Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-19-2002-6cORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 19, 2002 SUBJECT: Adams Tract -Joint Preservation DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource Conservation Action Agenda Item No. ions PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1) Questions to Carrboro 2) Carrboro Response 3) Staff Memo INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stancil, 245-2590 4) November 11 Materials TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To receive a special presentation and invite public comment on the potential for a joint Town/County/State partnership to protect the 29-acre Adams Tract in Carrboro for future open space and greenway use. BACKGROUND: In May of this year, the Town of Carrboro transmitted a request for County participation in the acquisition of a 29-acre tract of land along Bolin Creek inside the Town known as the "Adams Tract." Specifically, the Town asked if Orange County would appropriate funds to be used as local government matching funds for a grant application to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. In October, the Town asked that the portion of the 2001 Parks and Open Space bond planned for Carrboro greenways be used to provide matching funds toward the acquisition of this property. On November 11`h, County staff included this request and an evaluation of the Adams Tract in the Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan for 2002-03. As a result of that discussion, the Board asked that: 1. A set of clarifying questions be transmitted to the Town of Carrboro regarding potential participation in this acquisition (please see Attachment 1), and 2. A special presentation be scheduled for November 19th, inviting Town staff and Board members to make a presentation on the significance of this property to the Town and County open space networks and natural areas. 2 On November 12th, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen discussed the County's questions and submitted a response (Attachment 2). Additional questions asked of County staff are provided in a memo (Attachment 3). As noted on November 11th, timing is a factor for the Town, as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund will be considering the Town's grant application on December 10th. Staff has confirmed with the Clean Water Trust Fund staff that a response on matching funds by December 3rd will be sufficient. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no financial impacts associated with the special presentation. However, there would be financial impacts if the County participated in the acquisition. The property has recently been appraised at $1.35 million. The owners previous asking price (prior to the recent appraisal) was $2.0 million. The Town's grant application to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund requested $958,050. The differential between the appraisal and the grant request is $391,950 (the differential between the previous asking price and the grant application is $1,041,950). If the Board chooses to participate in the acquisition, there are many alternative methods that could be selected. It should be noted that the BOCC-approved sale of 2001 bonds scheduled for March 2003 includes $400,000 for greenway development. Three of these methods would be: 1. In keeping with such conditions as the Board may wish to apply to the County's involvement, agree to appropriate $400,000 in this fiscal year (from the 2001 bond - greenways), and up to $350,000 in future years toward the acquisition. 2. In keeping with such conditions as the Board may wish to apply to County involvement, agree to appropriate $400,000 (and/or up to $750,000 over a period of years) toward the purchase price, with the amount prorated (based on the percentage of expected use) from the 2001 bond (a portion from the greenways project, and a portion from the Lands Legacy Fund). The Town could be asked to match/repay the amount from the Lands Legacy Fund. The actual proportions of use would need to be determined. 3. In keeping with such conditions as the Board may wish to apply to County involvement, appropriate up to $750,000 in either of the above two methods, asking that the Town of Carrboro provide matching funds to reimburse the County over a period of five fiscal years. There are also other potential means of addressing the County's financial involvement. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the special presentation, receive public comment, and discuss whether to participate financially in the acquisition -including potential terms or conditions of County involvement (such as conservation easements or matching funds). If the Board decides to consider participation in the project, an action item could be scheduled for December 2"d Board consideration. 3 Attachment 1 Adams Tract Questions and Clarifications Questions to Town of Carrboro: Please clarify all intended uses of the property (all 29 acres). Where exactly is the route of the proposed Bolin Creek Greenway -which side of Bolin Creek would it follow in this area? Who would own the property? If Carrboro is to own it, would Carrboro grant a conservation easement to Orange County that stipulated prohibited future uses for purposes other than open space and greenways? Would conservation easements (either Clean Water or potential County easement) preclude the current mountain bike use? Is there or will there be a plan that has a connector road going through the Adams tract? (Also clarify this with UNC). Would Carrboro contact OWASA about utilizing utility easements for greenways? Does the Town have any money to put toward the acquisition? If the combination of grants and County contribution does not cover the full amount of purchase, where will other funds come from? 4 Attachment 2 Adams Tract Questions and Responses Questions to Town of Carrboro: 1. Please clarify all intended uses of the property (all 29 acres). To provide environmental protection for surface waters and urban drinking water supplies and establishing a network of riparian greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational uses • To allow passive recreational uses of the Property including walking, biking, and fishing • To allow public access to the property for the purpose of conducting educational tours, scientific studies, maintenance of the Property, and any other purposes consistent with maintaining the conservation value. 2. Where exactly is the route of the proposed Bolin Creek Greenway -which side of Bolin Creek would it follow in this area? The Route has not been determined, but it is anticipated that the greenway will follow the creek corridor. 3. Who would own the property? If Carrboro is to own it, would Carrboro grant a conservation easement to Orange County that stipulated prohibited future uses for purposes other than open space and greenways? The State of North Carolina will be the Grantee and holder of the conservation easement for acres purchased with Clean Water Management Trust (CWMT) funds. The CWMT Fund is authorized by Article 13A, Chapter 113 of the General Statutes of North Carolina ("N.C.G.S.") to finance projects and to acquire land and interests in land, including conservation easements for riparian buffers for the purposes of providing environmental protection for surface waters and urban drinking water supplies and establishing a network of riparian greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational uses. For the remaining acres purchased with Orange County funds, The Town of Carrboro would grant Orange County a conservation easement. 4. Would conservation easements (either Clean Water or potential County easement) preclude the current mountain bike use? While they would not preclude mountain bike use, minimizing stream impact might necessitate an altered use pattern. 5. Is there or will there be a plan that has a connector road going through the Adams tract? (Also clarify this with UNC). A connector road is not planned on the property. 6. Would Carrboro contact OWASA about utilizing utility easements for greenways? Presumably, any use for greenways of property not owned by the Town would require securing from the property owner an additional easement for that use independent of any OWASA easement, and subject to OWASA approval for compatible uses. 7. Does the Town have any money to put toward the acquisition? No 5 8. If the combination of grants and County contribution does not cover the full amount of purchase, where will other funds come from? The Adams Property Preservation Committee met on October 29 and produced the list of potential funding sources below: • PTA's and schools • Friends of Carrboro Recreation and Parks • Friends of Bolin Creek • Botany Department at UNC • Partnering with an affordable housing agency • Wetlands Preservation Fund • Ask Adams family to "donate" $250,000 of the value to the town • Ask Adams family to accept $250,000 payment in 5 years • DOT improvement money for greenways and bikeways • Triangle Land Conservancy • Land and Water Conservation Fund • Performance Bikes or other corporate donors The Committee will meet again on November 14 to decide which ones to pursue. 6 Attachment 3 MEMORANDUM To: John Link County Manager From: David Stancil Environment and Resource Conservation Director Date: November 14, 2002 Re: Adams Tract Questions As per the Board's discussion of this project on November 11th, I conveyed the list of clarifications and questions (Attachment 1) to the Town of Carrboro on November 12tH There were a few additional questions asked of County staff at the worksession: What was the intent of the 2001 Bond Funds for greenways - to construct greenways or acquire land for greenways? In looking back at the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force discussions and the subsequent bond education materials, the answer appears to be both, with a priority toward expanding the greenways system. Both Chapel Hill and Carrboro's original requests envisioned both construction and land acquisition, with an emphasis on the former. The actual bond question was not specific to uses beyond asking voters to consider $20 million for parks an open space. The bond education materials defined the $1.75 million for "Joint Town/County Open Space" as follows: "Add to existing greenways system -Chapel Hill and Carrboro" (For Bond Counsel) Can funds identified in the Parks and Open Space bond for greenways be used for the acquisition of land for greenways? This question has been transmitted to the County's bond counsel, with an answer to be provided at the meeting on November 19th. How does the proposed timetable affect the Town's Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant? I have spoken with Francine Durso, Deputy Director of the Trust Fund, and verified that a decision on matching funds that is received by December 3`d would be in time for the consideration of the Town's application on December 10th ORANGE COUNTY ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM T0: Board of Commissioners John Link, County Manager From: David Stancil, Environment and Resource Conservation Director Date: November 6, 2002 Re: Town of Carrboro Request for Funding - "Adams Tract" In May of this year, the Town of Carrboro conveyed a request to the County for $500,000 to serve as local government match .for a Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant application. The Town's grant application requests $958,050 from the State toward the purchase of a 28.9-acre tract along .Bolin Creek in Carrboro known as the "Adams Tract." This letter is provided as Attachment 1. In October, Carrboro Mayor Mike Nelson and Alderman Alex Zaffron met with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Commissioners to reiterate interest in this request, and asked that the funds allocated in the 2001 Parks and Open Space bond for Carrboro greenways be allocated toward this purchase. A letter to this effect is provided as Attachment 2. The tract does contain land along Bolin Creek that could be part of the eventual Bolin Creek Greenway. It also contains approximately 10 acres that are within an identified N.C. Natural Heritage site. To explore this project's potential fit with the Lands .Legacy program, I have evaluated the proposal in light of how it meets the Joint Parks Guidelines and Criteria (adopted by the Board in 1999 for the evaluation of potential projects). These same criteria are incorporated into the Lands Legacy Program for evaluating parkland and open space projects. The relationship to the proposed "Planning Process for Joint County/Town Parks and Open Space Projects" has not been explored, since this document relates to facility development and has just been transmitted by the Intergovernmental Parks (IP) Work Group for the Board's consideration. Adopted Joint Parks Guidelines and Criteria (Note: The Town has addressed its own review of how the project meets these criteria as part of Attachment 1). Environment and Resource Conservation PO Box 8189 / 306-A Revere Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 245-2590 V J Orange County Joint Parks Guidelines and Criteria (adopted 12/7/99, S/3/00) 1. Basic Guidelines for All Joint Town/County projects (adopted 5/3/00): A. Projects should meet multiple needs and serve multiple jurisdictions (i.e., community, district or regional parks - 25 to 200 acres or more -that offer a wide variety of activities, including active and low-impact recreation) B. Projects that meet multiple criteria receive higher weighting 2. Parks Proiect Evaluation Criteria (adopted 12/7/99) Criteria Does the project have existing matching funds from a requesting jurisdiction, with the expectation of at least a 1:1 match in funding? No. The Town has not identified any funds of its own for the grant, and is asking the County to provide the matchin funds from the 2001 bond funds allocated for Carrboro reenwa s. Is there existence of prior partnerships and previous commitments to the same entity? Yes. Carrboro and Oran a Count have worked to ether on Smith Middle School la in field Is there a relationship between the project and the inventory of existing facilities and lands (1999 Joint Master Recreation and Parks report) Yes, the site contains frontage along Bolin Creek, a future greenway route, and contains a portion of an identified Natural Heritage site (natural area). However, clarification is needed from the Town on whether the future Bolin Creek Greenwa extension would be on this side of Bolin Creek. Is the land owned b a overnment enti ? No, currentl in rivate ownershi . Is there potential for grants and other funding opportunities? Yes. The Town has submitted a grant application to the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund and plans to submit a rant re uest to the Land and water Conservation Fund in 2003. What is the cost of the project, relative to available County resources? The most recent appraisal of the property shows a market price of $1.35 million. The owner has previously indicated an askin rice of $2 million. If completion of an existing project, is there an adopted facility plan? Yes. The Town does have a greenways plan in both its adopted Recreation and parks Master Plan, and the ado ted Northern Stud Area Land Use Plan. Does the project contain a site identified in the Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats, Orange County, N.C.? Yes, approximately 10 acres is within site 601 (Bolin Creek), a large identified natural area and a NC Natural Herita a site. Is the planned park use compatible with adjacent land uses? Yes. The proposal to use the site in its natural state with a greenway is consistent with residential areas to the west and the undeveloped Horace Williams tract and other lands to the north. It is bounded by the railroad on the east. Is the proposed intensity of land use appropriate for the surrounding area? Yes, the proposed use is for conservation and a otential trail. The surroundin areas are residential and/or undevelo ed. What is the geographic location of the project relative to the area to be served (is it a central location for the target population), as well as the location relative to the number of people served? The Adams Tract is located within and adjacent to densel - o ulated residential areas in the center of Carrboro. Does the project promote continuity of wildlife corridors, greenways and linear parks? Yes, the acquisition and preservation of this tract would add to the open space network along Bolin Creek, and eventually add to the Bolin Creek Greenwa . Environment and Resource Conservation PO Box 8181 / 306-A Revere Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 245-2590 q Is the land ad'acent to new or existin schools? Yes, the site is near Carrboro Elements School. Is the land for potential active recreation suitable and appropriate for the planned uses (i.e., avoids wetlands and environmentally-sensitive lands)? N/A. No active recreation proposed. The site would not be suitable for active recreation due to stream corridor and natural area. Will the acquisition further purposes of Upper Eno and New Hope Corridor preservation efforts (if applicable)? N/A - but the acquisition will further efforts to add to the Bolin Creek corridor (which is part of Jordan Lake watershed . Is access (transportation) to the proposed site safe and easily-accomplished? Potentially yes. Access could be accomplished through adjacent Wilson Park, eliminating illegal parking along Estes Drive Extension, which now occurs. Conclusion As shown above, the proposal meets most of the criteria for joint parks and open space projects, but does not meet all. For example, the primary criterion calling fora 50% match by the requesting local government is not met. However, other important criteria, such as the protection of identified Natural Heritage sites, are met. As a land acquisition project, this project is not applicable to the IP Work Group's recently-recommended policy ("Planning Process for Joint County/Town Open Space Projects"), although some provisions of that document may be prudent to apply, such as the appointment of a County/Town Project Planning Group (PPG) to oversee the acquisition activities. Additionally, once a policy governing joint facilities projects is adopted, that policy would govern eventual greenway extension along this corridor (and through this property), if pursued as a joint County/Town project. The Town's request in May of this year was for $500,000, with amore-recent refinement asking that the Town's full portion of the 2001 bond funds for greenways ($750,000) be used to this end. The acquisition of this tract would further the expansion of the Bolin Creek Greenway, by providing land along the Master Plan route that could be incorporated into the greenway. Clarification is needed that the greenway could be placed on this side of Bolin Creek, as the existing Town plans show the proposed greenway on the opposite side of the creek. However, this is merely a line on a map and there is no design for the greenway at this time. While construction of the remainder of the greenway to the Adams Tract may be some years in the offing, greenway segments are often acquired in piecemeal fashion as part of a master plan. Acquisition of the Adams Tract would enhance that goal, by acquiring land for the eventual extension of Bolin Creek Greenway, which would also eventually tie to trails proposed on the Chapel Hill Township Environment and Resource Conservation PO Box 8181 / 306-A Revere Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 245-2590 I~ Park and Educational Campus property (all of which are part of the Town's Master Parks and Recreation Plan). A total of $400,000 is available in the current fiscal year for greenways projects (as part of the first bond sale). This is a part of the $1.75 million in the bond for Chapel Hill and Carrboro greenways, to link to County open space network. That amount was originally identified as $1.0 million for Chapel Hill greenways projects, and $750,000 for Carrboro projects -with the understanding that projects that worked to tie together County and Town open space network would be given higher priority. As the project meets most of the adopted criteria and is consistent with Lands legacy goals, two possible approaches to address the Town's request might be: a. Agree to appropriate the $400,000 for greenways in the current fiscal year (2001 bond funds) as the County's portion of the project match, with any remaining amount (up to the $750,000 maximum) to be appropriated in future years as deemed feasible -with the understanding that the Town will match any remaining amount of purchase price and associated costs not funded by the grant, and/or b. If the funding sources (County bond funds, Clean Water Management .grant, other grants) end up meeting the total acquisition cost, ask the Town to reimburse the County for 50% of the County's match over the next five fiscal years -consistent with the adopted joint parks criteria. I hope this brief evaluation is useful in considering the. Town's request. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Environment and Resource Conservation PO Box 8181 / 306-A Revere Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 245-2590 ;; ~ , :, ~~~ uNc 0 ~ Parcels Hydrography (Cad,Streams) Major Roads County Text TownshipText „' Townships This map contains parcels prepared for the inventory of real propery within Orange County, and is compiled from recorded deed, plats, and other public records and data. Users of this map are hereby notified that the aforementioned public primary information sources should be consulted for verification of the information contained on this map. The county and its mapping companies assume no legal responsibility for the information contained on this map. Orange County GIS 1:25000 u Nc ,2 ,~ Crq~~ O o ~°/r~ C D ~° 0 o ~J o ~ ~ Cyr ~ ~y>teh ~~ ~® ~ ~ ~ c~. ;r ~~ Q ~ ~~Spn pGc °o n CG1(f hUfO c ~ ~j Elemt~t~c Sc hiao ~ ~ ~ ~~ o Parcels This map contains parcels prepared for the inventory of real propery within N Hydrography (Cad,Streams) Orange County, and is compiled from recorded deed, plats, and other public Major Roads records and data. Users of this map are hereby notified that the aforementioned County public primary information sources should be consulted for verification of the Text TownshipText information contained on this map. The county and its mapping companies assume „' Townships no legal responsibility for the information contained on [his map. Orange County GIS 1:10000 I`fVV . 4. ~bbc 5 ~ vbF'rl IiKHNC~t L I'Y Mi;f' Tt~ ~ ERCD TOWN CR CARRBORO ~'~"*' NORTH GAROtrINA ~ ~ U/WW.TQWNpFCAgRBORO.ORG October 31, 2002 The Honorable Barry Jacobs, Chairman Orange County Board of Commissioners P.O. 'box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Commissioner Jacobs: P~U.3~:14 F'.1!1 On l~ehali of the Board vi Alderman, I am requesting a comm'~tmerlt from the County Commissioners to allocate X760,000 from the greenway acquisition bonds to assist Carrboro in the purchase of the Adams Tract. Carrboro views acquisition of this property as cruelal to developing vur greenway system. It is a vital link connecting Chapel Hill's network of greenways north towards the Horace Williams tract and the rural buffer. Acquisition of this property will significantly enhance our ability to provide a comprehensive network of preenways, trails, and bikeways for Southern Orange County. In addition, preserving this track will help us protect Bolin Creek, one of 8vuthem Orange County's mast significant natural resources. The most recent appraise! for this 28•acre tract is $1.35 rniliion. Our Adams Tract Committee has recommended to the Beard of Aldermen that we immediately seek an option from the Adarrrs family. The Board will be discussing this matter at our next meeting and I expect the Board to support this request. I was delighted to team that mon®y is available from th® greenway acquisition bond to assist us with the preservation of the Adams property, I understand from you that the Commissioners have an opportunity to discuss our request on November 11"', i 3, Time is of the essence as we have applied for a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and will be applying for several other grants. Having a firm commitment from Orange County to provide $750,000 from the greenway funds will strengthen the town's applications and will be advantageous In leveraging other money. Please forward a letter to me as soon as possible so that It can be forwarded to the Clean Water Ianagement Trust Fund Office. I greatly appredate your assistance. Sincerely, M"~t Michael Nelson, Mayor Poat~lY Fax Nvte 7671 ~°! _o ,p w~+~ Ta FroMI '' Colt7ept ~• Pnona + ~~ ~ Fa]t ;~ Feuc A cc: Carrboro soard of Aldermen Adams Property Preservation Gommittea Robert W. Morgan, Town Manager aol wFsT MAIN aTREET. CARRBORO, NG 27510 • (1101 942.89x1 FAX (8191 Al e•4430 • Tt7C (000] 82d•7093 AN EQUAL OFFOnTUN1TY PRt7V1p[R TOWN OF CARRBORO NORTH CAROLINA May 17, 2002 The Honorable Barry Jacobs, Chairman Orange County Board of Commissioners P.O. Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Commissio o s: The Board of Aldermen and Ihave along-standing desire to protect the Bolin Creek corridor through land preservation and other protective measures. One of the ways that we have demonstrated our commitment is to require developers to set aside 40 percent of residential development for open space, much of it along Bolin and other creeks. In addition, we established a committee to explore ways to preserve the Adams Tract. The Town's effort to acquire the Adams property will protect a natural resource and preserve a part of the community's heritage. Compared to developers or other interested parties, we believe that the Town would be the best steward to maintain the value and the beauty of the property by keeping it as an open, green space. Being located next to Wilson Park, it would be a keystone addition to the area's parks and proposed greenways. Our ability to purchase this property has been hindered by the Governor's decisions to withhold the December 2001 Clean Water Management Trust Fund allocation and state- collected local revenues to help offset the budget crisis. Even in the best of times, acquiring land for preservation is difficult. The cuirent financial circumstances have greatly increased our obstacles. We are pursuing multiple sources of funding. Accordingly, we are requesting $500,000 from the Lands Legacy Program to serve as a local government match for other federal, state, and private grants. A chart demonstrating how this project meets the Joint Parks Guidelines and Criteria is attached. We consider this property to be one of Carrboro's special places - a beautiful cultural and natural resource. We would like very much to have the County's assistance in assuring this legacy remains for the enjoyment of future Carrboro and Orange County generations.. Sincerely, Michael Nelson, Mayor Attachment: Joint Parks Guidelines and Criteria cc: Carrboro Board of Aldermen Adams Property Preservation Committee Robert W. Morgan, Town Manager 301 WEST MAIN STREET, CARRBORO, NC 27810 • 19191 942.8541 • FAX 19191 988.7737 • TDD 19191 968.7717 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER