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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 05-20-2004-5ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 20, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. ~__ SUBJECT: Discussion of Plans for Twin Creeks (Moniese Nomp) DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Conservation ATTACHMENT 1) Master Plan Draft Map 2) List of Previous Discussions /Other Issues 3) Possible Schedule of Activities 4) Letter from Carrbaro Mayor Nelson INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stancil, 245-2590 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To review and discuss the Master Plan (received on 12/9/2003) far Twin Creeks (Moniese Nomp), a 193-acre park and educational campus site located north of Carrboro, BACKGROUND: From September 30, 2002 to May 22, 2003, the 23-member Chapel Hill Township Park and Educational Campus (CHATPEC) Work Group met to create a proposed Master Plan far this 193-acre County-owned site near the intersection of Eubanks Road and Old 86. This Master Plan project was the largest design project ever undertaken by Orange County and was undertaken using a process and set of guiding principles adopted by the Board. Significant attention was paid to the potential sharing of facilities between the educational campus and the park, and several playing field and parking areas are located with this in mind. The design for the site, following site analysis and group discussions of needed/desired facilities, was accomplished via design charettes conducted with the two subcommittees of the Work Group (Educational Campus Subcommittee and Township Park Subcommittee), and subsequent discussions of the Work Group as a whole. On May 22, the Work Group held its final meeting and adopted the attached report, with the opportunity to submit subsequent proposed revisions to the report (these suggested changes were compiled over the summer by staff and are included as an appendix to the report). On June 26, a brief status report was presented to the Board. The Master Plan design contains a 96-acre park with a balance of low-impact and active recreation. While the majority of the total land area in the park is left in a natural state or proposed for low-impact recreation, there is a substantial active recreation portion of the park. The design for the park would make this the largest active recreation node in the 2 County. Six playing fields have been designed, along with a variety of court sports, a senior activities area, picnic shelters and other amenities. Several meadow areas, in keeping with the Olmsteadian vision for the park, are also proposed for flexible open space uses. The proposed Educational Campus on the northernmost 76 acres features a co-located elementary and middle school with associated facilities. A separate "pod" in the campus was identified but not designed, and the Plan suggests that it could feature a second elementary school or another facility, to be determined at a later date. The remaining 21-acre part of the site (designated in the Pre-Concept Plan as "Potential School Site") was discovered to contain an archaeological site of some significance, and the Master Plan proposes only a tentative trail section in the perimeter of this area, pending further research. On December 9, the Board received the Master Plan report and selected a name for the site - Twin Creeks (Moniese Nomp*). The Board agreed to consider the Master Plan at a work session after the first of the year, and asked staff to send the Master Plan to the Town of Carrboro. On March 29, an update on the project was provided at the Joint Planning Area public hearing. Staff has developed a summary listing of previous Board comments and discussion points (attached), which also includes additional information related to the site and Master Plan since the report. On April 29, the Town of Carrboro forwarded a letter asking the County to conduct a public input session for additional public comment, including the possibility of conducting a charrette. This concept had already been considered and is reflected in the attached proposed schedule of activities. This item is presented tonight to allow the Board to.° 1. Review the Master Plan and previous comments and discussion points (color copies of the draft map will be available at the meeting) 2. Discuss potential revisions fo the Master Plan and provide direction to staff on changes (maps for potential revisions will be available for this purpose) 3. Consider a public input session to gather further public comment on the Master Plan (either as is or revised based on BOCC comment) 4. Consider a schedule for actions later this year to culminate in a Conditional Use Permit application to Carrboro for Phase 1 of the park. Once the Board has completed revisions and changes to the Master Plan, staff will prepare the materials for the required Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application to the Tawn of Carrboro for phase I of the park. The CUP application will require additional level of design detail not yet developed. Town review of this application is estimated to take 12 months. - Tutelo-Saponi for Twin Creeks. Pronounced Mo-nee-ay-say nom-p FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no impact associated with discussion of the report. Funding for Phase I of the park was included in the 2001 Parks and Open Space bond in the amount of $1.2 million. $200,000 was included in the first bond sale in 2002, and an additional $200,000 is proposed for FY 2003-04. The remaining $800,000 is proposed for FY 2004-05. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: • Review and discuss the Master Plan for the site; Identify potential revisions or changes to the Master Plan that are desired, providing guidance to staff; Consider a possible public comment session for feedback on the Master Plan (either revised or existing); and Authorize staff to begin the preparation of revisions to the Master Plan and the CUP application over the summer for review and eventual submittal to Carrboro for Phase of the park. Chapel Hill Township Parlc --, and Educational Campus r~ Draft Master Plan 1.100..1 Revised 6 I? 03 Orany+c County Emvoninent and Resource Conscn~mion Dcpmnnsm . ]. I.ii"l.li 5'na Twin Creeks / Moniese Nomp* Issues Previously Raised by the Board for Further Discussion • Location of the proposed Lake Hogan Farm Road connector road segment • Layout of the educational campus (traditional design versus compact/smart growth design) • Shared park entranceway with proposed new subdivision (Villages at Berkeley) to the south and timing of road improvements? • The degree to which sharing of facilities between park and educational campus was addressed (fields, track, parking, community gym, other) • Plans for extension of water and sewer service • Plans for public transportation service • Parlc Phasing Plan and Cost Estimates Other Topics Raised By Individual Worlc Group Members at Time of Final Report (June 2003) • Swap educational campus site with park site? • Equestrian trails? • Outdoor swimming pool? • Alternative school as part of educational campus? There were a number of other suggested wording changes et al -listed in Appendix 7 of the report. - Tufelo-Saponi for Twin Creeks, Pronounced Mo-nee-ay-say nom-p ?/6/04 Possible Timetable (Tentative) for Twin Creeks (Moniese Nomp*) Park ~. BOCC review of Master Plan and May-June, 2004 discussion of ossible revisions Public Input on Master Plan June or August, 2004 New Zandscape Architect Starts Mid-late June Staff begins work on draft Phase I Sumner 2004 and Conditional LTse Permit detailed plans (all contingent on future revisions) BOCC makes revisions to Master August-September,2004 Plan and ado is Plan CL1P application for Phase I of park October, 2004 submitted to Carrboro Discussion of educational cam us? November-December 2004? Town approval of CUP application October 2005 Pre-Bid Process (construction October, 2005 -February, 2006 drawings, bid documents pre ared) Construction Bids solicited for Phase March, 2006 I Construction of Phase I Spring 2006 - S ring 2007 Parlc Phase I Opening? (tentative) Spring 2007 All times are tentative and based on best available information at this time * -Pronounced Mo-nee-ay-say-nom-p. Tutelo-Saponi for Twin Creeks. NORTH CAROLINA ~~ ~ ~~~~-'~;~ ~_.. WWW TOW NOPCARROORO ORO U Apri129, 2004 II ~' I r~'l~~l' 0 2 2004 Ban-y Jacobs, Chair Orange County Board of Connnissioners P.O. Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Commissioner .Jacobs: Now that the Chapel I-Iill Township Park and Educational Campus (CHATPEC) Work Group has developed a master plan for Twin Creeks, the Carrboro Boaz-d of Aldermen and I are requesting that the County conduct a chazrette or another public input process for Orange County residents. Being the lazgest active recreational facility in Orange County, this park will be a significant addition to the recreational amenities available in our County. We would like for a greater number of Orange County residents to have an opportunity to participate in the design process. Please let me know what role the Town of Carrboro can play to ensure the success of our proposed public meeting. We appreciate your consideration and look forward to working with the County on this wonderful addition to our community. Sincerely, ~~~,t~ Michael Nelson, Mayor cc: Carrboro Boazd of Aldermen Steve Stewart lolm Linlc 307 WEST MAIN STREET CARRBOR O. NC 27510 (979) 942-8547 FAX (919) 918-4456 TDD (8001 826-7653 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER