Minutes - 20090514 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Bob Sallach said that the size would be more dictated by the geometry into and out of the facility. Commissioner Yuhasz asked about the minimum lot size and Bob Sallach said 8-10 acres. Mayor Foy said that he brought a map that shows the Town Operations Center on Millhouse Road. He said that he wanted to ask whether putting the transfer station next to the Town Operations Center is worth talking about and not whether this is the right site or not. He said that the investment of local resources for the NC 54 site is greater than the investment that would be made at a site like the Millhouse Road site. He said that this merits discussion. Commissioner Nelson asked if this was an official offer from the Town of Chapel Hill. Mayor Foy said that the question is where to start and how this begins. He said that he does not even know if he supports this, but he just wants to discuss it because this site makes more sense. Commissioner Nelson said that he would feel more comfortable if this was officially from the Town Council. He asked for a letter from the Town Council putting this site on the table. Mark Kleinschmidt said that he thinks that the Council would allow the Board to talk about this. Mayor Stevens said that this site looks interesting and he would be interested in discussing it. Commissioner Jacobs thanked Mayor Foy for bringing this to the Board's attention. He said that there was some inquiry several years ago of the Town, he thought, at a staff level as to whether there were any sites available. He said that the County was told that neither Chapel Hill nor Carrboro was interested in offering any sites. He said that when he heard about this, he consulted with Chair Foushee, who had met with Rogers Road neighborhood representatives on areas of interest to the community that might be addressed by the County and other local governments. One of the first things that were done in the meetings was to come up with a definition of the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood, which does not come close to incorporating Millhouse Road. He is sympathetic to what Commissioner Nelson said and he would like to know if the Town was willing to sell. The staff can then investigate it, because one of the criteria was having a willing seller. Chair Foushee suggested that if the County moves forward with a conversation about this idea, she thinks that the Board would have to determine how to finish the process in which it is already engaged. She proposed that if the Board considers anything other than the site that is under consideration, that it continue and determine whether or not this is the site that will be used and not abandon a process while something else is entertained. She thinks that it is unfair to both neighborhoods to continue in limbo. Commissioner Gordon agreed that this is good information to think about. Commissioner Yuhasz said that he came into this process later than most and it seemed that cost was not so much of an issue. He thinks that financial resources were greater than they are right now. He said that it seems that to study this site will at least put into perspective the costs of site#056. Commissioner Hemminger agreed that the costs have changed and she is interested in discussing the site in Chapel Hill. Councilman Ward asked if this was for lease or purchase and Laura Blackmon said that Orange County would probably prefer it be a lease because it is less permanent. Commissioner Nelson said that he worries about putting this idea on the table when there is not a firm commitment. He has grown weary of the length of the process and what has been done to neighborhoods in the community. He thinks that dragging this out longer is not good leadership. He would like a firm commitment from the Town on this site. Chair Foushee asked for direction from the Board for the staff. Laura Blackmon said that this item could be added to the next agenda.