Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Gordon said that we had indicated to the owners that the land was going to be <br />used far a park or a school; and the money used to purchase the property came mainly from park <br />bond funds and school park reserve funds. Our credibility with future sellers would be in question if <br />the owners were told we would only do certain things with the property and then we used it for some <br />other purpose. <br />John Link mentioned that there needs to be a meeting sa that the County, Carrboro Board of <br />Aldermen and the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools can talk about the functions for this property. <br />Chair Halkiotis said that the vision includes a separate entrance for the park and the school and a <br />road adjacent to the Duke Forest property. David Stanch said that the connector road to the north <br />could serve the school. He is talking about two access points -one for the active recreation area and <br />one for the school. Chair Halkiotis said that he likes the idea that the road entrances are separate. <br />Commissioner Brown asked if David Stanch would look at other projects where a school and <br />park are shared or colocated to get other ideas. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she has been on the property and it is beautiful. She said that <br />the County Commissioners need to decide what information the County Commissioners want to give <br />to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools and to have a dialogue with them. John Link said that a <br />meeting has already been held with school administrative staff to share information. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he feels that we should meet jointly with the Chapel Hill <br />Carrboro City Schools and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. He suggested approving the committee <br />as indicated in the agenda abstract and then meet with the schools. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that the County Commissioners need to be proactive in what we <br />expect as a group of County Commissioners. It is a little soon to get the Master Plan Work Group <br />together. The County Commissioners need to do more than just look at it before the Work Group is <br />charged. <br />Chair Halkiotis asked about a formal report on what happened at the meeting John Link had <br />with school staff. John Link said that the meeting consisted of David Stanch giving a report. There <br />were no decisions made or commitments. We know that Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools want to <br />move ahead with Elementary School #10 and Carrboro wants to site a public works facility. He feels it <br />is important to wait until after November 6 and the bonds pass before moving forward. <br />Chair Halkiotis said that he wants to protect this property and does not want to be rushed into <br />a decision because of a school being planned or other facilities. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the process he is suggesting is to meet with the Chapel Hill <br />Carrboro City Schools and the Board of Aldermen and receive their comments. Then the County <br />Commissioners will make the decision on what they want for this property. There are a lot of <br />questions about Elementary School #10, which have not been answered. He would like to hear what <br />these groups have to say. <br />Commissioner Brown asked a question about the groups which are meeting. Commissioner <br />Gordon said that she and Commissioner Jacobs are on the Carrboro group, which met 2 times with <br />the purpose of letting Carrboro, know about the property. Another group was the Board of County <br />Commissioners work group to develop recommendations. Commissioner Gordon and Commissioner <br />Brown are in this second group. They volunteered to work with the schools on their part of the plan. <br />John Link volunteered that staff will provide a summary of each activity that has taken place. <br />This will include Commissioner Gordon and Commissioner Brown's planning for the total site, activity <br />of the meeting with the schools, a summary of the discussion this evening and Commissioner Jacobs <br />and Commissioner Gordon on their meetings with Carrboro. Commissioner Gordon suggested <br />having one more group meeting with Commissioner Brown on this property. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked where the road is that Carrboro is proposing from Old 86. He is <br />not sure he does not agree that the roads should be connected. He said the Master Plan Work Group <br />needs to include a member of the Northern Transition group as well as a Recreation & Parks <br />representative and a representative from Chapel Hill. Also both Greenways commissions should be <br />represented and a representative from each school board. Commissioner Gordon would like more <br />than one school board member from each system. She suggested replacing the elected officials with <br />the greenways representative. Commissioner Gordon said it would be helpful if this general map is <br />what would be considered. An environmental understanding of what can be located where would be <br />