HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-17-2003-10a11
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 17, 2003
Action Agenda
Item No. ~~- -
SUBJECT• Chapel Hill Township Park and Educational Campus -Status Report
DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Conservation
ATTACHMENT(S):
1) Timeline of Activities
2) Master Plan Map
INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Stancil, 245-2590
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To receive a status report on the Chapel Hill Township Park and Educational
Campus project.
BACKGROUND: From September 30, 2002 to May 22, 2003, the 23-member Chapel Hill
Township Park and Educational Campus (CHATPEC) Work Group has been meeting to
create a proposed Master Plan for the 193-acre County-owned site near the intersection of
Eubanks Road and Old 86.
On May 22, the Work Group held its final meeting and made several minor revisions to the
draft Master Plan map. Work Group members were allowed to submit proposed revisions to
the Master Plan report document through May 27, and these are being compiled by staff and
will be shared with the co-chairs for final review and decisions on inclusion. Proposed park
phasing and the creation of cost estimates have not yet been prepared. A full and complete
report is slated to be presented to the Board in August.
In the interim, a revised Master Plan map has been prepared by Design Specialist Kimberly
Siran. The Master Plan design adheres to the Board's adopted Preliminary Concept Plan,
and contains a 96-acre park with a balance of low-impact and active recreation. While the
majority of the land area in the park is left in a natural state of proposed for low-impact
recreation, the active recreation portion of the park features a wide variety of playing fields
and activities, and if built would constitute the largest active recreation node in the County.
Six playing fields have been designed, along with a variety of court sports, a senior activities
2
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 has
not been designed in detail, and could feature a second elementary school or other school
facility, to be determined at a later date.
A 21-acre area that was designated as "Potential School Site" contains an archaeological site
of some significance, and the Master Plan proposes only a tentative trail section in this area
pending further research.
After the Board considers the Master Plan and approves the next steps of the project, staff
plans to submit the first phase of the project to the Town of Carrboro to begin the Town's
approval process. Preliminary discussions along these lines are already underway.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None associated with this status report. Funding for phase I of the
park was included in the 2001 bond in the amount of $1.2 million. The Work Group has
discussed, briefly, the possibility of requesting Soccer Superfund appropriations to help build
additional facilities in Phase I.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive this report as
information at this time, providing any needed direction to staff about the next steps for the
project.
Timeline of CHATPEC Project Activities
September 30 Initial Meeting, review of Work Group mission and charge and pre-
concept lan
Throughout Site visits of the property by Work Group members
October
October 29 Approval of ground rules, sharing of site visit observations, review of
staff's "Challenges and Opportunities" report (with detailed site
information and maps)
November 12 Continued discussion of Challenges and Opportunities report, process
for remainder of proj ect, further site visits. Town/County parks
advisory boards asked to identify and r ort back on community needs
December Meeting cancelled due to ice storm. Work continues of detailed
too aphic survey and cultural/archaeological surveys of site
February 13 Report on community needs as identified by County/Town advisory
boards. Review of draft Master List of potential site facilities (for
future discussion)
March 13 Presentations on Joint Planning Area, Carrboro Northern Transition
Area Study and OWASA utility plans. "Dot-voting exercise"
conducted to identify potential facilities to be excluded from master
list (non-preferential exercise). Review of proposal to create
subcommittees. Pictures from Wilmington park/campus shared.
March 27 Preferential cumulative voting dot exercise conducted. Subcommittee
process reviewed. Initial subcommittee breakout sessions held, with
reporting back from both groups
April 10 Work Group breaks into subcommittees -Parks Subcommittee begins
design charette; Educational Campus Subcommittee reviews
infrastructure issues and Carrboro plan requirements. Group
reconvenes to share work and information
Apri130 Preliminary archaeological findings shared with Work Group (rhyolite
quarry). Both subcommittees continue with charette designs
(Educational Campus begins charette, Township Park continues).
Grou reconvenes to share work and information.
May 8 Biological Resource evaluation shared with Work Group (already
incorporated into designs). Draft Concept Plan shared with Township
Park Subcommittee, Educational Campus Subcommittee continues
charette and comes up with conceptual plan.
May 22 Draft Master Plan Map and Report presented to Work Group, based on
previous discussions and plans. Phasing of facilities discussed.
10 meetings in 6 months (no meetings December-January)