HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-28-2005-2a3,~ s _
Orange County
Environment and Resource Conservation Department
Mew~.ora v,,d uwi.
To: John Link, County Manager
From: David Stancil, ERG Director
Date: April 26, 2005
Re: Twin Creeks (Moniese Nomp) District Park and Educational
Campus
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update far the April 28th
Assembly of Governments meeting regarding the Twin Creeks project.
Twin Creeks District Park and Educational Campus is a 193-acre site acquired
by Orange County in 2001 with the intent of co-locating the planned Chapel Hill
Township District Park and a future multi-school campus. From September 2002
- May 2003, a 23-member citizen work group (CHATPEC Work Group) with
representatives from each elected board and parks advisory board in the County
and Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro developed a proposed master plan,
which was conveyed to the Board in August 2003.
After initial reviews in late 2003 and early 2004, County staff was asked in the
spring of 2004 to explore a series of questions and develop an alternative design
far the site that focused even further on potential sharing of facilities and smart-
growth principles, Review of this evaluation and alternative design in the fall of
2004 was conducted, along with receipt of a proposed redesign of the site
submitted by a citizen group in the vicinity of the site,
As a result of the fall 2004 discussions, the Board of Commissioners authorized a
6-member short-term work group including two Commissioners and two school
board members to look at a possible limited scope redesign with the following
charge:
Utilize the October 2004 (Design #2) drajt Maser Plrnr jor Twin Creeks Park mrd Edvcntionnl Canrprrr to
undertake only the folloming changes:
a. Look at relocating/redesigning the proposed Elementary School #/0 to the southenstern portion of
the site (east oJJoner Creek currently shown nr "FunneGducattona/Facility")
b Keep the four soccer field configtn'ation intact in [he redesign
c Consider locations jor action sports facilit7dactivi[ies in the park
Erti~Gahruewtarmdnesaruceeoh evuaJtlarti
[~O P.O.t 8181 ~.SOG-i7 ><'.e/el Z WJC7Li'
Hitlsbarouyla, Nc zj-2; 8
(yzyl a.as-2 ~o
d Look at the feas'ibiliq+ oJrelocaling dre "stadium freld" to the south with the pmk
Addre-ss minor rrrodrfications needed ns n resrdt of the nbove inork, for dre locutions of odrer schools ividria
the schools campus arrd pmk facilities within the pmk site
After two meetings, the Work Group issued its findings:
1, Relocation of Stadium/track: While there might be benefits to locating the
proposed stadium/track in the park, the Work Group felt that the need for keeping
the stadium/track with the middle school that is planned for the northern part of
the site was an overriding consideration, for programming reasons. Complicating
factors based on topography and stream buffers were also noted. The Work
Group did propose a proposed t/3-mile loop trail around the meadow as an
alternative to meet the needs for a measured walking or running trail.
2. Action Sports: While there does appear to be a need for such a facility as a BMX
bike trail, the Work Group noted that the other proposed park facilities have been
identified as needs by both the original work group and individual parks advisory
boards, and that these -plus the concept of a community gymnasium -would
appear to be a higher priority. That said, staff identified a potential area within the
Piedmont EMC powerline easement that might be able to serve as such a facility,
and the Work Group forwards that concept to the Board to consider further, as
desired.
3. Elementary School (ES) #10: The Work Group found that its current location
adjacent to the proposed future middle school was preferable to the possible
location in the southeastern corner of the site. In general, the Work Group feels
that the benefits of co-locating the two schools together, which can only occur on
the educational campus in the northern portion of the site, outweigh the benefits
of possible increased walkability far ES #1 Q in a southeastern location. Keeping
the elementary school and middle school together offers synergies for shared
supervision, food services, media centers, and other possible advantages,
4, Other minor modifications to the Master Plan:
a. A footprint of a possible Action Sports (BMX bike course) in the Piedmont
EMC easement, which would need to be explored further with PEMC and
the Board of Commissioners, if desired.
Qn May 3rd, the Board is scheduled to consider adoption of a master plan, receipt
of requested information about infrastructure costs and phasing, and authorize
the submittal of a Conditional Use Permit application to the Town of Carrboro,
Preparation of the permit materials is expected to take 4-6 months, with review
and consideration of the CUP projected to take approximately one year,
EvLViI ~H,vzcdh.E GlvrGl F2BSOttl2E COrhSCr'VLItiON.
PO Sax 315'Y /s0G ,~} RCVZrZ 12oG7d
Hill56or ocr~N; Nc ~,=2~1
~Z~) 2 f5-25J0