Agenda - 10-13-2011 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Memorandum TO: Frank Clifton, County Manager From: Pam Jones, Director, Asset Management Services Lucinda Munger, Library Dir-ector RE: Southwest Library Site Selection Criteria Date: October 6, 2011 BACKGROUND: Orange County Library Task Force recommendations of 2000, 2004, and 2007 have all recommended cone=story, free-standing, full service library to serve the southwest quadrant of the County. An estimated 18,000-22,000_ square foot facility, with adequate on-site parking would meet the needs cited in the reports. None of these Task Force recommendations provided for a comprehensive site selection- criteria and process for evaluating potential sites. In June of 2010, the County Commissioners directed the County Manager- and- staff to begin actively searching for property or a facility that could serve as a site for a Southwest Branch Library. Through the summer of 2010, staff identified potential sites-210 Hillsborough Road (for sale), a storefront facility (for lease), the Skills Development Center (owned by the County), a portion of the Century Center (owned by Carrboro), property on Carrboro's Greensboro street near Southern States (for sale), and a portion of Carrboro Town Hall. On October 22, 2010 the County Commissioners authorized staff to enter into a Purchase & Sale. Agreement for 2.691 acres of property located at 210 Hillsborough Road in Carrboro for the purpose of developing and constructing a branch pubic library facility. Staff petitioned Carrboro for a conditional zoning approval- in order that a library could be developed on this property. On April 12, 2011, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen approved the County's petition to conditionally rezone the property in order to accommodate a public Library facility not to exceed 20,000 square feet, subject to the required conditional use permitting process as governed by Carrboro's land use ordinance. On June 21, 2011, staff presented physical due diligence on the property to the Board. The results of these physical due diligence items (survey, geotechnical, utility availability, environmental assessment, cultural, archaeological, and off-site traffic engineering analysis) were favorable and support the purchase of the property. The County Commissioners deferred a decision to move forward with the purchase and development of the property until a full title opinion was formulated by the County Attorney. Following receipt and consideration of the title opinion, on August 23, 2011, the County Commissioners unanimously voted to terminate Purchase & Sale Agreement related to 210 Hillsborough Road. In a subsequent motion, the Board directed the Manager to continue the search for a suitable site through a transparent, collaborative and deliberate process involving