HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-06-2016 - 8-b - County Landholdings Without Public Access 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 6, 2016
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-b
SUBJECT: County Landholdings Without Public Access
DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks
and Recreation (DEAPR), Solid
Waste
ATTACHMENTS INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Table - County Landholdings Without David Stancil, 245-2510
Public Access Rich Shaw, 245-2514
2. Map of County Landholdings Without Gayle Wilson, 968-2788
Public Access
PURPOSE: To review a list of County landholdings that are not currently open for public use
and enjoyment, and actions that would be required before allowing pubic access.
BACKGROUND: This spring a Board petition requested information about the status of
County-owned properties that are not open for public access. The petition asked staff to
review the status of these properties, determine opportunities and/or obstacles for public
access and whether there is adequate and appropriate signage for public access.
Over the summer DEAPR and Solid Waste Management staff reviewed a list of County-
owned lands to identify those of sufficient size and potential interest by members of public to
enter for such things as walking, hiking, nature study, etc. In addition to the properties land-
banked for future parks and preserves through the Lands Legacy program, staff included the
Greene Tract (104 acres; owned jointly with Carrboro, Chapel Hill), the adjacent Neville Tract
(15 acres; associated with the former County landfill), and the County's 60-acre portion of the
former Greene Tract (with a proposed new name of "Headwaters Tract" to distinguish it from
its former designation).
DEAPR met with the County Attorney and Risk Manager to discuss the potential
opportunities and obstacles (including legal and risk issues) for public access to these
properties. For each site, staff outlined the status of the property and listed the changes that
would be needed to either a) make the property available for use by the general public (which
may require both staff and financial resources), or b) allow access (without invitation) with
signs posted warning of the site conditions and that persons "enter at your own risk," or c)
identify the property as closed to the public with adequate signage indicating the reason for it
being closed.
Most sites will require additional posting of property boundaries and the design and
installation of carefully-worded signage at likely entry points to warn people of what to expect
2
and not expect and to reduce the risk of injury. DEAPR staff will work with the County
Attorney and Risk Manager with the anticipation of having signs posted by fall or early winter.
Some locations may not be appropriate for public access because they pose hazards (known
or unknown) or they are being used for special purposes, such as the Neville Tract (Eubanks
Road) that is used for soil excavation and storage associated with landfill operations, and the
future Northeast District park property (Schley Road) that is leased for agricultural use by the
adjacent farm operation.
Please see attached table (Attachment 1) with a list of County-owned properties that are not
currently open for public use and the actions needed prior to allowing public access.
Attachment 2 is a map of those same properties.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Most sites will require additional signage, which will require funding
(estimated $2,000 - $4,000) and staff time for posting at entry points and along property
boundaries. Some sites may require additional monitoring to make sure there are no
undesirable uses being made of the property and no new hazards or safety concerns.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact
associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive this information
and provide feedback and direction to the staff for further actions as needed.
Attachment 1 3
Orange County — Landholdings Currently Without Public Access
Property Name - W allow-
11 _rails? la
LO a3=o - Dubuc access
Old roadways as North &east 0 Signage (allowed uses, Post new"at own risk"
Headwaters Tract (60 acres) informal trails, other boundary marked; directions, hazards) signage at entry points.
(formerly part of Greene Tract; south of no signage abutting . Remove known hazards
Eubanks Rd.; landlocked) volunteer trails. Greene Tract home site, barbed wire? Develop plan for site.
• Parking area (currently Complete plans
Seven Mile Creek Preserve (Upper Loop trail and being underway to allow
Eno Nature Preserve -306 acres) designed/permitted) access near
between Mount Willie and Dimmocks benches in place for Boundaries marked,
( g Gate (N of parking area) Moorefields. Install new
Mill Roads eastern section of trail signage in place � signage, protective
the property only Moorefields MOA P
• Trailhead sign w/map buffers for sensitive
areas from trails.
Unimproved trail Parking area
McGowan Creek Preserve (Upper . Trailhead sign w/map Post new"at-risk'
Eno Nature Preserve -63 acres roughed out for Boundaries marked; signage in advance of
) eastern section of no trail signage Directional signs
(US 70 west of Hillsborough) Remove known hazards 2020 construction /
the property only
home site, chimney) opening.
g.
Bridges and boardwalk in
New Hope Preserve(50 acres) flood prone areas Post"at-risk" signs and
(South of Hollow Rock Nature Park Unimproved trail Boundaries marked; e Directional signs denote private
along New Hope Creek) only no trail signage 0 Coordination with Trinity properties south of
School & Durham County Hollow Rock (narrow
County lands).
• Site assessment and
Fairview Park north (30 acres) master plan amendment Restrict access to
(Former landfill; north of the existing No existing trails No signage • Trash removal northern area (former
County park facilities) Hazards removal landfill) until mitigation.
Signage denoting
landfill.
• Park master plan
Millhouse Road Park (79 acres) Park construction Post new"at-risk'
(Includes interim Parks Operations No existing trails; Boundaries marked; signage, until 2019
Base; temporary Eubanks SWCC) portion of driveway no other signage construction and
opening.
Twin Creeks Park (95 acres) Jones Creek Boundaries marked; 0 Park construction Post"at-risk' signage at
(Old NC 86; Includes Jones Creek Greenway(in use); reenwa sins only . Hazards/trash removal several entry locations,
Greenway section which is in use) social trails in pine gy g note future school
forest facilities.
4
• Park master plan Property leased to
Northeast District Park(143 acres) Park construction
Boundaries marked; farmer for cattle
(Between Schley Road N( ) and Mince y No existing trails no other signage 0 Hazards/trash removal grazing. No access
Road (S); includes potential future
SWCC recommended.
• Signage (allowed uses, Post"at-risk" signage
Dedicated Open Space(81 acres in A few of these lands directions, hazards) on case-by-case basis,
total) have informal trails NO . Remove known hazards if property large enough
(Within 21 subdivisions) home site, barbed wire? and can be accessed.
• Signage (allowed uses, Post new"at own risk"
Greene Tract (104 acres)* (eastern directions, hazards) signage at entry points.
end of Purefoy Drive, north of Western, southern 0 Remove known hazards No ATV's or motorized
Homestead Road) and eastern (home site, barbed wire?) vehicles.
Old vehicle trails as boundaries marked 0 Consult with other owners
informal trails, other with "Restricted (Carrboro and Chapel Develop plan for site.
social trails. Area—Authorized Hill) re access
Personnel Only" Locked gates placed at
two vehicle access
signage trails off Merin Road
and at access point
near Purefoy Drive
• Property is currently Not recommended for
Neville Tract (15 acres)** used for ongoing soil access due to current
(between Greene Tract and former excavation and soil use for waste
landfill, landlocked) storage for landfill management
operations and operations.
Western boundary maintenance
No existing trails, marked with . To utilize this property an Locked gate located on
accessible by "Restricted Area— alternative soil excavation vehicle trail between
vehicle through Authorized and storage site directly Neville and Greene
landfill property Personnel Only" adjacent to and Tract.
signs accessible from landfill
property must be Entry by public is
obtained discouraged and
• Levelling, filling, grading unsafe.
and site redevelopment
required to utilize
*- Jointly owned by Orange County,Town of Chapel Hill and Town of Carrboro
**- Owned by Orange County Solid Waste Enterprise Fund
Attachment 2 5
Orange County-Landholdings Without Public Access
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