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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-06-2000-9d ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 6, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. 9 -d SUBJECT: Request for Funding -Concept Plan for Southern Community Park DEPARTMENT: ERCD, Recreation and Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): May 4 Letter from Mayor Waldorf 1997 Parks Bond Update May 31 Letter from Town Manager INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Stancil, 245-2590 Bob Jones, 245-2661 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 9fi$~501 Durham 6$$-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a request from the Town of Chapel Hill for use of County park bonds toward development of a new concept plan for Southem Community Park in Chapel Hill. BACKGROUND: On May 9, a letter from Chapel Hill Mayor Rosemary Waldorf was received providing additional information on a previous request for use of County parks bond funds toward the development of a concept plan for the Town's planned Southem Community Park. As noted in the letter, a previous plan for the Southem Community Park was developed in 1990. The Town feels that the current plan is no longer workable, due to road realignment and changes in the surrounding land uses in Southem Village. The Town does not anticipate having any of its 1996 bond funds available for this project, and has asked that the Board consider allocating a portion of the $1 million dedicated for Southem Community Park facility development (part of the 1997 County parks bond) toward developing a new concept plan. As noted in a May 31 follow-up letter from Town Manager Cal Horton, the estimated cost of the concept plan is $40-50,000. The County has previously distributed $105,000 to the Town for lighting and irrigation at the soccer field at this park. The total cost of the Southem. Community Park is estimated at around $5 million. The Town does not have other funds designated for development of the park, and is proposing that the remaining bond funds for this project (minus approximately 20% for contingency and architect/permit costs) go toward construction of Phase I of the park - an estimated $675,000. FINANCIAL IMPACT: According to Town staff, a general estimate of cost for the concept plan is $40-50,000, and this amount is requested at this time. The next phase after the concept plan would involve construction drawings, architect fees, permits, grading plans and construction administration for facility development. These activities are expected to total 10% of what would be the remaining $845,000 allocated for this project in the 1997 County bond, and another 10% is anticipated for project contingencies. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board appropriate up to $50,000 to the Town for development of the concept plan, with the understanding that the remaining $845,000 of the designated $1 million from the bond will be used toward constructing the first phase of the park; as described in the May 31 letter from Town Manager Cal Horton to County Manager John Link. 2a ~-`~~ ~=. L _._ .. .. .+ ~~~~ Town o~ CxAPiz, Hunt, '~ ~ ~~,~ `~ ~ 9 ?~11+" i~ ~ ~~~; 306 NoRrx COLUIvIDIA Sir ~ •- ---~ V' CxAP~. Hiza., Naxzx CAROravA 27516 OFFICE OF TF~ MAYOR Moses Carey, Chair Board of Orange County Commissioners Box 81$1 Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 968-2714 May 4, 2000 FAX 919-967-8406 Dear Moses: This is a follow-up to my earlier letter regazding passible use of a portion of the 1997 Orange County pazk bonds for the planning of the Southern Community park in Chapel Hill, This letter addresses the amount of Chapel Hill bond money available to us, a quick history of Chapel Hill's thinking about this property, and a detailed description of how a concept plan can lead to immediate construction of Phase T of the park. The Town Council is pleased that the Board of County Commissioners has designated $1 million for the Southern Community Pazk, particulazly as county bonds aze currently the only available source of funding for its development. However, we cannot use those funds for beginning construction because we~do not yet have a master plan. The Chapel Hill Town Council requests that the Board~of Commissioners reconsider funding the planning stage of this project, so that we could use the remaining funds to build the first phase of the pazk Some History As you may know, there was a previous plan for the Southern Community Park On May 29, 1990 the Chapel Hill Town Council unanimously (7-0) adopted the master plan for the proposed Southern Community Park The plan included a ~ mix of active and passive recreation opportunities, with athletic playing fields, a community center, walking trails, a pond, and a pazk and ride lot. The plea also included a realignment of Dogwood Acres Drive, which cuts through the property and creates a dangerous intersection with US 15-501. Jn May 1990, the Council also authorized the permitting process for the Southern Community Pazk. On March 25, 1991 the Chapel Hill Town Council reviewed the Special Use Permit application for the project. The item was presented immediately following a discouraging fiscal report from the Manager; 1991 was the beginning of the eazly 1990s recession. At that time, staff estimated the project cost, excluding the park and ride lot, to be $5,275,000. After discussion, the Council unanimously (8-0) adopted a resolution directing the Manager to bring back to the Council a 2 special use permit for the pazk and ride lot portion of the design only and to restructure the remainder of the site's plan to expedite siting of athletic f elds. The Council minutes note that implicit in the resolution is that funds would not be expended for Dogwood Acres Drive realignment. Details an Chapel Hill Bond Funds In November 1996 Town of Chapel Hill citizens voted to approve a bond referendum for .$13.5 million, which included $5 million far pazks and recreation improvements. The remainder of the bond was allocated: $3 million for open space purchase, $3 million far streets and sidewalks, $2 million for public safety, and $500,000 for public buildings. _ The majority of the $5 million for pazks and recreation has been expended on what is now Hamestead Park. $3,259,000 has been spent on the park's infrastructure and existing amenities, including 2~saftball,~a.;eba11 fields, 2 rectaz:gu:ar~~athl~ti.c fields, a,5katebaazd park; a Harting cage facility, playground, picnic shelter, and walking trails. We estimate $1,31'6,000 of the 1996 bond funds will be available for whatever aquatic%ommunity center is eventually built at Homestead Pazk. The Northside Gymnasium facility located at the Hargraves Center was completed with the remaining $425,000. The Situation Today Since the southern park's original plan was developed there have been several changes that affect the site: • The pazk and ride lot, which was originally programmed far the park site, was built on land adjacent to the pazk on Southern Village property. • The Scruggs Elementary School was built. As a part of that project, the Tawn traded about 6 acres of land with the school system. In addition to the land trade, the Town has also donated about G acres of the park site for the school's playing field. ]n exchange, the Town will receive partial use of the school's athletic field. • The County Baazd of Commissioners approved using up to $105,000 from the $1 million of 1997 bond proceeds for Southern Community Pazk to light and irrigate the field, and purchase benches and refitse grid recycling containers, 'That project is almost complete now; and we expect the Schools to request the funding before this fiscal year is over. • NCDOT's imminent widening of US 15-501 eliminates the need to realign Dogwood Acres Drive, because the intersection of the two roadways will be reworked. The 15- 501 widening project is scheduled to begin this fall. The state will bear that significant expense. These changes have so significantly impacted the site that a new planning process is needed. In addition, we want the residents in southern Chapel Hill, who maw are asking that this park be developed, to participate and influence the pazk's design. Once planning funding for the Southern Community Pazk is secured, we anticipate modeling its conceptual plan process on that of the Homestead Pazk Aquatic/Community Center. The Council solicited applications for both neighbor and at-lazge representatives on the Conceptual Plan 4 3 Committee, in addition to requesting representation from specific boazds and commissions, including the Board of County Commissioners. The Homestead Park Aquatic/Community Center Conceptual Plan Committee's charge is to work with staff and a consultant to seek community input for the project and to ultimately develop both an interim and a final report to Council. Because of the early Council involvement, we aze confident this process will lead to a completed project. Overall, we have used the conceptual plan process with great success. Conceptual plan development allows us to study the land in broad terms in the most cost effective manner. It involves neighbors, at-large citizens, advisory baazd members, and members of directly affected groups. Finally, the process allows elected officials to review the project in their role as "owners" rather than as "regulators" and to have their input included throughout the planning .process. Once the Council approves the conceptual plan, more detailed drawings are prepared, funding established and contracts let..Tnere need be no delays. . Conceptual plans have led to several successful projects including Homestead Park, Northside Gymnasium, Battle Branch Trail, and both phases of the Bolin Creek Trail. We used the approved conceptual plan of the Dry Creek Trail to secure three sepazate grants, and that project is being .implemented segment by segment. The concept plan for the Booker Creek Linear Pazk is the basis of several potential grant applications. Conceptual plans also give us leverage in our dealings with developers and organizations such as NCDOT. We believe that a conceptual plan for the Southern Community Park is the most cost effective way to plan for development of the site. It would permit everyone to share his or her concerns, reveal problems azeas early in the process, establish cost estimates, and allow elected officials to give cleaz direction for development of the site. Once the Council adopts a plan, we would be able to use the rema;,,;ng County band funds and other resources as they aze available to begin incremental implementation of the plan. I trust this addresses concerns raised by the Boazd of Commissioners. Thank you for your willingness to help meet the park aad recreation needs in southern Orange County. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, oS ~P w~ Mayor Rosemary aldorf C: Chapel Hill Town Council Report on_the Parks Bond and Other Parks~Related Proiects Fror the period November 1997 to the present A, 1997 Parks Bond -Status Report 1. Facilities Development - $3.0 million (Bond included $1 million for Homestead Pazk in Chapel Hi11, $1 million for Southern Community Park in Chapel Hill, $500,000 for Efland-Cheeks Community Pazk, $500,000 undesignated) Spent or AQpropriated.From,Bond To Date • $757,690: Efland-Cheeks Community Park (Phase I) • $105,000: To Town of Chapel Hill for Southern Community Pazk (lights, bleachers and irrigation for soccer field) • $145,000: To Town of Chapel Hill for Homestead Community Park (utility building for. skateboard park and batting cage) • ..$75,000: To match Town of Carrboro funds for enhancement of fields at Smith Middle School • No other facility development bond money has been requested for authorized projects (remainder of Homestead Park, Southern Park) Total Facilities Bond spent/appropriated to date - $1,082,690 As of current date, $1,917,310 remaining ($167,310 undesignated) 2. Parkland Acquisition - $3.0 million • $110,774 for Cedaz Grove Patk (Northern Human Services Center) As of current date, $2,889,226 remaining See Lands Legacy Interim Aeon P/an fog Przvposed Parkland Banking Programs B, Other Park-Related Pro"ects 1. Little River Regional Park and Natural Area (option) - $88,000 to $132,000 total County cost (projected from combination of sources) 2. "McGowan Creek Preserve" (Duke property) - $157,000 total County cast (1/2 from ERC fund and % from SchooUPazk Reserve accumulated interest) 3. ltiverwalk Park in Hillsborough -- agreed to use of County-awned lands along Eno River adjacent to County campus for park area. ppEL G` ~ ! ~~ s TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL May 31, 2000 John Link, County Manager Orange County P.O. Box 8181 klillsl~orougkr, NC 27278 Dear Mr. Link: I understand that the County Commissioners are scheduled to consider our request £ar plarmin~; funds for the Southern Community Park project. X hope the following information will be useful in your discussions. Sometime in early 2001, we would like to begin work on a conceptual plan for the Southern. Community Park site. The conceptual planning process is our way of exploring the potential of the property and providing, to our elected officials, options fox development. 1'hesc plans usually include a site analysis, development optaions, cost estimates, and recommendations that are used by the Council prior to their taking any formal action related to development of a park site. It is at this stage that the public is very involved in the planning process. We solicit ideas and camrnents from citizens at large, neighbors, and interest groups- We estimate that a conceptual plan far this site would cost approximately $40,000 - 50,000, Based on the costs of developing Homestead Fark, rve estimate that Southern Community Park would cost approximately $5 million to build, excluding the cost of arty buildings. The County has $895,000 remaining of the $1 million in 1997 Parks bond that was earmarked for the Southern Commtmuty Park. If the Commissioners authorize the expenditure of funds for development of a conceptual plan, we estimate that about $845,000 would remain. We typically reserve about 104/0 of each budget for architects fees, permits, and other necessary miscellaneous costs and another 10% for project contingency. This would leave about $675,000 for construction of a Phase I project on the site. We would reconvnend that one product of the conceptual plan be options for the first phase of developmenrt. 30b N. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (919) 968-2700 __ ___~r,_~_ _:..L......,_~.m ....,.e F.4X /9191967106 GTE Eschax~e (919) 682-8636 6 john Link Page 2 7 Unfortunately, the Town currently has no fux~.ds that can be allocated to this pmject. Over the past four years, we have constructed a major new park„ a new gymnasiwn, arld a major greenway. We have expended over $6 million for these projects and continue to face additional costs for, projects that are in the planning process. Comrx~itmeats for these other projects, which potentially benefit all County citizezas, have taken away our ability to contribute more than staff time for the Southern Community Pazk. While this situation could change, i da not foresee ar~y funds becoming available in the immediate future. I hope that this information is useful. Lf you require additional information please da not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, W. Calvin Horton Town Manager