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Potential Recreational Use of OWASA Property <br />October 15, 1998 <br />Page 3 <br />Elevated Tank Sites — The NRTS Committee suggested that alternative uses be <br />considered at existing tank sites as long as they don't interfere with OWASA's <br />operational needs for access and maintenance. The Committee recommended that no <br />alternatives be considered on the two properties reserved for future tank sites until <br />specific design and regulatory requirements are established. <br />Authority to Allow Alternative Uses <br />Throughout its discussions, the Committee recognized that the authority to allow <br />recreational uses of OWASA property often lies outside of OWASA's control. For <br />example, OWASA might agree to certain low- impact activities on its sewer easements <br />and rights of way; but legally, OWASA may not acquire utility easements for non- <br />utilitarian purposes such as recreation. Successful greenway partnerships with Chapel <br />Hill or Carrboro would likely require the Towns to act as lead agencies in acquiring <br />multi- purpose easements and then granting utility rights to OWASA. <br />Similar situations are evident at OWASA's elevated tank sites and at the 500 -acre Cane <br />Creek mitigation tract. Any alternative use of the 46 acres of OWASA land surrounding <br />the Nunn Mountain and Hilltop water tanks is strictly controlled by Special Use Permit <br />conditions of the.Town of Chapel Hill. The 500 -acre. Cane Creek mitigation tract was <br />acquired in 1980 to comply with requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and <br />the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Because these requirements became <br />permit conditions for the Cane Creek Reservoir project; any alternative use of that tract <br />would likely require approval by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. <br />These examples illustrate that OWASA does not have unilateral authority to allow <br />alternative uses on all of its property. The NRTS Committee noted that the <br />implementation of some recreational proposals with community -wide benefits will <br />require collaboration by other governmental entities, fir addition to OWASA, working <br />toward a common goal. <br />Staff Recommendations <br />I recommend that this memorandum and attachments be reviewed by the Board of - <br />Directors and, if appropriate, provided to Orange County's Joint Master Recreation and <br />Parks Plan Work Group. <br />attachments <br />i 1 <br />Edward A. Holland, AICP <br />Director of Planning and Development <br />„o�� TO ea�naF o�aas <br />-0* io 1U I 9E' <br />