Minutes - 04-11-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1) With reference to the Greene Tract, the decision has been made that this will not be used for a landfill, but that it will be used for housing/open space. There is a task force working to come up with the best use for the Greene Tract. The landfill designation has been taken off of this piece of land and the land use plan. 2) The second area was shown as open space on the 1986 plan, but is being used currently and is most suitable as very low-density residential use. 3) Area three is being designated as open space. 4) Area four is comprised of a mixed-use area on Eubanks Road. 5} Area five is the Neville Tract, which is being designated for landfill purposes and the land use plan has been changed to reflect "landfill activities". He said that the three planning staffs have come together and have a unified recommendation, except for the Greene Tract. There are three different recommendations in regards to the Greene Tract. Chapel Hill is recommending that the Greene Tract be designated as housing/open space. Orange County is suggesting that no change be made to the Greene Tract until a decision is made. Carrboro is recommending that the Greene Tract be designated as public use until a decision is made. Public Comments Nick Didow, Chair of the CHCCS Board of Education, said that if, in the vision of the ultimate use of the Greene Tract, a school would be suitable for this site, the school board would like it to be considered. If the elected officials are going to entertain some serious future dedication of the Greene Tract, thinking 12-15 years forward, even with the acquisition of the sites already designated and identified, the school board sees the clear potential use of 40-50 acres of the Greene Tract far an Elementary School andlor Middle School. The CHCCS Board of Education would be delighted to have the school boards work with the governing boards on this possibility. He said that the school board has always assumed that a portion of the Greene Tract might be available for a school site. The school board wanted him to reaffirm their willingness to enter into those kinds of planning processes and considerations with the Towns and the County. James Carnahan said that he along with some other designers did some planning for downtown Carrboro. Apiece of the presentation included a regional context map, which looked at the utility of the rail line in Orange County. He said that the rail line defines the eastern boundary of the Greene Tract, which could be useful. The larger context that he wanted to present was the question of how we are going to accommodate the growth that is coming to the area so that we can maintain the environmental quality and preserve as much of the rural landscape as possible. He stated several possible routes of the rail system. Richard Leber, volunteer with the Orange County Habitat for Humanity affiliate, read a prepared statement. He made reference to how the elected officials advocate affordable housing. He said that the Greene Tract is in the OWASA service area, which is usually required for affordable housing projects. He said that the Orange County Habitat for Humanity affiliate has had along-term goal of supporting the County's interest in developing a portion of the Greene Tract. To this end, Habitat recently purchased a centrally located, undeveloped 2.7-acre parcel of land between Rush Road and Purefoy near the northwestern edge of the Greene Tract. Habitat has secured sewer easements to this tract. Habitat has also been in conversation with other adjacent property owners to purchase additional land to expand the size of this tract before pursuing the subdivision plan. He said that Orange County Habitat for Humanity would very much like to partner with other affordable housing providers to develop a portion of the Greene Tract. Orange County Habitat for Humanity's suggestion would be to consider a 25% allotment, or 40 acres, to affordable housing initiatives. This is similar to the ratio requested by many in the private sector in some developments in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. A 40-acre allotment is also similar in size to the portion already dedicated to open space.