Minutes - 03-21-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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internal transaction, as long as the County has the asset, it is not quite so important as to which pocket the money is coming from. Chair Carey said that the 60 acres would be a solid waste asset and if it were used for another purpose the appropriate transfer would have to be made to the landfill fund. Commissioner Jacobs feels the County needs to leave some ability to do something other than protect the 60 acres for future Commissioners. He said that if the 60 acres were going to be put in open space permanently, Orange County would need to do it with the understanding that they would pay the solid waste operation far the land. Commissioner Halkiotis feels that the County has already lost the passibility of interconnecting three tracts of land and looking at the possibility of establishing omega-park. He made reference to a letter that was in the Chapel Hill Herald today that suggested that the County sell the Greene Tract and put the money in the landfill fund. He thinks there is an opportunity to make a statement for the future and keep the best piece of land as an asset and then figure out what is in the best interest of the citizens. Commissioner Gordon said that she prefers alternative #1. She said that her vision for the Greene Tract is that it would remain undisturbed. She proposed that the County pursue obtaining contiguous property. She wants the County to be interested in delineating the natural areas. She indicated on the map the location of the natural areas. She said that theoretically the land is an asset of the landfill. She asked about the Duke Power restrictions on the easement. She also asked how much land the County would need to have access to the railroad. She said that her vision for the Greene Tract is that it would be mainly open space. She would like the staff to research what the restrictive covenants are for the residences, what the Greene Tract buffers mean, and what would the other jurisdictions do with the property adjacent to the railroad tracks. Chair Carey feels that alternative one does provide same potential for the area for both development and protection. He feels that because the 60 acres is an asset of the system that some opportunities should be preserved far it to be used for developable purposes. Commissioner Gordon asked how much is designated along the railroad and David Stancil said between 500-600 feet. She asked what it could be used for and John Link said that he would think that any structure would be accommodated. She suggested having an alternative access in the northern part of the tract where the Duke Power easement would not have to be crossed. Geoffrey Gledhill said that someone could be employed to determine the needs of access to the railroad. He said that since there are so many unknowns associated with the railroad, the County should focus on physically making a connection to the railroad right-of-way. Chair Carey said that the County could exclude aright-of-way from the 60 acres and negotiate with the towns for using it far that purpose as a part of the 109 acres without having to assume responsibility far it as an asset. Chair Carey supports alternative #1 because it provides maximum flexibility for the use of this property. Commissioner Gordon asked about the buffers from the Neville Tract. Gayle Wilson said that in changing the Neville Tract to allow excavation of soil, the Town required a buffer. The landfill required a certain amount of soil to come off the property, and it was determined that since most of the property would have to be used for soil excavation, that the buffer was placed on the adjacent property, which was the Greene Tract. A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to adapt alternative #1 and send on to Chapel Hill the following: 1) the wildlife corridor map, showing and highlighting the various natural areas with an explanation; 2) the goldenrod sheet showing the drainage pattern and what it means in terms of a natural area being the headwaters of the creeks; and 3) a statement of support of Chapel Hill's resolution to maintain the Greene Tract in a natural state to the greatest extent possible, since there has been a mention of affordable housing. The County's intent is to preserve the property in its natural state and build on the support of the Chapel Hill resolution. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Chair Carey will circulate the letter to the other Commissioners before it is sent to Chapel Hill. With regard to the resolution added to the agenda, Geoffrey Gledhill said that the application for rezoning is still out there and pending and it will be processed if there is no formal action to withdraw the application for the rezoning. By this resolution, Orange County as an owner of the property will withdraw their support for rezoning the Greene Tract. A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to withdraw Orange County's support of the rezoning request of the Greene Tract. VOTE: UNANIMOUS c. Adoption of County Capital Project Ordinances The Board was to consider adoption of capital project ordinances for projects included in the 1999-2009 Capital Investment Plan. This item was postponed to the March 23, 2000 work session.