HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2024-051- Greene Tract – Community Engagement, Master Plan, and Next Steps Attachment 1
RES # RES - 2024 - 051 JO ,
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE 107 -ACRE PORTION
OF THE GREENE TRACT IN JOINT OWNERSHIP
WHEREAS , in 1984 , Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill jointly
purchased the property know as the Greene Tract ( 167 acres , more or less ) ; and
WHEREAS , in 2000 , title to 60 acres of this property was deeded exclusively to the
Orange County Solid Waste Enterprise Fund for non - landfill solid waste purposes under
provisions of the 1999 Interlocal Agreement for Solid Waste Management ; and
WHEREAS , at that time , the remaining 107 acres were retained in joint ownership by
the three governments (with the intent that future land uses of the property would be
determined at a future time ) ; and
WHEREAS , in 2002 , Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill
adopted the 2002 Resolution which called for approximately 86 acres for open space
and 18 acres for affordable housing on the jointly- owned land ; and
WHEREAS, the Greene Tract is part of the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood where
the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill have researched market development potential
and zoning to implement a planning program in the overall area ; and
WHEREAS , over the last 20 years , various joint planning studies , including the Historic
Rogers Road Neighborhood Task Force Report and Mapping Our Community ' s Future ,
and collaborations with the community and school district have suggested land use and
acreage needs ; and
WHEREAS , the 60 - acre parcel (designated as the Headwaters Preserve by the Orange
County Board of Commissioners ) was purchased by Orange County from the Solid
Waste Enterprise Fund in 2016 ; and
WHEREAS , in 2020 the three property owners adopted the 2020 Greene Tract
Resolution for a Path Forward Process including the following :
• Initiate an environmental assessment of the property to consider designating the
most environmentally sensitive areas as the Headwaters Preserve
• Initiate a Memorandum of Understanding between the three property owners
related to decision - making process ; and
WHEREAS , the Chapel HilkCarrboro City Schools , in a 2019 letter, indicated continued
interest in designating a school site on the Greene Tract ; and
WHEREAS , the three jurisdictions conceptually agreed to the following land use
designations and adopted a resolution in 2021 with a land use map agreeing to :
• Approximately 22 acres for joint preserve ;
• A minimum of 16 acres for public school site and public recreation site ;
• Approximately 66 acres for housing /mixed use ; and
WHEREAS , Orange County along with the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill
contracted with a community engagement firm in 2023 and the efforts included 3
community workshops , monthly newsletters , Engagement Team meetings , stakeholder
interviews , and a Community Engagement Insights Report ; and
WHEREAS , Orange County along with the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill also
contracted with a design firm to create a Master Plan for the Greene-Tract that reflects
the community ' s vision , as expressed during the 2024 engagement events ; and
WHEREAS , the intent of the process is to create a shared vision with the community
and elevate the voices of the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood to ensure their
priorities are part of the Master Plan ; and
WHEREAS , the Master Plan process has included three interactive design workshops
with community input and is before the elected boards for their approval ; and
WHEREAS , the elected boards ' action is an important step in the process in shaping
and creating the Master Plan for the Greene Tract , a framework for future growth ; and
WHEREAS , on September 5 , 2024 , the Board of County Commissioners , with the
support of the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill , approved entering into a contract with
the Development Finance Initiative ( DFI ) at the UNC School of Government to conduct
a financial feasibility analysis of the Master Plan ; and
WHEREAS , the zoning approval process , with the Town of Chapel Hill as the approving
agency, is scheduled to commence soon ; and
WHEREAS , each elected board will consider this resolution in October 2024 , receiving
presentations from the community engagement consultant and the design firm
consultant , and providing direction to their respective staff;
NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of County Commissioners :
1 . Approves the Master Plan , as shown in on the attached pages for the 1071smacre joint-
owned portion of the Greene Tract which designates and defines the following :
a . Mixed income housing opportunities with rental and ownership choices and
options for seniors and veterans ;
b . 22 acres of jointly- owned property as preserve ;
c . Network of transportation facilities ;
d . Recreation opportunities ;
e . Makers - space , small business opportunities , and community space for
seniors , teens , and /or veterans ;
f. 16 - acre public school and public recreation site .
2 . Continues to solicit input from the community, governing boards , specialized staff,
and housing partners during the financial feasibility analysis and development
agreement process .
Upon motion of Commissioner 0.2r COE seconded by
Commissioner aSA ` W , the foregoing amendments
were adopted this the day of UbMVP0Lr 20240
AOUA
nyy aa ( rTA
G Spit 1 ' M
t d�
z. « Laura Jensen , Cle , Orange County Commissioners
YZY
VN
r, 4