HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-02-2003-6c2ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 2, 2003
SUBJECT: Northern Human Services Center Park at Cedar Grove
Action Age a
Item No. .. -
DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office, ERCD, PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
Recreation and Parks
ATTACHMENT INFORMATION CONTACT:
1) Park Master Plan Process David Stancil, 245-2590
2) Draft Park Preliminary Concept Plan 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 and review plans for the creation of a Park Master
Plan for the Northern (Human Services Center) Park at Cedar Grove.
BACKGROUND: In June 2001, the Board received a report entitled "Northern Human
Services Center -Future Use Plan." As a result of this report, funds were appropriated in the
2001 Parks and Open Space bond for the creation of a park at the 48-acre site, which is
located on NC 86 seven miles north of Hillsborough. During the same timeframe, a BOCC
Task Force comprised of Commissioners Brown and Halkiotis continued working with staff to
develop plans for upgrades to the Northern Human Services Center building and wastewater
system. On May 6, 2003 the Board authorized the purchase of 12.2 acres of land across
from the Center for upgrades to the wastewater system and other future uses (to be
determined).
On June 3 of this year, the Board considered and adopted a proposed process for the
Northern Park. As a part of that review, the Board asked that information be presented after
the summer break regarding:
• A timetable of activities for the Park Master Plan (based on the June 3 action)
• The draft Preliminary Concept Plan for the park
• An update on proposed upgrades to the Center and wastewater system
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The Master Plan process for Northern Park will utilize a "community meeting" approach to the
park design, where Board members Brown and Halkiotis and staff will work with citizens and
other interested parties at a series of community meetings to develop a Park Master Plan for
the Board's review. The Master Plan is expected to be complete by December 2003.
The Board may also wish to consider adopting the Preliminary Concept Plan for the park, as
called for in the adopted process. As used in previous projects, this Preliminary Plan helps
provide guiding parameters for the park design. The Preliminary Concept Plan identifies
general areas for categories of uses, which is used in the Master Plan process to refine and
guide project details.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds for construction of the Northern Park were included in the
November 2001 Parks and Open Space bond in the amount of $1,200,000. Of that amount,
$200,000 is currently available (appropriated in FY 2002-03). The Board's September 2002
CIP/Bond Sales Timetable anticipated the remaining funds to be allocated with $500,000 in
both FY 2003-04 and FY 2004-05. Approximately $32,000 of this amount has been
expended to date for a topographic and natural resource survey of the property (approved by
the BOCC on August 19) needed for park design as well as work associated with the
wastewater treatment system required for building facility improvements.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) Review the information provided and provide feedback as desired, and
2) Adopt a Preliminary Concept Plan for the Park, with revisions as deemed appropriate, to
be used in the Master Plan process.
Master Plan Process
Northern Human
Services Center Park
Adopted June 3, 2003
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A. Site Information
Size: 48 acres (including existing buildings and fields), with
an additional 12.2 acres located across NC b'6.
Location: Co-located with Northern Human Services Center,
seven miles north of Hillsborough on NC 86 in Cedar
Grove Township
Status: Existing Northern Human Services Center and one ballfield and
playground on original 8 acres. County acquired additional 40
acres in 1998. Draft Preliminary Concept Plan for park included
in Northern Human Services center report of 2001.
Funding: $1,200,000
Source: 2001 Parks Bond (200,000 appropriated in .FY 02-03)
B. Proposed Timetable of Actions
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Board approves charge and rocess, June 3, 2003
Topographic and culturaUarchaeological surveys August-October, 2003
a roved and conducted
Board reviews timetable and adopts August 28, 2003
Preliminary Concept Plan
Staff develops base maps and site analysis July-October, 2003
(O ortunities and Constraints Anal sis)
Initial Community Meeting -Base Maps and October, 2003
Opportunities and Constraints Analysis
(preceded by notices and public service
announcements)
Second Community Meeting -Community November, 2003
Interests for the Park
Third Community Meeting -Design Charette November 2003
Fourth Community Meeting -Community Early December, 2003
Forum /final lan revisions
Master Plan recommendations completed December 31, 2003
Board of Commissioners reviews and approves January-February 2004
Master Plan, instructs staff to develop
construction documents and drawings
Site plan submitted to Planning Department, March-Apri:L, 2004
construction drawings re ared
Develop bid documents, solicit bids May, 2004
BOCC a roves contract for construction Ma -June 2004
Construction of Park July 2004-August 2006
' ~ I1.
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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 the end of
December 2003.
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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 for approval
• The facilities to be designed and built should recognize the co-
loration 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