HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-15-2015 - 8a 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 15, 2015
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-a
SUBJECT: Southern Branch Library Siting Criteria, Process Update
DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office, Asset PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Management Services
(AMS), Library, Planning
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1) July 17, 2015 Memorandum from Bonnie Hammersley, (919) 245-2306
Manager Jeff Thompson, (919) 245-2658
Lucinda Munger, (919) 245-2528
Michael Harvey, (919) 245-2597
PURPOSE: To receive an update on the Southern Branch Library siting process and provide
staff direction regarding next steps.
BACKGROUND: On September 18, 2012 the Board of Orange County Commissioners
(BOCC), in conjunction with the Carrboro Board of Aldermen, approved a set of guiding
principles and a comprehensive site selection criterion for potentially locating a Southern Branch
of the Orange County Library (hereafter "the Branch"). Since that time the BOCC and the
Carrboro Board of Aldermen have submitted several properties for review by County staff
consistent with the approved Branch siting process. Attachment 1, "July 17, 2015 Memorandum
from Manager" outlines these criteria, the sites that have been suggested to staff study, and the
sites currently under study:
1) 101 N. Merritt Mill (St. Paul's AME Zion Church)
2) 200 E. Main Street (Municipal Parking — "Armadillo Grill" site)
3) 203 S. Greensboro (Municipal Parking owned by Carrboro)
4) 311 E. Main Street (Fire & Hearth property assembly)
Staff has worked closely with Carrboro staff in evaluating pertinent land use information. The
Board may recall that the initial due diligence processes exhaust readily available and cost free
information prior to moving into the preliminary phase assessments requiring professional
services such as environmental, traffic, geotechnical, and cultural/archeological studies.
The full Preliminary Phase Analysis located atvvv. umu a u . . � Il � lllillaumum l
evaluates the four sites through the BOCC adopted criteria. The highlights of this analysis are
as follows:
Fire & Hearth Site. This site is challenged by its need to aggregate parcels of different
ownership to be large enough for the Branch site. The majority of the property is either not for
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sale or under contract for sale. Additionally, the property has significant access and potential
traffic challenges. Staff does not recommend the County pursue further due diligence at this
time.
St. Paul AME Zion Church. The congregation is planning to relocate the church to the Rogers
Road Community. This site is too small for an adequate branch library and its location would
require off-site parking and designed congestion mitigation efforts. Staff does not recommend
the County pursue further due diligence at this time.
200 E. Main Municipal Parking Lot ("Armadillo Grill"site). This was the site of the Carrboro
Arts and Innovation Center proposal presented to the Board of Carrboro Aldermen in February,
2015. The site is compact, constrained on the east boundary by the railroad, and would not
support a Branch Library with adequate parking. Staff does not recommend further preliminary
phase study within the criteria process.
203 S. Greensboro Street. This site is owned by Carrboro and was offered for study by the
Town Board of Aldermen. The site is adequately sized to support a Branch Library with on-site
parking. It offers reasonable access, visibility, and is zoned appropriately for a library purpose.
Staff does recommend further preliminary phase study within the criteria process.
At the invitation of Carrboro, County staff continues to participate in a parallel process of
exploratory discussions with Kidzu, The Arts Center, and Carrboro regarding the concept of the
Branch Library being co-located with these groups as part of a Carrboro Arts and Innovation
Center ("CAIC").
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The Southern Branch Library will 1) provide more convenient and
accessible access to Orange County Library services; 2) further the Library's mission to support
and enrich the residents in northern Orange County; and 3) addresses the following three
Orange County Social Justice Goals:
• GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND
INEQUITY
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color;
religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or
ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic
status.
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
• GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION
Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and
volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the analysis of these sites to
this point of the preliminary phase of the analysis. Should be BOCC ask that preliminary phase
activities continue that involve more in-depth study, these estimated costs would range from
$10,000 to $15,000 per site. Adequate funds are available within the appropriated Southern
Library capital project for these in-depth studies.
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RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board allow the Manager to
initiate discussions with the Carrboro Town Manager on property acquisition options for the 203
S. Greensboro property.
Attachment 1 4
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MEMORANDUM
Date: July 17, 2015
To: Board of Orange County Commissioners
From: Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County Manager
Subject: Southern Branch Library and CAIC Discussions
The purpose of this memo is to provide a summary of the discussion from meetings that occurred
on the Carrboro Arts and Innovation Center (CAIC) and the Southern Branch Library project for
the Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC) and Town of Carrboro Board.
On July 7, 2015, the County Manager, Deputy County Manager, County Asset Management
Services Director, Town of Carrboro Manager, and the Town of Carrboro Planning Director met
to discuss the CAIC and the status of the Southern Branch Library sighting process. The County
reiterated that it will continue to participate in the CAIC process with the understanding that the
evaluation of sites for a stand-alone Southern Branch Library will run on a parallel track. At the
next CAIC meeting (July 20), County staff will provide an update regarding the County's role in
the CAIC as well as the status of the library siting process. In an effort to keep the Town of
Carrboro Aldermen and the BOCC informed it was decided that County staff would provide a
chronological list of events related to the Southern Branch Library from 2010 to present
(Attachment A). Also, the managers agreed to expand efforts to keep their boards informed
throughout the process of any changes as they occur.
On July 8, 2015, the BOCC Chair, the Town of Carrboro Mayor, the Town Manager and the
County Manager met to discuss the recent concerns regarding the communication to the Town of
Carrboro Aldermen on CAIC and the Southern Branch Library project. The Mayor and the
Chair asked the managers to continue to share routine as well as sensitive information with the
Boards throughout the duration of the project. A discussion of the next steps in the process took
place and is summarized below.
The County staff is currently evaluating a number of sites from the County's list of potential sites
(Attachment B). This attachment includes all the sites evaluated by the County; the
strikethroughs constitute sites that do not meet the specified criteria adopted by the BOCC on
September 18, 2012:
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• Visibility
• Site Capacity, Parking
• Access (pedestrian, cycling, vehicular,public transportation)
• Alignment with Planning Tools and Comprehensive Plan
• Acquisition Considerations (lease vs. purchase)
• Centrality of Location
• Physical Site Conditions, Allowances and Constraints
• Site Cost and Availability
• Community Preference
• Advantages of Partnerships
The County staff intends to narrow the evaluated sites down to the top two (2) sites and present
to the BOCC in a "Staff Report" for the September 1, BOCC next regularly scheduled meeting.
The County staff will solicit input from the Town of Carrboro staff as these remaining sites are
further evaluated so that the Town of Carrboro's interests and concerns are considered and
presented in the Staff Report.
If you have questions,please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
cc: Town of Carrboro Aldermen
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Attachment A: Southern Branch Library Project Chronology
2010-2012 - Evaluation and ultimate BOCC rejection of 210 Hillsborough Street location as a
Southern Branch Library site.
September, 2012 -BOCC adopted site selection criteria.
December, 2012 - Letter from Carrboro Manager to the County Manager suggesting 3 sites be
evaluated.
May, 2013 - Letter from Carrboro Manager to the County Manager suggesting 4 additional sites
be evaluated.
November, 2013 - BOCC authorized staff to begin primary phase 1 due diligence on 120 Brewer
Lane site.
January, 2014- BOCC authorized staff to begin the public input work as part of the primary
phase due diligence on 120 Brewer Lane site.
May, 2014 - Staff report to BOCC updating the primary phase due diligence and public input
process for the 120 Brewer Lane site.
October, 2014- Staff report to joint meeting of BOCC and Carrboro Board of Aldermen on
progress of 120 Brewer Lane Memorandum of Understanding and Development Agreement
negotiations.
June, 2015 - Southern Branch Library site criteria update staff report to BOCC CAIC Steering
Committee update reports to BOCC and Carrboro Board of Aldermen.
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Attachment B: Potential Southern Branch Library Sites Submitted for
Evaluation
2.
6. 203 S. Greensboro, Carrboro (Municipal Parking Lot)
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11. 311 E. Main, Carrboro (Fire & Hearth Assembly)
12. 200 E. Main Street, Carrboro (Municipal Parking - "Armadillo' Property)
13. 101 N. Merritt Mill, Carrboro (St.Paul AME Zion Church Property)