subdivision came into being, the proposed road came into focus.
Mayor Chilton said that his recollection is that the Town's connector road policy had
called for a connection from Lake Hogan Farms Road to Eubanks Road for many years.
Dave Stancil said that for the north/south road, the master plan discussions did include
Lake Hogan Farm Road Extension.
Mayor Chilton said that this plan is more than 15 years old and it sounded like Dave
Stancil was saying that the Town had only recently become involved to require that there
would be a connection from Lake Hogan Farm Road north to Eubanks Road. He said that this
has been part of the plan for 15-20 years or more. He said that his recollection was that the
road would go through the middle of the property that Orange County bought. It was only
some time after the County bought it when he raised the question that the road should go to
the east. His understanding was that the Town of Carrboro had planned for this property to be
a mixed use development. Instead the County bought the property, took it off the Carrboro tax
rolls, and came up with the plan for a park and school site.
Michelle Johnson arrived at 7:21 PM.
Mayor Chilton said that he is frustrated that it seems that the County is trying to say that
the Town is only now mentioning a road when the County knew about it a long time ago. He
said that the County is saying that the Town is not doing economic development but this is not
true. He said that it is a little galling to hear the County complain about the notion of paying for
a bridge at taxpayer expense to go across this creek when the Town's plans had always called
for the private sector to pay for this. The Town's plan was for the private sector to be building
some diversification into the tax base through a mixed use development on this site.
Commissioner Gordon said that there are two road issues here. One issue concerns a
road that goes to the east and crosses the creek. With respect to the second issue, she said
that when it was decided to build a school on the northern part of this property, they wanted
the road to go more to the east, around the school property rather than through it. However,
there was still a plan to have a north-south road.
Frank Clifton said that the real issue is that if MI Homes will or will not build a part of the
road or the Town does not approve the development, this will affect the building of the park.
Mark Chilton said that it is outrageous that the Town had a plan for economic
development for this property but the County bought the property. He said that one of the
County Commissioners, who is no longer on the Board, had the intention of preventing the
Town's economic development plan from moving forward.
Frank Clifton said that if MI Homes does not go forward with the development of the
road, then the park is on hold until there is an access road. If it cannot be dealt with, then
there needs to be a redesign.
Mayor Chilton said that it was not his decision that the County buy this property that
would need a connector road. He said that the County government frustrated the plans of the
Town of Carrboro and now the County government is returning to the Town of Carrboro and
saying that it cannot afford to frustrate the Town's plans the way it planned to do when the
property was purchased.
Alderman Slade asked about the issue.
Frank Clifton said that MI Homes does not see it viable to build a bridge to cross a
creek since they do not have an interest in the property on the other side.
Carrboro Planning Director Trish McGuire made a PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion of Access Road — Ballentine and Twin Creeks Park
Joint Meeting of the Board of Aldermen and Board of County Commissioners
October 11, 2012
Key Issues
- Maintaining the ability of Lake Hogan Farm Road to connect between Homestead
Road and Eubanks Road
- Access road at Ballentine/Twin Creeks stubbing out to the east, as currently
designed, is part of the Lake Hogan Farm extension.
- Two viable alternative alignments planned or permitted (per Town of Carrboro); both
cross Jones Creek
Approved Master Plan for Twin Creeks Park (map)
Approved Conditional Use Permit for Ballentine subdivision
- Permit to cross a jurisdictional tributary is required from Army Corps of Engineers
(ACOE)
- ACOE staff have communicated that the Town is the applicant most likely to
demonstrate purpose and need for the crossing
Process
- Absent other action, decision on crossing to be determined as part of conditional
use permit
- Alternative process that engages property owners and others is less problematic
- Could be modeled on that used in discussing development agreement in 2007-2009
- Once a preferred alignment was selected, Town could initiate permitting process
with ACOE
- Staff has been exploring details of permitting process to determine fiscal and staff
impacts
Recent History
- Board of Aldermen review of Master Plan for Twin Creeks
- Development Agreement discussions
- Ballentine CUP, Modification/Rezoning and Pending Re-submittal
- Clarification of number of stream crossings
- Land Use Ordinance, Transportation/Traffic
Commissioner Gordon asked if it would be Town policy to require an applicant to build
a connector road if it were not the County and Trish McGuire said yes.
Mike Brough said that there has been a plan for this road to go from the south to the
north for 20 years or more. The question is where the exact alignment will be. He said that
the Town of Carrboro is going to have to apply for the permit and it cannot apply for the permit
unless it knows where the creek crossing is going to be. This cannot be determined unless the
staff is directed to come back with a process that would identify where the crossing will be.
Alderman Slade made a motion to direct staff to work on starting the process.
Mike Brough said that the staff needs to come back to the board with a proposed
process, which the board can then endorse.
Commissioner McKee asked if it was the Town or the County authority that would
require a stub-out across the creek and it was answered the Town. He asked if there was a
process that the Town could go through so as not to require this stub-out.
Mayor Chilton said that the Town could change its plans for the connecting road policy.
His perspective is that the Town would not find anyone that would want to see Old NC 86 a
four-lane road and instead turn this traffic to Eubanks Road. In order to make the connection
north to Eubanks Road, there has to be a creek crossing somewhere. The question becomes
who will pay for it and who the road will serve.
Chair Pelissier said that the Town would come back with a process to review this road
alignment.
Alderman Lavelle seconded Alderman Slade's motion.
(Carrboro Board of Aldermen) VOTE: UNANIMOUS
2. Economic Development
a) General Discussion
Economic Development Director Steve Brantley made a PowerPoint presentation.
Summary of Joint Economic Development Activities
Orange County & the Town of Carrboro
Presented by Steve Brantley, Director, Orange County Economic Development
October 11, 2012
Key Joint Activities
- Infrastructure Support to Promote Business Retention & Expansion
- Marketing
- Agriculture & Food Processing in Economic Development
- The Arts
- Tourism
Infrastructure Support for Business Retention
- Interlocal Agreement by County & Town to Fund the Repair of a Failing Sewer Line
Marketinq Support
Marketinq & Sponsorship: Promotion provided by the Orange County Economic Development
office
- Carrboro Music Festival
- Carrboro Film Festival
Aqricultural Economic Development—Joint Promotion
- PLANT Breeze Farm Enterprise Incubator
- (PFAP) Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center
PLANT (People Learning Agriculture Now for Tomorrow) Breeze Farm Enterprise
Incubator
Carrboro-based business alumni of Breeze Farm are now sellinq locally qrown produce at the
Carrboro Farmers Market:
- Cates Corner Farm
- Feels Farm
- Box Turtle Bakery
Breeze Farm instructor qroups are also sellinq locally qrown produce at the Carrboro
Farmers Market:
- Maple Spring Gardens
- Peregrine Farm
- Perrywinkle Farm
- Sunset Farms
- Wild Hare Farm
Carrboro-based businesses utilize the County's Piedmont Food &Agricultural
Processing Center
Applicants & Clients:
- Clients based in Carrboro — 1
- Applicants "in process" from Carrboro —4
- Operate regularly in Carrboro — 3
- Sell products to Carrboro businesses — 8
- Clients considering a Carrboro location — 3
- Have employees from Carrboro — 5
PFAP's Key Clients in Carrboro:
- Tempeh Girl - makes tempeh from tofu
- Tar Heel Creamery - gourmet ice cream
- Baguettaboutit - food truck
- Capp's Apizza -wood-fired Neapolitan pizza
- Vintage Bee - buys honey from at least one Carrboro apiary
Joint Promotion of the Arts in Economic Development
- Awarding of Arts Grants
- ExploreChapelHilIARTS.com and ExploreChapelHill.com web sites
- Quarterly Artist's Salon
- Significance of the "Arts & Economy Prosperity IV Study"
Orange County Arts Commission's Quarterly Artists' Salon
Located in the West End Theatre at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, the "Artists Salon" offers free
professional development for local artists. Salon topics over the past 12 months have
included:
- Emergency Preparedness for Artists
- Make Tourism Work for You: Art +
- Shoebox Accounting
- Exploring Resources, Leveraging Assets, Crafting Your Path
Awarding of Arts Grants by the Orange County Arts Commission
Grants to Carrboro Non-Profits & Artists:
(Fall 2012)
- ArtsCenter - $3,900
- Friends of the Carrboro Branch Library - $1,500
- WCOM-FM - $1,500
- Susan Simone - $1,000 (Trailer Tales: The Mobile Home Story in Orange County,
NC)
- Sean Wellington - $1000 (The OC Hope Project)
Grants to Carrboro Non-Profits & Artists:
(Spring 2012)
- ArtsCenter - $3,000 (Eleventh Annual "10 By 10 in the Triangle" Theatre Festival;
Teaching Artist Fees for 7 Residencies at Central Elementary School)
- Chapel Hill Carrboro Public School Foundation - $1,240 ("Spoken Word Poetry
Project" at Phoenix Academy— alternative high school)
- Orange County Artists Guild - $1,500 (To pay artist to design and develop Studio
Tour brochure)
- Town of Carrboro Recreation & Parks Dept. - $1,500 (Carrboro Music Festival)
Total Direct Grant Funds:
Awarded to Carrboro non-profits & artists over the previous 12-month period = �16,140
Total Indirect Grant Funds:
Orange County Arts Commission awards benefitting Carrboro's citizens over the previous 12-
month period = �15,�50
Results of the "Arts & Economic Prosperity IV Study"
The recent study found that non-profit arts businesses generate:
- $85.4 million annually in economic activity in Orange County
- Supports 3,352 jobs locally
- Returns $3.5 million in local and $4.5 million in state revenue
Joint Tourism Activities in Orange County & Carrboro
- Visitors Bureau Web Page
Orange County Visitors Bureau Supports the Town of Carrboro
Sponsorships of Events:
- Carrboro Film Festival
- Carrboro Music Festival
- Carrboro Visitors Guide
- Carrboro Day
- Our State, Independent, Chapel Hill Weekly
Production of Ads & Brochures:
- Facility charts for Carrboro Hampton Inn
- Ads for 2013 Meeting Planning Guide
Creation of New Audio/Video Database:
- New photo image bank was made with 245 updated photos of Carrboro
- New video bank has been made featuring Carrboro scenes
Promotion of Carrboro events in Maqazines:
- Southern Living magazine
- Our State magazine
Other Specific Examples of Tourism Promotion in Carrboro
- Carrboro's art galleries, ArtsCenter & Cat's Cradle have been featured in ads
- Facebook promotions are added weekly
- Carrboro is promoted throughout the annual 15-page Visitors Guide
- Carrboro referrals are made daily to restaurants via walk-ins to Visitors Center
- Carrboro is promoted extensively in a new website, launching October 8th
Hospitality at Carrboro Events
VIP hospitality qift baqs were provided to:
- Carrboro Film Festival Attendees
- DSI Comedy Festival Attendees
Consideration for Development:
(1) OWASA advises further engineering review to determine adequate water (a) pressure
and (b) flow required for sufficient sprinkler fire suppression.
(2) "Water and Sewer Management Planning and Boundary Agreement" (WASMPBA)
would have to be jointly amended, along with OWASA's University Lake watershed
restrictions governing utility extensions and connections in this area along NC 54,
according to Orange County's Planning Department.
Alderman Slade thanked the County and Annette Stone for collaborating on economic
development. He asked about similar studies about agriculture and how much could be
generated with agriculture. He also asked about the process the County uses to allocate
funds from the '/4-cent sales tax for economic development.
Frank Clifton said that when the process was initiated, there were general guidelines.
Infrastructure is a priority. An Economic Development Advisory Board has been appointed
with representatives from all over the County. There is great flexibility going forward.
b) Public Water and Sewer for Business Development on NC Highway 54
Carrboro's Economic Development Director Annette Stone said that this area is part of
Carrboro's Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. It is zoned by Carrboro. She said that this area is along
NC 54 and lends itself to be a manufacturing business node. It is in the University Lake
Watershed and there are existing buildings. Staff would like to continue to look at the existing
zoning and see what could be put here. She showed pictures of the existing buildings.
Mayor Chilton said that the issue is the modernization of the fire code and the use of
sprinkler systems in new commercial buildings. He said that the range of uses is very narrow.
He does not know the solution, but the various rules need to be discussed if there is an
infrastructure project that is going to happen here. He said that the reason there is no building
there now is because the building burned down and the Town of Carrboro did not put the fire
out because of the unknown chemicals on the site and washing them into University Lake.
Alderman O'Donnell said that the owner of the property has come before the board
several times with concerns about the lack of potential to bring in incubators or other
businesses that have expressed interest in this property. The problem is where the parcels
can go in the future.
Frank Clifton said that the two staffs need to work on this to find out the feasibility of
this project.
Commissioner Jacobs said that they should have the conversation in the context of
lake watershed protection and staff could invite OWASA staff to the table too.
Steve Brantley suggested doing an environmental assessment too.
3. Carrboro's Vision for Use of the New Town Hotel Tax
Mayor Chilton said that Carrboro has had the authority to levy a hotel tax
(approximately 3%). The estimates are that there is about $95,000 worth of revenue when
applied to the new hotel that is currently being built. Under the terms of the current authority
from the legislature, the Town can spend 2/3 of that money on visitor promotion and 1/3 of the
money on visitor services. Visitor promotion is very narrowly defined and includes activities
that would encourage people to spend the night in the community and spend the night in the
hotels. One-third of the money has to be spent on things that would serve the visitor
community. He said that visitor promotion will be done on a contract basis with the Orange
County Visitor's Bureau. The terms of the agreement will be up to the Board of Aldermen.
4. Solid Waste and Related Issues Update
a) Joint Efforts
Assistant County Manager Michael Talbert said that the County-owned landfill is
scheduled to close on June 30, 2013, creating a need for the County to find a suitable means
of disposing of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in Orange County. County staff has
recently entered into negotiations with the City of Durham regarding use of the Durham waste
transfer station (WTS) by any and/or all of the jurisdictions within Orange County. Based on
those negotiations, a draft agreement (Attachment A) was developed by Orange County and is
currently under review by the City of Durham. The draft agreement includes provisions for the
use of the Durham Waste Transfer Station by the Town of Carrboro, should it choose to do so.
It is anticipated that this agreement will be finalized and executed prior to the end of 2012.
Solid Waste Interlocal Agreement:
In 1999 Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and later Hillsborough entered into an
interlocal cooperation agreement (Attachment B), the Agreement for Solid Waste Management
("Interlocal"), regarding the future of the Greene Tract, and also the disposal of municipal solid
waste (MSW), construction and demolition waste (C&D), and recyclable materials.
The Interlocal provides in great detail for the management of MSW. However, its provisions
related to C&D waste and recyclable materials are extremely limited.
In September 2011 the attorneys for the County and Municipalities met and
discussed the Interlocal Agreement. Their determination was that upon the June 30, 2013
closure of the Orange County Landfill, the Interlocal effectively terminates with regard to the
provisions related to MSW. Given the limited extent to which the Interlocal addresses the
management of recyclable materials and C&D waste, if the governing boards of the County
and Municipalities desire to continue the current method of the collection and processing of
recyclable materials, a new Interlocal Agreement should be developed. Regardless of whether
the County and Municipalities continue to partner with regard to the management of MSW, it is
wise for the County and Municipalities to continue to partner with regard to planning for the
management of MSW and recyclable materials. Joint planning, waste reduction goal setting
and reporting would particularly benefit the County and assist the County in its state-mandated
planning responsibilities.
In December 2010 the BOCC established a Solid Waste Interlocal Agreement Work
Group, with Commissioner Steve Yuhasz appointed as the County representative in June,
2012. Mayor Mark Chilton was appointed as the Town of Carrboro's representative, with
Alderman Randee Haven O'Donnell selected as an alternate. This Work Group has not been
activated for reasons relating to the Rogers Road community mitigation request of May 2011
and the uncertainty with regard to the outcomes of the Town of Chapel Hill's decision to
conduct a comprehensive analysis of its solid waste services and programs.
b) Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB)
Michael Talbert said that the Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) was established as
part of the 1999 Interlocal Agreement for Solid Waste Management and has been active with
regard to a number of policies, programs and acting as a public forum since that time. Given
the uncertainty surrounding the decision to close the landfill on June 30, 2013 and Chapel
Hill's ongoing analysis of its future solid waste services and practices, the SWAB has been
less active and currently experiences no representation from Orange County or the Town of
Carrboro. Presently only the Towns of Chapel Hill and Hillsborough have active members,
along with ex-officio membership from the University. Commissioner Yuhasz is County Liaison
to the Board. The SWAB has recently formally recommended that existing vacancies be filled
so its work can continue until some more permanent long term resolution can be determined
among the jurisdictions. The SWAB believes that some joint relationship among the local
governments will be necessary to effectively continue solid waste management efforts into the
future, efforts that will, at a minimum, involve waste reduction and recycling services/programs.
c) Greene Tract
Michael Talbert said that the Greene Tract (164 acres) was acquired in 1984 for
$608,000 and came to the County as an asset in the Solid Waste Fund. As a result of the
Interlocal Agreement, sixty (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 Interlocal
Agreement began meeting in 2001 and presented Recommendations on March 21, 2002.
A Greene Tract Work Group Resolution, making a recommendation on the 104 acres jointly
owned by Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro, was approved by the BOCC on
December 10, 2002. Attachment C is the Resolution from December 10, 2002. The remaining
60 acres of the Green 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 agreed to by all parties. Fiscal Year 2012/13 is the 5th year of the five year
plan. The Town of Carrboro did not provide its Fiscal Year 2011/12 payment of$29,524.
Frank Clifton said that the Town of Chapel Hill is doing its own solid waste study about
what to do about its trash when the landfill closes. He said that the County does not know if
the towns have any ideas about what they will do when the landfill closes.
Mayor Chilton said that there has been only minimal contact on the elected official level
with the Town of Chapel Hill. He said that the Town wants to continue with the recycling. He
does not anticipate major changes in the way the Town of Carrboro does things. He said that
the staff feels obligated to the taxpayers to look at other options besides going to the Durham
transfer station because of the expense.
Commissioner Hemminger said that the Durham transfer station is a temporary, short-
term strategy. She does not want to see recycling go down.
Mayor Chilton said that, based upon the reading of the interlocal agreement that the
agreement calls for any party that is going to withdraw to give formal written notice to other
governments involved in the agreement. He said that the way he reads it is that one of the
implications of this is if the County no longer provides a landfill for the Towns to use, then the
Towns are entitled to a certain amount of notice in terms of the agreement. He said that there
has never been a formal notice from the County of the intention to discontinue providing this
service. He said that he believes there is a considerable extra cost to the citizens of Carrboro
because of the County's decision.
Chair Pelissier said that the landfill is going to close and it was just a matter of a
difference in timing.
Mayor Chilton said that the agreement calls for a certain amount of notice. He said that
the Town has not received a formal notice about not continuing to provide this service to the
Town of Carrboro.
Orange County Staff Attorney Sahana Ayers said that the interlocal agreement does
not address the end of the life closure of the landfill itself. She does not think that the County
has the responsibility to give notice about something that is not in the interlocal agreement.
Mayor Chilton said that this is a viewpoint that he expected the County Attorney to take,
but his responsibility is to the taxpayers of Carrboro and he reads the document differently.
In answer to a question about the Solid Waste Advisory Board, Commissioner Yuhasz
said that the SWAB has not met for the last two meeting times because without there being a
decision about Chapel Hill moving forward, there is very little to discuss.
Alderman O'Donnell said that she stood behind Mayor Chilton in that there should be a
conversation about this soon regarding the Solid Waste Interlocal Agreement; a scheduled
meeting.
Commissioner Jacobs said that the Board of County Commissioners was not
unanimous and he wished that these meetings were used to find a positive way to move
forward. He said that with all of these issues, they need to find common ground. He is an
advocate of trying to find combined services for citizens. He asked Solid Waste Director Gayle
Wilson to talk about the waste reduction.
Gayle Wilson said that Orange County is at about 55% waste reduction and the
disruption in solid waste disposal may cause a blip, but he hopes not. They are continuing to
move forward toward the final goal.
Commissioner Yuhasz said that regardless of what solid waste solution is decided
upon, there needs to be a central collection place in Orange County, or it needs to be
transferred to some other location.
5. Historic Roqers Road Neiqhborhood
Michael Talbert said that in 1972 the landfill was opened by the Town of Chapel Hill
and in 1999 Orange County assumed ownership and operation of the Orange County Landfill
on Eubanks Road. The Historic Rogers Road Community has lived with the Orange County
Landfill for 40 years.
On May 17, 2011 the Board of Commissioners received a plan from Rogers-Eubanks
Neighborhood Association (RENA) recommending actions to mitigate the long and short term
impacts of Orange County's Landfill and Solid Waste operations on the health, safety and
welfare of the Historic Rogers Road — Eubanks Road community.
On January 26, 2012 the Board of Commissioners and the Town Boards discussed the
extension of sewer service and a community center for the Historic Rogers Road Community.
County and Town Attorneys have concluded that utilization of Solid Waste reserves to extend
sewer service to the Historic Rogers Road Community is not consistent with North Carolina
General Statutes and would subject the local governments to legal challenges. Therefore,
funding for either the extension of sewer services and/or a community center will have to come
from the County's and Towns' other general revenue sources.
On February 21, 2012 the Orange County Board of Commissioners authorized the
creation of a new Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood Task Force to address sewer service
and a community center.
On September 6, 2012 the Board of County Commissioners reviewed the Interim
Report from the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood Task Force and approved the following
motion:
The motion was made by Commissioner Hemminger and seconded by Commissioner
Yuhasz, for intent to:
• move forward with a new "green" community center;
• to ask the Manager to find $380,000 more to move into the fund already
established with $120,000;
• to work with RENA and Habitat for Humanity on the design and implementation
of this community center;
• to ask the towns to contribute computers, supplies, permitting costs, connection
costs and the first 12 months of utilities towards this project;
• to ask the towns to expedite the permitting process; and
• to be able to start immediately to bring this project back
On October 3, 2012 the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood Task Force met and
discussed the attached recommendations from the County and Town Managers. Based on the
draft Meeting Summary the Task Force reinforced support for both the Community Center and
Sewer in the Historic Rogers Road Community, by the recommending the following:
1. That the Managers meet and report back to the Task Force at the October 24, 2012
meeting, specifically to study how the local governments can cost-share sewer
improvements and a community center.
2. That the Managers consider the attached "Carrboro" cost sharing option.
3. That the Task Force move forward with the Community Center and continue discussions as
to how sewer is implemented.
The Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood Task Force is scheduled to present its final
report to the Assembly of Governments on December 6, 2012.
Commissioner Hemminger made reference to the idea of moving the historic Hogan
House and said that the church will move the property and save it to be restored on its own
property.
Mayor Chilton said that the Town of Carrboro is not an entitlement fund community but
the Town of Chapel Hill is. He thinks that this is worthy of being looked into further.
Commissioner Hemminger said that there are certain ratios and this neighborhood did
not meet the ratios.
Mayor Chilton said that extending sewer lines to low-income neighborhoods is
something that CDBG money does qualify for, generally speaking.
Michael Talbert said that none of this area is within the town limits of Chapel Hill, it is all
under the ETJ therefore it would not qualify for entitlement money. Regarding funding for
sewer, there is not massive failure of all of the systems out there and most of the homeowners
have functional septic systems.
Discussion ensued about the lack of interest in tapping into a sewer system in this area.
The meeting adjourned at 9:59 PM.
Bernadette Pelissier, Chair
Donna S. Baker, CMC
Clerk to the Board