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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-29-2008-1ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL JOINT GREENE TRACT WORK SESSION ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 29, 2008 Action Agenda Item Na. SUBJECT: Greene Tract Development and Conservation -Summary of Issues for Joint Discussion DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: {YIN} No ATTACHMENT{S}: 1. Solid Waste Management Inter Local Agreement 2. Inter Local Agreement Amendment 3. Greene Tract Wark Group Resolution & Concept Map 4. County Attorney Memo to the BOCC 5. BOCC Greene Tract Minutes 6. BOCC Greene Tract Correspondence 7. Greene Tract Environmental Assessment 8. Sewer Service to Greene Tract 9. Report from Affordable Housing Partners re: Greene Tract 10. School Site Selection Report re: Greene Tract INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Blackmon, County Manager, 245- 2300 Gwen Harvey, Assistant Manager Craig Benedict, Director, Planning David Stancil, Director, ERCD Tara Fikes, Director, H/CD Gayle Wilson, Director, Solid Waste Geoff Gledhill, County Attorney PURPOSE: To present far discussion among the jurisdictions a summary of various aspects and alternatives associated with the development and conservation of the Greene Tract, and receive input and direction as may be desired on next steps. BACKGROUND: Inter Local Agreement The use of the Greene Tract is subject to the Solid Waste Inter Local Agreement VILA} of 1999, as Amended 2000 to incorporate technical changes. The ILA describes ownership and land use of the Greene Tract and the reimbursement formula. A work group was subsequently established by the County and Towns to reach agreement on the ultimate disposition of the property in joint ownership. The Greene Tract Work Group presented its resolution reporting its recommendations to the County and Towns in June 2002. Its recommendations and concept map offered the following guidance: 2 Tract 1: Orange County - 60 acres that "the County should consider protecting" by conservation easement; Tract 2: Joint Affordable Housing - 18.1 acres; Tract 3: Joint Open Space - 85.9 acres. The BOCC adopted the ILA on September 29, 1999; the ILA Amendment on March 14, 2000; but there are no records to indicate that the Green Tract Work Group Resolution was ever formally adopted by the BOCC. Discussion and development of the Greene Tract has come up regularly at the Assembly of Governments (AOG}. In spring 2007, however, the AOG agreed to use a subcommittee of the Chair, Mayors, and Managers to examine mare vigorously issues prerequisite and surrounding the development and preservation of the Greene Tract. This was deemed especially important since the Town of Chapel Hill was about to initiate its Small Area Plan of the Rogers Road community whose boundaries embrace the Greene Tract. Two meetings were convened by County and Town elected and management officials -October 3, 2007 and February 14, 2008 - to re-examine development feasibility options and reimbursement to the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. County, Town, and OWASA staff were tasked with drafting various options and opportunities for locating the affordable housing on site and providing road entry and sewer services as background to the work of the elected officials and managers between meetings. At the February meeting, County staff presented the results of joint staff discussions on land use and ownership, environmental/natural featureslpreservation parameters, utilities -existing and proposed, transportation and access, and affordable housing tract development alternatives. Discussion arose on a proposed school site for the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School District and its impact an acreage reserved for conservation andlor affordable housing. County staff was asked to draft a set of guiding principles and parameters for enacting conservation easements in anticipation of greater discussion on ar before the AOG meeting on March 31, and what limitations might prevail far affordable housing. After County staff review of the guiding principles and parameters for conservation purposes, the County Attorney prepared a memorandum to the BOCC stating that nothing in the language of the ILA contemplated or provided for the Greene Tract portion under County ownership to be used for other than solid waste system purposes. There was insufficient time for consideration of the Greene Tract item and its component parts at the AOG meeting on March 31, therefore it was agreed to schedule the topic for a previously scheduled joint meeting set on April 29. The BOCC, in preparation during a work session on April 8, reviewed the updated information postponed from the AOG meeting, and began a preliminary discussion of the development and conservation issues previously identified by the joint staffs. County staff was then asked to research and provide additional information far the joint meeting on April 29. Those issues are addressed in Attachments 5-10. County staff will provide a presentation on the development and conservation issues and respond to any questions at the meeting an April 29. FINANCIAL IMPACT: For the Greene Tract in joint ownership, the respective share of reimbursement to the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund is: Orange County;43°l0 of 104 acres - $404,901;Chapel Hill, 43 °lo of 104 acres - $404,901; and Carrboro, 14% of 104 acres - $131,828. Assuming repayment over a 5-year term at six percent interest, beginning July 1, 2008, the annual payment would be: Orange County - $90,549; Chapel Hill - $90549; and Carrboro - $29,524. RECOMMENDATION (S): The Manager recommends that the BOCC and its municipal partners receive the presentation and provide any policy direction and feedback as may be desired.