Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Another student spoke about the finances. She said that they need $25,000 every year in order to <br /> reach their goal of one home each year. The grant from the AAMC runs out in 2004. Over three years, they are <br /> short $58,500. They are asking for a one-time supplement to the AAMC grant in the amount of$58,500. This will <br /> allow the creation of a permanent endowment to support annual home construction. Their goal is to raise $500,000 <br /> for a SHAC Health for Habitat endowment by the year 2005. This money will be placed at the North Carolina <br /> Medical Foundation. At a rate of 5% interest, this will accrue $25,000 annually, which is what is required to build <br /> one home each year. This is a one-time request for funds. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that it was great to see students that are committed to the community. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked that Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes review <br /> any proposals from SHAC. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that this would be the next step, for them to put the proposal in writing. <br /> One of the students introduced the faculty advisors. <br /> b. Recognition of County Participation in the Cape Fear River Assembly <br /> The Board received a special presentation of a plaque recognizing the County's participation in the Cape <br /> Fear River Assembly. <br /> Dave Stancil said that last year the County joined the Cape Fear River Assembly. It is an organization <br /> of over 400 members and has a Board of Directors. The charge of the group is to address quality of life and water <br /> quality issues in the Cape Fear basin. He introduced Executive Director Don Freeman. <br /> Don Freemen presented a plaque to the County and distributed bumper stickers. He is a former <br /> student and resident of Orange County. He said that they have recently received $500,000 from the North Carolina <br /> Attorney General's office for environmental enhancement purposes. They intend to accomplish continued <br /> availability of water for their use and for healthy ecosystems. He said that we cannot take water for granted. He <br /> heard at a drought meeting that it takes 50 inches of rainfall to result in one inch of groundwater. He recognized <br /> Orange County's leadership and commitment to proper resource management. He thanked Chair Jacobs for his <br /> participation on the Board of Directors. Don Freeman said that 27% of North Carolina's population is within the <br /> Cape Fear River Basin. It extends from Greensboro down to Wilmington. <br /> Commissioner Brown said that our County is the headwaters for both the Neuse and the Cape Fear <br /> Basin and we are very cognizant of this fact. Working together with the other counties is very important. <br /> c. Recommendations from the Greene Tract Work Group <br /> The Board received a report from the Greene Tract Work Group regarding their recommendations to the <br /> governing boards of Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill regarding the disposition of the <br /> 104 acres of the Greene Tract that remain in joint ownership. <br /> Assistant County Manager Rod Visser said that the Greene Tract Group has been working for a year. <br /> Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro are the joint owners of 104 acres of the Greene Tract. The remainder of <br /> the property is currently a landfill asset. The group had seven or eight meetings including a public input meeting. <br /> The work group has approved a resolution, which lays out the recommendations. The main points include that 85 <br /> acres be held in open space protected by conservation easements and that 18 acres be earmarked for affordable <br /> housing to be placed in a land trust. The main factor that affected the decision about affordable housing was <br /> related to the capacity of the land to carry development that would be necessary for affordable housing. There was <br /> a lot of discussion about how sewer lines could be developed to serve the development. <br /> Commissioner Carey chaired the work group and said that this is one of the most studied pieces of land <br /> in all of Orange County. He thinks that the resolution and the concept plan achieve the charge and the group <br /> should be commended as well as the staff. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve and <br /> authorize the Chair to sign the resolution. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked about the second to the last paragraph and if this means reimbursement <br /> for the open space and the housing area. <br /> Rod Visser said that there is a fair amount of latitude that the local governments have on the timeline of <br /> the reimbursement. He does not have a direct answer to this question. <br /> Commissioner Carey said there is no answer to this question, and that is why they asked the managers <br /> to work on this and bring some recommendations back. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that the housing area would have to be paid for whenever it is used for <br /> housing. She asked if the whole 18 acres had to be paid for. She asked about the following paragraph, which is <br /> about reimbursement of the Solid Waste Landfill Enterprise Fund for the portions of the site designated for <br /> affordable housing and open space. She asked which options this was talking about. <br /> Rod Visser said that there might be other options besides just the local governments coming up with their <br /> own general fund money. There may be some grant opportunities or other options. <br />