HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-03-2005-9cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 3, 2005
Action Agenda
Item No. ~-c.
ECT: Northern Park Master Plan
DEPARTMENT: ERCD, Recreation & Parks
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Revised Master Plan
INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Stancil, 245-2590
Lori Taft, 245-2660
Marabeth Carr. 969-3880
PURPOSE: To consider adoption of a master plan for the Northern Park (at the Northern
Human Services Center).
BACKGROUND: On May 3, the Board received the proposed Master Plan for the Northern
Park (at Northern Human Services Center), which is located on lands adjoining the Northern
Human Services Center on NC 86 North, seven miles north of Hillsborough.
The proposed master plan far this park, identified in the adopted 1988 Parks Plan and
ftanded by voter-approved bonds from 2001, included: two new softball/baseball fields and
the retention of the existing field; retention of the hardwood forest areas identified for low-
impact recreation with a loop trail; a relocated play area adjacent to the Center and a skate
park; basketball courts, horseshoes and restrooms in conjunction with a proposed picnic
shelter; amulti-purpose fields that could be used for a variety of activities, including tee-ball
and other field sports; other picnic areas and shelters and tennis courts.
Recognizing that the entirety of the master plan design would go beyond available fianding,
citizens participating in the design meetings identified their top priorities for facilities to be
built at this time that were in the general range of the projected funds. These included (in
addition to the needed roads and parking outlined on the attached revised master plan): the
new baseball softball field in the northern part of the park, the multi-purpose fields, the nature
trail and measured walking track, basketball courts, the skate facility, picnic shelters and
tables/benches, and the play area near the NHS Center.
On August 29`h, the Board discussed the proposed plan and received cost estimates,
information about the skate park, and an assessment of future operation and management
(O&M) costs. The Board provided the following direction to staff on August 29:
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• Look again at the parking lot configuration and possible changes to enhance access
• After discussions of liability and location, deferral of the skate park to a future phase
(to be deleted if subsequent park designs find a more suitable location)
• Realignment of the pathway around the fields to provide for the measured walking
track in this area
Staff has incorporated these changes into the revised master plan (attached). In order to
disperse parking areas and allow far parking closer to the playing fields, a future parking lot
has been "swapped" with the existing one. The skate park is now shown as a passible future
facility, and the track around the fields has been oriented as a 1/3-mile track that would be
backlit from the playing field light standards.
Once a master plan has been approved, the next step would be the creation of a site plan to
be submitted to the Orange County Planning Department. Following the site plan,
construction drawings, engineering specifications and bid documents would be prepared,
followed by a bid award and construction.
Staff plans to return with additional information about a project timetable, operating and
maintenance costs and updated construction cost estimates at a subsequent meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with adoption of the master
plan. Operating and management costs and construction casts would be addressed at a
subsequent meeting.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board review and approve
the Northern Park Master Plan, with changes as needed, and authorize staff to create and
submit a site plan application far the park based on the master plan and proposed Phase I
facilities as shown.