HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-01-2000 - 5bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 1, 2000
Action Agenda
Item No. S- b,
SUBJECT: Reso
DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners
ent on SHSC Pro
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTAC
Resolution
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Moses Carey, County Commissioner
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968.4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider a resolution that encourages the Interfaith Council (IFC) in the short term to
place its emphasis on sites other than the Souther Human Services Center (SHSC) property on
Homestead Road for future development of Interfaith Council (IFC) facilities.
BACKGROUND: The Interfaith Council (IFC) has asked the Commissioners in a letter dated November
29, 1999 to clarify whether the SHSC may be considered an option as they pursue sites upon which to
develop future facilities.
The SHSC site was purchased by the County keeping in mind the long-range expansion that would be
needed to support County services in the southern part of the County. The County is pursuing joint
development of a Senior Center with the University, utilizing both County and University land along the
south/southwestern edge of the SHSC site.
Of the three additional building sites that have been identified on the property, at least two of them may
be needed to fulfill known needs for future Human Services programming and Court facility development.
Since the only other County-owned facility in Chapel Hill (Northside) offers no opportunity for expansion,
future construction of any County facility is likely to fall to the SHSC site. It would therefore seem prudent
to maintain development options on the site.
In addition, the present lack of public transportation to the site creates obstacles for clients needing this
service. It is likely that this would be an obstacle for IFC clients as well.
FINANCIAL IMPACT' There is no direct financial impact associated with the adoption of this resolution.
Preserving the remaining building footprints for future County service delivery facilities will result in future
cost avoidance for land that would likely be measured in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
RECOMMENDATION'i(S): Approval of the attached resolution is recommended; and the Clerk is
instructed to submit an executed copy to the IFC leadership in response to the November 29, 1999 letter.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE INTERFAITH COUNCIL (IFC) IN THE SHORT TERM TO
PLACE ITS EMPHASIS ON SITES OTHER THAN THE SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES
CENTER SITE FOR FUTURE IFC FACILITY DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, Orange County has historically demonstrated strong support for the mission of the Interfaith
Council (IFC) and maintains great respect and appreciation for the work done by the IFC; and
WHEREAS, Orange County pledges its support to IFC in all manners deemed appropriate by the Board
of County Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, Orange County has previously provided three acres of land at the Southern Human Services
Center (SHSC) site in support of IFC initiatives; and
WHEREAS, on November 29, 1999, the Interfaith Council (IFC) requested that the County clarify its
intentions regarding the possible availability of land at the Southern Human Services Center (SHSC) site
for the location of an IFC facility; and
WHEREAS, the County purchased the Southern Human Services Center (SHSC) property, consisting of
a total of 34 acres of land on Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, with the express purpose of accommodating
the long term need for County services for citizens in the southern part of the county; and
WHEREAS, future services needs for county functions have been identified which will likely occupy the
available building sites on the property; and
WHEREAS, any long-term lease and/or sale of a portion of the land to any party could jeopardize the
County's ability to adequately address future facility and service needs in southern Orange County; and
WHEREAS, IFC clients rely heavily on public transportation, which is limited to the SHSC property and
continues to present daily challenges; and
WHEREAS, the County applauds the IFC's efforts to provide services to the homeless in our community
and is open to supporting the IFC in its efforts to identify an appropriate location that addresses IFC's
long term facility and support services needs;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Orange County encourages the IFC in the short term to
place its emphasis on sites other than the SHSC property for future IFC facility development, and that the
County stands ready to support the IFC in addressing its future facility development needs through all
available means.
This, the 1 st day of February, 2000.
Chair
Moses Carey
Orange County Board of Commissioners
(seal)