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18 <br />Issue Paper <br />Synthetic Turf Soccer Field Development <br />at Cedar Falls Park or Smith Middle School <br />February 10, 2009 <br />Background <br />In late 2008, the Board asked staff to look into a synthetic turf soccer field project <br />using the remaining soccer superfund money from the 2001 Parks and Open <br />Space bond. In 2007, members of the soccer community brought the idea of <br />synthetic turf fields to the attention of .the board and staff was asked to look into <br />the possibility of such a project at the Smith Middle School field(s.) At that time <br />there was a potential private partner who had offered up to $600,000 in <br />assistance. Additional sources of funds for the estimated $1.624 million dollar <br />(two field) project had not yet been identified. Estimates for just the one <br />municipal field were $856,000. <br />The potential partner wished to have usage fees waived in exchange for their <br />donation. The Town of Carrboro is responsible for issuing permits and collecting <br />fees for field usage at Smith. The project, within the Towns jurisdiction, would <br />also have been subject to the Town CUP process and the likely requirement for <br />engineering drawings and water quality studies. <br />In February of 2008, the Board of Aldermen decided to take no action on <br />approval of the requested fee waiver, waiver of applicable town fees and general <br />approval of the project. This decision was brought to the attention of the BOCC <br />and served to effectively stop work on the project at that time. <br />Since 2007, the funding offered by the private partner has been designated for <br />use elsewhere. No other source of funding has been identified. <br />Continuing Discussions with Carrboro about the Smith Middle School <br />rp olect• <br />Renewed interest may have arisen among members of the Carrboro Town board <br />and Town staff. In fall 2008, at a meeting of the Board Chair, Vice-Chair and <br />Manager with the Mayor and Manager of Carrboro, the potential for revisiting the <br />concept of synthetic turf at Smith field was discussed, and the Town expressed <br />willingness to receive another presentation and reconsider the topic. If the Town <br />is willing to enter into a partnership with the County in some way, the idea could <br />be further developed. <br />