Orange County NC Website
maintaining the original Master Plan concept <br />•:• Maintains the original Master Plan concept of staged Courts expansion along East <br />Margaret Lane <br />• Reduces building mass on East Margaret lane <br />• Allows the existing Sheriff's Department building to remain a part of the government <br />campus <br />• Takes advantage of the maximum potential for an-grade parking, while relocating the <br />proposed parking deck to reduce visual impact on Courts buildings <br />• Provides the most efficient vehicle access for both staff and public, within the <br />constraints of the site <br />:• Provides better visual connection between East Margaret Lane and River Park, with <br />increased pedestrian access <br />NOTE: The next part of this presentation consisted of drawings with different options and <br />stages. <br />Commissioner Brown asked how much of the park would be taken by additional parking <br />required behind the Sheriff's Office and Lane Baldwin said that 20 feet would be used but that it does <br />not infringe on the woods in any way. <br />Pam Jones said that there would be two entrances on either side of the Sheriff's Office. There <br />would still be pedestrian access to the courthouse via the front entrance off of Margaret Lane. <br />Judge Joe Buckner emphasized that to be sure that all buildings are secure and safe, that <br />some decisions on ingress and egress from the court buildings will be made in concert with the <br />Sheriff's department. There would be a transitional area, which could be used as a waiting area - <br />corridor between the four buildings in the lower area. <br />Lane Baldwin said that the thinking today for government buildings is to reduce the ingress <br />and egress to one area for security reasons. A single point of access is recommended. <br />Commissioner Carey asked if there would be a way for the Sheriff to take prisoners to and <br />from court without going through a public area. Lane Baldwin said that there would be a separate way <br />far the Sheriff to transport prisoners and for the judges to enter their offices. There would be <br />separate access for judges, inmates and the public. This will be developed in the next phase of this <br />master plan. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the Johnston County court facility and the security <br />they provided with separate entrances. Recently he was in Greensboro's court and he said that the <br />lobby area was the terminal area for elevators, bathrooms and other functions. <br />In answer to a question about elevators, Lane Baldwin said that there would be elevators in all <br />buildings with more than one floor. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked if they are thinking about a tunnel under Margaret Lane and <br />Lane Baldwin said that they were looking at the possibility of developing an underground link. <br />Judge Joe Buckner said that one thing they tried to take into consideration was the fact that <br />they have thirteen different types of courts held in Hillsborough. One thing they hope will come out of <br />the builtout of this campus is that they, the judges, would have the ability to handle any situation that <br />may arise like a high profile case. It is not needed for every courtroom they have but is certainly <br />necessary for some of the courtrooms. They are looking far the flexibility of handling the different <br />