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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-03-2005-7bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 3, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Presentation of Proposed Northern Park Master Plan DEPARTMENT: ERCD /Recreation and Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT INFORMATION CONTACT: Proposed Master Plan and Map David Stancil, 245-2590 Lori Taft, 245-2660 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To receive a presentation on the proposed master plan for Northern Park at the Northern Human Services Center, developed by citizens and staff between October 2004 and March 2005. BACKGROUND: In November 2001, Orange County voters approved a Parks and Open Space bond including $1,2 million toward a park on 49 acres of land adjacent to and including the Northern Human Services Center on NC 86 North, A park at this location was identified in the adopted 1988 Master Recreation and Parks Plan, Over the past several years, a BOCC Task Force has been working toward both the park and upgrades to the Center, In 2004, the Board agreed to move forward with a park planning effort that was separated from the Center upgrades, but was cognizant of the need for coordination with current and future plans for the Center, The Northern Park Master Plan process as adapted by the Board represented a departure from the usual process for park design in that no committee of citizens was formed, Citizens interested in the project were instead encouraged to participate in a series of community meetings held at the Northern Human Services Center to design the park, Flyers, mailings and signs (including the new marquee sign at the Center) were used to advertise the meetings, A total of 37 different citizens participated in the four community meetings that culminated in the design presented tonight. The process used to create the design included: 2 • A kickoff meeting where information about the process and the site was presented, including astaff-prepared Challenges and Opportunities document, and a straw vote was conducted on the types of facilities for the park desired by the residents present; • A design charette, where attendees broke into five subgroups at individual tables and created their own vision far the park -and then came together to compare drawings and discuss similarities and differences (the designs were remarkably similar in many ways); • Review and consideration of a draft master plan; and • Final review and agreement on a master plan to be recommended, including prioritization of facilities using cost estimates. As with all master plan designs, the attendees were invited to "think outside of the box" in terms of facilities and park design, with the understanding that some prioritization would be needed based on cost and site constraints, The proposed Master Plan that emerged from the meetings includes facilities desired by those present ,including: • Retention of the hardwood forest areas identified far low-impact recreation, with a loop trail generally identified (the actual location of the trail would be located later as construction drawings are prepared) • Retention of the existing ball field and a relocated play area adjacent to the Center • A skate park area and basketball courts located in the back portions of the original 9- acre Northern Center lot, along with nearby restrooms • Two new softball/baseball fields, one located in the northeast corner of the 40-acre tract, and another (possibly part of a future phase) to the southwest) • Amulti-purpose field that could be used for a variety of activities, including tee-ball and other field sports, along the northern field configuration • Two tennis courts and a second play area between the two northern fields, along with a picnic shelter with restrooms and a horseshoes area • Two other picnic shelters in the wooded trails area At their final meeting on March 9`h, residents identified which of these facilities in the design they considered to be mast important, recognizing that funding would not permit all of the designed activities to be built at this time. The prioritization included several "givens" that would be needed regardless of choices, or could be simply and easily built at a low cost: 1, An entry road and two parking lots to serve the park facilities 2.. A picnic shelter with restrooms 3. The play area located near the Center 4. A service road to the proposed fields on the northern part of the site 5. Picnic tables and benches at locations TBA throughout the park 6, Horseshoes and volleyball courts The group then identified the top priorities from the proposed facilities in the design: 1. The new baseball/softball field in the northern part of the park 2, The skate facility 3. The multi-purpose field (Tee-ball and other field sports) 4. The basketball courts 5. The nature trails/measured walking track 3 FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding for construction of the Northern Park was included in the November 2001 Parks and Open Space bond in the amount of $1,200,000, all of which has been appropriated to date. Approximately $33,000 of this amount has been expended to date for a topographic survey, natural and cultural resource survey work (approved by the BOCC in 2004) and cost estimates. As a potential supplemental funding source, approximately $125,000 exists in Northern District Park payment-in-lieu funds. Operating and maintenance casts for this park would be addressed in a subsequent agenda item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation, thanking the citizens for their efforts in creating the master plan, and ask staff to report back at a subsequent meeting with additional cost information (including projected operating and maintenance costs) and a site plan submittal and park timetable. Northern Park at the Northern Human Services Center Master Plan and Report April , 2005 5 Background In 1988, the Parks Element of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan identified a fixture park in conjunction with the Northern Human Services Center on NC 88 north. The Northern Human Services Center was originally built in the 1950's as the Cedar Grove School, an African-American school. Abaseball/softball field located at the site was utilized for recreation programs beginning in the 1980's, and some programs also took place in the gym of the building. In 1998, the County acquired 40 acres (known as the Kennedy tract) adjacent to the 9-acre tract containing the Center, playground and ball field, This land was acquired to be part of the future park site, In 2001, Orange County voters approved a Parks and Open Space band that included $1,200,000 earmarked for the future park. A draft Preliminary Concept Plan was created in 2002, and a process for planning the Northern (Human Services Center) Park was considered and approved in late 2003. In the spring of 2004, property across NC 86 from the site was acquired for a wastewater field, and plans to move forward with the park master plan were finalized, A series of 4 community meetings to design the park (excluding the building) were held between October 2004 and March 2005. At the current time, the facilities that exist at the site are: • The Northern Human Services Center (NHSC) building, including a gymnatorium, cafeteria and a number of rooms used or proposed to be used far a variety of activities • A branch library (in the NHSC building) • A children's playground adjoining the Center • Alighted playing field for softball/youth baseball In 2003, the Board of County Commissioners considered and adopted a process far the planning and design of this park. This process did not include the planned upgrades to the Northern Human Services Center, although the need for consistency and compatibility was addressed. The process may be found as Appendix 1. In general, the adopted process called for a series of community meetings to develop a master plan. As a part of the design process, the community meetings were to yield a park master plan that, among other features: • Recognizes co-location with the Center, and works in concert with and shares infrastructure where passible • Promotes apedestrian-friendly environment and discourages unnecessary traffic or parking areas • Protects important stream corridors and natural areas, and minimize grading of the natural landscape During the summer of 2004, staff began preparing background information for the project. The Master Plan's community meeting phase began in October 2004, Preliminary Concept Plan At the outset of each park design project, the process is initiated by the approval of a Preliminary Concept Plan by the Board of Commissioners, The "Pre-Concept Plan," as it is sometimes called, is to be used as a guiding tool to identify the types of activities deemed suitable far the park and to provide possible general locations for those activities, It also serves as the guide for the more-specific master plan that follows. The Preliminary Concept Plan for this park was adopted in 2003. It projected continued use of the existing ball field and playground as shown, along with an area far future active recreation along the northern portion of the property, The portions of the property to the south and west were projected to include low- impact recreation -retaining the mixed hardwood and pine forest that exist, with hiking trails, picnic areas and benches, The Master Plan that has been created by the community meetings reflects two changes from the Preliminary Concept Plan, First, the buffers for a new stream identified on the site (for additional information, please see the following section) effectively took away part of fhe area originally identified for active recreation, To compensate for that, an area of loblolly pine to the southwest was opened up for active recreation, since this was the least sensitive area of the forested portion of the tract. SITE ANALYSIS / OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS REPORT One of the background products developed by staff for the project was an "Opportunities and Constraints" report that was presented at the initial meeting in October 2004, This report evaluated the natural and cultural features present on site, and provided an overview of zoning and other planning issues. The full report may be found as Appendix 2. This property is identified in the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan as part of the Agricultural Residential (AR) classification, within the Upper Eno Protected Watershed, and is zoned AR (Upper Eno Watershed Protected), This zoning district provides primarily for agricultural and residential land uses, with a minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet per dwelling unit, Additionally, the Upper Eno Watershed overlay zoning requires that impervious surfaces be limited to 12% of the total site area and that stream buffers be provided, Adjacent land uses to this property include: To the north: An undeveloped tract of 25 acres and small residential lots along NC 86, West: The property boundary cuts across a 25-acre pond known locally as Compton's Pond, which serves as a large sediment retention and flow augmentation lake on the East Fork of the Eno River, which it impounds via a man-made dam, South: seven residential lots that are partially occupied, East: NC 86 and a 12-acre tract acquired across NC 86 Access to the site is provided via NC 86, and parking areas exist on both the south and north sides of the Northern Human Services Center, A service road on the north side of the building provides access to the rear of the building. There is an old, unimproved roadway that runs from the ball field to the pond, and there are currently a number of downed trees along this old road from storms in 2003 and 2004. The area surrounding the Northern Human Services Center has been maintained to allow for the continued use of the existing ball field, playground and other structures related to the building, including an old water tower used by volunteer fire departments, The 40 acres west of the building and ball field remain largely wooded, The vast majority of the property is wooded with a mixture of hardwoods and pine. A 12- acre section of the upland property nearest the NHSC is comprised entirely of mature hardwoods-50 to 60-feet-tall, Major canopy trees include red and white oaks, hickories, tulip poplar and American beech, This mature deciduous forest provides numerous benefits, including habitat for wildlife and native plants, and protection of water quality by filtering out sediment and pollutants from runoff before it enters the adjacent pond and the East Fork of the Eno River. The lower-lying woodlands in the western part of the property are a mixture of pine and hardwoods adapted to the wetter sails nearer to the lake. Dense stands of loblolly pine occur along the northern property boundary and the southwestern boundary, both providing 100-200 foot buffers from the neighboring properties, Two small clearings are located in the far northeast and southwest corners of the property, One is at the impoundment far Compton's Pond; the other has been used by someone to store abandoned vehicles and debris. A biological analysis of the site was conducted and found no identified natural areas or prime forest areas on the site. Stream identification work performed by staff in late 2004 identified apreviously-unmapped stream that runs from northeast to southwest to the pond, which will need to be buffered as part of the watershed standards. The property drains from east to west into Compton's Pond. Slopes on the property are relatively slight, with increasing moderate slopes as one nears the pond to the west. Soils are primarily of the Georgeville and Herndon types, and are generally suitable for park facility uses. A cultural and archaeological survey was conducted in January 2004, which identified two unrecorded archaeological sites; neither of the sites was deemed worthy of further analysis. While not a part of the park master plan, the 12-acre property east of NC 86 was also surveyed and the deteriorated house (ca 1911), related outbuildings, hand-dug well, and above-ground fuel storage tanks were recorded as part of that project. The rear portion of this 12-acre tract contains a large field formerly in agriculture that was beginning to feature early succession vegetation before being cleared as part of a planned wastewater system for the Center. A topographic survey was also conducted to identify contours at one-foot intervals and all trees with an 18-inch caliper and greater. In summary, the report identified several opportunities and constraints for the site: Existing and potential assets for park development include: • Existing lighted baseball/softball field (also used for youth soccer) • Existing children's playground (in need of improvement) • Mature hardwood forest (suitable for nature trails) • Other forested areas (which help to buffer the park from adjacent private properties) • A pond (potential scenic and recreational amenity) • Old unimproved roadway (potential service road and/or walking trail) Potential constraints to the development of the property include: • Low-lying area east of the pond is within the 100-year floodplain Small portions of the eastern shoreline are not within the County property, which will limit access to some portions of the waterfront • Drainage ditches (2) on the northern half of the Kennedy tract • Pre-existing 60-foot easement for access to the Kennedy tract from NC 86 (this is likely no longer an issue since Orange County owns bath properties) • Newly-identified stream will need to be buffered and protected 9 COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND DESIGN PROCESS From October through March, four community meetings were held to create a master plan far the park, Area residents were invited to participate in the process by a variety of outreach tools. Flyers were left in community stores and were mailed to homes in the area of the park, and subsequently to meeting attendees and other interest parties. The new marquee sign at the Northern Center was also used to advertise each meeting (with the assistance of the branch library staff), Attendance at the meetings ranged from 14-32 persons, and many of the group remained engaged in the design meetings throughout. The activities at the community meetings are summarized in the following table: -- October 28 Overview of project; mission and charge; presentation of Challenges and Opportunities report, discussion of facility needs/ reference surve ,next ste s charette November 18 Group brake into 5 small groups for design charette to create their own vision for the ark, then reconvened to look at desi ns Janua 20 Meetin cancelled due to ice February 10 Review new information, review draft master plan created from the charettes, discuss designs and identify a preferred design, lans for final meetin March 9 Review and adopt final draft master plan map and report, rioritize facilities usin cost estimates The master plan map identified and agreed to by the community meeting participants is shown on the following page, _- _- ~i / ~ ~~ ~'~ ~ { ~ 1i ~I ~~ fi,[[~~ ~ Qt~ ~~1 ~~ U i I d _ > g ~ A v ao s ~~ 6 ,~ ' P ' m ~ L ' u~ a $' r~ ~ ~ ~ ~!il ~li C Ilil m I_ .~... C t a V N O K N N ~r O A K < W ~ ~ a 3 --~~ ~ ~ L IL N U a . Q ,, ~, II~~~. .~~ t ::-_= .. `. ili i ~1 ~ I~T~~ '~~~ u' y t n ~ , ,~a,~ a c~ a spc3 y m m ~, ~ ~ 5 ~ ~ H LL ° / / ! / ~ ~ ~ r waE .. n ~ / F ~ 1 /~ ~ ' ~ ~ i mg ~ m t i ~ ~ 1 `k w ~ ~ J ~.ls\ ~. V p~ \, N ~ \ N0. IJ' °HI y u 99 Nr ~ O 1 ~ ~ G ~ s ti a I II~~ r ~ ~. ~ 1 ~ ~ ~~_ / ~ ~ i ~ v J ~. Cm2 ~ ;'~ ~ ~ I' \~ LLn m~ ti ~, ~ -J (i~.II iii .~~~~` ~ e<~w~ t g '~ ~ ~E" F=ALL I Q ~ n a. L L - } ~ ~ ~ 1 G`$z'~o m t ~ t} z u a Q ~~ u ,~ II 11 FEATURES OF THE PROPOSED MASTER PLAN After working through the above process and considering the site information, community needs and the desired facilities, the community meetings have yielded a Master Plan as shown on the preceding page that features the following components: • Retention of the hardwood forest areas identified for low-impact recreation, with a loop trail generally identified (the actual location of the trail would be located later as construction drawings are prepared) • Retention of the existing ball field' and a relocated play area adjacent to the Center • A skate park area and basketball courts located in the back portions of the original 8-acre Northern Center lot, along with nearby restrooms • Two new softball/baseball fields, one located in the northeast corner of the 40-acre tract, and another (possibly part of a future phase) to the southwest) • Amulti-purpose field that could be used for a variety of activities, including tee-ball and other field sports, along the northern field configuration • Two tennis courts and a second play area between the two northern fields, along with a picnic shelter with restrooms and a horseshoes area • Two other picnic shelters in the wooded trails area The site would be accessed by an enhancement of the entrance road on the north side of the Center, which would continue west toward the proposed new facilities. The plan assumes that the proposed Northern Human Services Center parking lot in front of the building will be constructed in the future (but dces not rely on this lot to provide parking for the park), and that the existing lot on the south side of the Center would be retained. The entrance road would wind back through the park, with two additional parking areas near the two new playing fields to the north. A third parking area and a short drive is dashed in for future use if needed between the fields and facilities along the northern boundary. This drive would involve crossing of the headwaters of the newly identified stream. Another facility that was identified as desirable by meeting attendees was an outdoor swimming pool, but the cost of this facility led the group tc omit it from the master plan, with a notation of its possible future location to the west. Funding for the Northern Park comes from the 2001 Parks and Open Space Bond. A total of $1.2 million from those proceeds were identified for the park The potential for expanding the outfield fence was considered but eventually not recommended because of cost of moving the existing lights and close proximity of adjacent structures tz Throughout the master plan process, it was noted that these funds would likely not be sufficient to build the entirety of the park as proposed, and that some prioritization would be necessary. PRIORITIZATION OF FACILITIES Accordingly, at the final community meeting on March 9, 2QQ5, County sataff provided estimates prepared by a professional cost-estimating firm, for all costs typically associated with each facility. Those present were asked to identify their top priorities far the park, and use the cost estimates to rank those priorities as their formal recommendations for the Master Plan (as shown below). The cost estimates were as comprehensive as possible and included all known associated costs with each facility, As the first part of this discussion, there were several "givens" that were listed as necessary and implicit facilities that would be needed for construction: "Givens" 1, An entry road and two parking lots to serve the park facilitiesZ 2. A picnic shelter with restrooms 3, The play area located near the Center3 4. A service road to the proposed fields on the northern part of the site4 5, Picnic tables and benches at locations TBA throughout the park 6. Horseshoes and volleyball courtss The total estimated cost of the above items is approximately $4QO,000, As a next step, the citizens present looked at the proposed facilities, the identified/desired needs, the cost estimates and the projected remaining available funds, and identified the following as priorities for the park construction: 1. The new baseball/softball field in the northern part of the park 2. The skate facility 3. The multi-purpose field (Tee-ball and other field sports) 4. The basketball courts 5. The nature trails/measured walking track - This does not include the proposed parking lot in front of the Northern Human Services Center, which would be part of the proposed building upgrades. ' The current play area in this site would be impacted by the entry road, and is old and in need of replacement. The master plan shows a possible future parking lot and wider road for these fields that may need to be constructed at some future date. It is not proposed for the construction of park facilities here. e While not "givens," these facilities are inexpensive and deemed not to require the group's time for prioritization because of their small size and low cost. 13 The total of these facilities is approximate to or slightly above the available funding of $1,2 million, CONCLUSION The creation of Northern Park is expected to yield a facility that can provide many recreational opportunities for the Cedar Grave community, including residents living in close proximity to the park and those living in northwestern Orange County. Two new playing fields, basketball courts, a skate facility, trails and a picnic shelter with restrooms are proposed for construction with the available funds. There are other facilities that have been planned in the design that could be part of a future phase, if additional funds become available in the future, including a third baseball/softball field, tennis courts, a second playground area, and two additional picnic shelters, In considering the potential facilities, the meetings have attempted to be cognizant of plans for the Northern Human Services Center, The Northern Park Master Plan moreover has been designed to be compatible with the current and expected future plans for the building. The addition of the facilities outlined above will fiirther enhance recreation, open space and leisure activities for citizens in the Cedar Grove community and beyond. The design, consistent with the Preliminary Concept Plan, attempts to balance the protection of the hardwood forest areas and stream buffers on site, while still providing for active recreation and low-impact recreation facilities. The existing playground at the Northern Center 14 APPENDICES Appendix 1 -Adopted Process and Charge for Northern (Human Services Center) Park Appendix 2 -Challenges and Opportunities Report 15 Master Plan Process Northern Park at the Northern Human Services Center Adopted June 3, 2003 (Preliminary Concept Playa adopted 9/2/03) 16 A. Site Information Size: 48 acres (including existing buildings and fields), with an additional I2,2 acres located across NC 8G, Location: Co-located with Northern Human Services Center, seven miles north of Htillsborough on NC 86 in Cedar Grove Township Status: Existing Northerta Htcman Services Center and one ballfield and playground on original 8 acres. County acquired additional 40 acres in 1998, Draft Preliminary Concept Plan for parlx included in Northern Human Services center report of 2001. Funding: $1,200,000 Source: 2001 Parks Bond ($200, 000 appropriated in FY 02-03) 8. Proposed Timetable of Actions ~. Topographic and culturallarchaeological surveys Late 2003-Early 2004 approved and conducted Staff develops base maps and site analysis September-October 2004 (O ortunities and Constraints Analysis) Initial Community Meeting -Base Maps and October 28, 2004 Opportunities and Constraints Analysis, Community Interests Second Community Meeting -Design Charette November 2004 Third Community Meeting -Review draft Plan December 2004 or January 2005 and re ort (community forum) Fourth Community Meeting -Adopt proposed January or February 2005 Master Plan (map and report) Master Plan re ort and ma finalized February 2005 Board of Commissioners receives proposed March-April 2005 Master Plan Pre-Construction and Construction Board adopts plan and instructs staff to develop site lan, construction documents and drawin s Site plan submitted to Planning Department, construction drawings prepared Develo construction bid documents, solicit bids BOCC approves contract for construction Construction of Parlc 17 C. Rationale for Process Development of the Master Plan for this park will involve planning for both active and low-impact recreation opportunities at the site. Special attention and consideration will be given to coordination with plans for the adjoining Northern Human Services center, to ensure compatibility of proposed uses with the planned improvements to the Center. D. Description of Design Process The park design would be accomplished via a series of four community meetings held over three months. Citizens in the community will be invited to participate in the process by attending meetings and participating in the design. Notice about the community meetings will be publicized through mailings, public service announcements and notices placed in stores and community centers. The Open Space Design Specialist will be responsible for the actual site design, working with the County Manager (or designee), ERC Director and Recreation and Parks Director -with the Planning Director, County Engineer, Purchasing Director and Land Conservation Manager also asked to participate as available or needed. The end-product of this process will be a Master Plan for the park, along with a brief written report, to be prepared by March 2004. 18 E. Guiding Principles In addition to the charge, the Master Plan process shall use the following Guiding Principles: • Any proposed substantive modifications to the Preliminary Concept Plan should be conveyed to the Board of Commissioners as soon as practical far approval • The facilities to be designed and built should recognize the co- location with the Northern Human Services Center, working in concert with future plans for the center and sharing infrastructure where possible • The park should, to the degree possible, promote apedestrian- friendly environment and discourage unnecessary automobile traffic or parking areas • The protection of important stream corridors and natural areas should be a foremost consideration, and facilities should be designed in concert with the natural surroundings wherever possible. Grading and alteration of the natural landscape should be minimized • Generally, all portions of the site not identified for playing fields or other active recreation facilities should adhere to "Olmsteadian" park and open space design principles, promoting open spaces, meadows, and fields that may flexibly be used for a variety of public leisure purposes • Open spaces, including trails, should be developed with a vision for both an internal and potential future external network, with leisure and pedestrian movement between the Northern Human Services Center and the park addressed internally, and linkage to any nearby residential areas considered externally • The plan should promote xeriscaping (native vegetation and minimal water use) within the entire site • The Work Group should hold at least one community forum or open house to present draft recommendations, prior to submittal of the Committee report • Additional basic operating principles may be developed 19 Northern Park at the Northern Nurnan Services Center Challenges and Opporfiunifiies October 2004 Orange County Environment and Resource Conservation Department Northern (HSC) Park Challenges and Opportunities 20 I. Background Orange County owns 60 acres in Cedar Grove Township containing the county's Northern Human Services Center (NHSC) and a ballfield and playground, Acquisition of additional land in 1999 and 2004 was made in preparation for the construction of a park, as identified in the Parlcs Element of the Comprehensive Plan. This park, Northern (Human Services Center) Parlc, would serve as a community park for northwestern Orange County, The property is located on a ridgetop on two sides of NC Highway 86, approximately 7 miles north of Hillsborough (Figure 1). The property consists of three tracts: A) the County's Northern Human Services Center (NHSC), located in the former Cedar Grove School, on 9,28 acres; B) an adjacent undeveloped 39-acre parcel (the "Kennedy Tract") which is located west of the NHSC and includes a portion of a large pond known as Compton's Pond; and C) a 12,22-acre parcel located on the east side of NC 86 and directly across from the NHSC. The eastern tract, which the County acquired in 2004, is known as the "Vincent property" and will be primarily used for the planned upgrade to the NHSC wastewater system, II. Zoning The property is zoned Agriculturo.l Residential, which is intended for agricultural uses and other compatible uses that help to preserve "rural character.." This district allows parks and government facilities. A "Resource Protection Area" is identified for alow- lying area along the far western boundary next to Compton Pond-a large sediment retention pond located on the East Fork of the Eno River, upstream of Lake Orange,. This property is also within the Upper Eno Protected Watershed overlay district, which has a 12% impervious surface limitation, a minimum 150-foot stream buffer width for new structures, and a minimum 100-foot distance requirement for septic systems from perennial or intermittent streams. Situated within the Neuse River Basin, the State's Neuse Buffer Rules also apply, and require that vegetated buffers be maintained adjacent to streams and other water bodies, including ponds. III. Surrounding Land Uses The site is generally surrounded by largely undeveloped property to the north and west, and by smaller lots with single-family residences to the south and east. An aerial view of the property is provided as Figure 2. The portion of the property located west of NC 86 is bounded to the west by Compton Pond-a 25-acre pond impoundment on the East Forlc of the Eno River, Along the southern boundary there are seven single-family residential lots, and to the east is NC 86. The northern property boundary abuts a large tract currently in agricultural use.. An adjacent property on the northeast corner has several old vehicles and debris piled up along a chain link boundary fence. Trash piles encroach on the County property. Across NC 86, the Vincent Tract portion of the property is bounded to the west by NC 86, to the north by 3 small residential lots along NC 86 and an 11-acre agricultural property, to the east by 5 small residential lots in the Green Pines subdivision, and to the south by 2 two-acre lots, only one of which is developed with a home site. Northern (HSC) Park Challenges and Opportun/ties 21 IV. Cultural and Archaeological Survey A cultural and archaeological survey of the property was completed by Legacy Research Associates in January 2004.. The survey identified two previously unrecorded archaeological sites, but neither is considered to contain significant information about the prehistory or history of the region. Neither site is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and no future archaeological work is recommended. V. Property Description The following is a more detailed description of the three individual tracts that comprise the County's 60-acre site. The descriptions reference an accompanying site map (Figure 1), aerial map (figure 2), topographic map (Figure 3) and soils map (Figure 4). A. Northern Human Services Center Tract (9.28 acres) The NHSC property is identified as Tract A on the Site Map (Figure 1). This portion of the County property is already developed, with aone-story 1962 brick building, which once served as the Cedar Grove School-an elementary school for the African-American community prior to integration. It also contains gravel parking lots, abaseball/softball, and a small playground. The existing baseball softball field is located in the southwest quarter of this tract.. It has overhead lighting on poles along the outfield fence, The field is operated and maintained by the County Recreation and Parlcs department, and is also used for a County youth soccer league in addition to youth baseball and softball.. A sign at the entrance to the field indicates that the field was constructed with grant funds from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), Note: Any future altera.ti:ons to lh,e field nta.y require th,e consent of the LWCFprogranti. Near the north side of the NHSC building is a small children's playground.. A portion of the playground is within a fenced area with shade trees, and the other portion is outside the fence, Between the ballfield and the playground there is an acre or more of maintained grass open space that is not used for any particular activity. An above ground water storage tank exists on the site behind the building, although it is not in use for drinking water.. The existing well for the NHSC is located under the building in the boiler room and must be abandoned and relocated. The current wastewater disposal area for the NHSC complex is located underground and directly to the east (front) side of the building. A relocation and expansion of the existing wastewater treatment system has been proposed for this site. Relocating the existing system would allow the construction of an improved entrance and possible additional parking for the Center. Access The NHSC property has 600 feet of road frontage along the west side of NC 86. Two gravel driveways enter the site at either end of the Center. A service road provides access to the rear of the building and to the athletic field. Northern (HSCJ Park Challenges and Opportun/ties 22 Existing Vegetation This 9-acre portion of the property is almost completely open and maintained in grass except for the building, playground and parking areas. There is a narrow fringe of woodland forest in the rear of the property, which continues west into the "Kennedy Tract" portion of the County property.. Wetlands and Hydroloey There are no streams or wetlands on this portion of the County property. Tonoeranhv and Soffs The land is fairly flat with a slight downgrade toward the rear of the property. The soils are classified Georgeville B by the Orange County Soil Survey. Georgeville soils are highly suitable for most kinds of urban uses and all forms of recreational uses, No areas of the property are within 100-year floodplain. B. "Kennedy Tract" (39 acres) The Kennedy Tract is identified as Tract B on the Site Map (Figure 1). This portion of the County property is mostly wooded with a mixture of hardwood and pine forest.. Access An old unimproved roadway (10 feet wide) provides access to the rear of the property and the south end of the pond.. The roadway begins near a fenced area beside the children's playground (NHSC tract) and leads due west with pine forest to right and hardwood forest to left. Trash piles are located alongside the roadway. One pile includes appliances, car parts, glass/cans, etc. Midway back through the property, the roadway turns to the southwest and around an adjacent private property, then angles back in more westerly direction to the southern end of Compton's Pond and its high earthen dam. Downed trees and limbs from ice and windstorms of 2003-04 currently block portions of the old roadway. Vegetation The vast majority of the property is wooded with a mixture of hardwoods and pine. A 12-acre section of the upland property nearest the NHSC is comprised entirely of mature hardwoods-50 to 60-feet-tall.. Major canopy trees include red and white oaks, hickories, tulip poplar and American beech.. This mature deciduous forest provides numerous benefits, including habitat for wildlife and native plants, and protection of water quality by filtering out sediment and pollutants from runoff before it enters the adjacent pond and the East Forlc Eno River.. The lower-lying woodlands in the western part of the property are a mixture of pine and hardwoods adapted to the wetter soils nearer to the lake. Dense stands of loblolly pine occur along the northern property boundary and the southwestern boundary, both providing 100-200 foot buffers from the neighboring properties. Two small clearings are located in the far northeast and southwest corners of the property. One is at the impoundment for Compton's Pond; the other has been used by someone to store abandoned vehicles and debris. Northern (HSCJ Park Challenges and Opportun/ties 23 Wetlands and Hydrology Runoff from the property drains from east to west into Compton's Pond-a 25-acre pond that impounds the East Fork of the Eno River, upstream of Lalce Orange. Lalce Orange is a "flow augmentation" lake that is part of the Upper Eno water supply watershed network.. The pond borders the property for nearly 1,200 feet along the western property line. The county property east of the pond includes aloes-lying area within the 100-year floodplain. That area is identified with a "Flood Easement Line" in the County Land Records database. A narrow, linear depression drains roughly one-half of the property. A drainage ditch receives runoff fiom the surrounding uplands and from an 8-inch PVC discharge pipe (origin unknown) located about 300 feet from NW corner of the NHSC property. The narrow ditch carries water in westerly direction toward the pond.. A second ditch runs parallel to the primary ditch (20-30' apart) and travels about 500 feet before ,joining the primary ditch. The ditch becomes more stream-like as it meanders through the forest and empties into the pond at a small cove. Another small channel drains the southwest corner of property and flows into the pond. If the old roadway is improved for future use, it may be necessary to install a culvert for proper drainage. Tonoerauhy and Soils Slopes on the property are mostly gentle (2-8%) with some broader areas of moderate slope (8-15%) descending down from the uplands towards the pond.. The gentle to moderate slopes on the property are suitable for a variety of uses and do not pose a significant limitation to the property. Georgeuille soils are mapped for the upland slope in the eastern section of the property and in the far southwest corner below the pond. Abroad area of Herndon soils occurs throughout the middle portion of the property. Those soils are suited for a variety of uses, including recreation fields, Enon soils are mapped in the northwest corner of the property close to the pond.. Enon soils are suitable for some recreational uses, but not for any intensive development.. C. "Vincent Tract" (12.22 acres) The Vincent Tract is identified as Tract C on the Site Map (Figure 1). This portion of the County property features an old house (ca.. 1911) and a few associated outbuildings, all in a severely deteriorated condition. The Vincent buildings were surveyed in the early 1990s as part of a countywide architectural history inventory, and at that time the house was still occupied as a residence. An environmental site assessment (Phase I level) of the property was conducted in 2003 by Quantum Environmental, Inc. prior to the County's purchase of this site. The survey identified three aboveground fuel storage tanks and some solid household waste, which will need to be removed and disposed of properly.. The survey findings also determined that the old house might contain some materials made of asbestos, which would also need to be handled and disposed of properly. Northern (HSCJ Park Challenges and Opportunities 24 Access This property has 190 feet of frontage along NC 86 and is accessible from an unimproved (dirt and gravel) driveway leading from NC 86 to the south side of the farmhouse.. The portion of the driveway nearest NC 86 has standing water on a regular basis. From this drive, one can also access the remainder of the property.. Existing Vegetation The approximately 10 acres located behind (east of) the farmstead building complex is open land that was in agricultural use until the County purchased the tract. This area was beginning to grow up with early succession vegetation until it was recently bush hogged by the County for engineering work associated with a proposed underground wastewater treatment system for the NHSC. There is a small section of woodlands in the northeast corner of the property,. A few small trash piles can be found amongst the trees, adjacent to the neighboring properties, Tooo~raohy and Soils The farmstead building complex is sited on the highest point of the property (720 feet elevation) and about 150 feet from NC 86. From there the land slopes gradually to the east down to about 680 feet elevation at the rear property boundary.. Soils are mapped as Georgeville B and Georgeville C with good suitability for most urban and active recreational uses. Wetlands and Hvdroloev There are no streams or wetlands on this portion of the County property. VI. Opportunities and Constraints The following are existing/potential assets and constraints identified for the property: Existing and potential assets for park development include: • Existing lighted baseball/softball field (also used for youth soccer) • Existing children's playground (needs improvements) • Mature hardwood forest (suitable for nature trails) • Other Forested areas (help to buffer the park from adjacent private properties) • Compton's Pond (potential scenic and recreational amenity) • Old unimproved roadway (potential service road and/or walking trail) Potential constraints to the development of the property include: • Low-lying area east of the pond is within the 100-year floodplain • Small pm•tions of the eastern shoreline are not within the County property, which will limit access to some portions of the waterfront • Drainage ditches (2) on the northern half of the Kennedy tract • Pre-existing 60-foot easement for access to the I{ennedy tract from NC 86 (this is likely no longer an issue since Orange County owns both properties) Northern (HSC) Park Challenges and Opportun/ties 25 VII. Preliminary Concept Plan The property is well suited for the creation of the "Northern Park" around the Northern Human Services Center (NHSC) and existing public recreational uses. The co-location of the park with the NHSC offers the opportunities for providing For both indoor and outdoor leisure and recreational uses, as well as educational opportunities linking the building and the park. The Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted a Preli.minaa;y Concept Plan for the park in 2003. A copy of the Plan is provided as Figure 5. The area shown in Orange on the Plan (16 acres) is reserved for the NHSC and associated facilities, including proposed new entranceway and parking.. The area east of NC 86 ("Vincent Tract") is reserved for a new wastewater treatment system for the NI3SC, The potential use of that site for other purposes will be explored in the future, and is outside of the scope of this park planning effort, The County is, however, interested in learning more about the history and use of the Vincent farmstead. The area shown in Yellow (12-15 acres) includes the existing recreational facilities (ballfield and playground) and the portion of the Kennedy Tract that is more suitable for additional active recreation facilities. The pine woodlands are in an area more disturbed from previous uses, and was probably in agricultural use 20-25 ,years ago. The area shown in Green (27-30 acres) is reserved for low-impact recreational uses,. The upland portions offer a mature hardwood forest setting suitable for wallting trails and a sheltered picnic area close to the existing and proposed active recreation areas. Trails could lead visitors from that area of the forest down to Compton Pond.. The western portion of the property is wooded with large pine trees and young hardwoods, A few small creeks flow through the forest before entering the pond. Walking trails might need to include small bridges or a boardwalk in some places,. (Approximate trail locations are shown on Figure 5 as examples..) The area near Compton Pond offers scenic views of the large pond itself, as well as the open pasture and woodlands along the opposite shorelines.. The best views are from high ground located above the eastern shore, south of the cove. Large trees provide shade for a potential picnic area or benches.. An existing trail follows the shoreline of the pond within five feet of the water's edge. Relocating the trail to higher ground would reduce shoreline erosion and trail maintenance needs. The peninsula located just north of the cove offers another nice setting for benches and overlooks. VIII. Summary The following are the existing facilities and proposed new facilities envisioned thus far for each section of the property shown in the Preliminary Concept Plan: NHSC & Associated Facilities (Orange): - Center building (existing) - Front entranceway to Center building (new) - Panting areas (improved) - Wastewater treatment system (expanded, relocated) Northern (HSC) Park Challenges and Opportun/ties 26 Active Recreation Area (Yellow): - Ball fields (existing and proposed additional fields) - Playground (improved? expanded?) - Basketball court? - Wallcing trail? (hard surface) - Picnic shelter(s)? - Other? Low-Impact Recreation Areas (Green): - Hiking trails (natural) - Benches? - Picnic areas? (tables and grills?) - Water activities? - Scenic overlooks at pond? - Other? View of Compton's Pond from dam; County park property is along right shoreline,