Minutes - 20021106 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Metadata

Thumbnails

Annotations

Commissioner Brown asked if they had surveyed those properties. Superintendent Pedersen said that they have not done surveys, but they have done appraisals. He said that they did have to contact property owners to investigate whether or not the land would be available. Some owners said no and they respected that. He said that the Snipes property would not work for the purpose of the high school at this time because it will be a 1,000-student high school. Commissioner Gordon asked why the Board should do anything now since there is not a request. She is surprised that condemnation came into the conversation. She said that it seems that if the Board does not do anything, then it stands behind the water and sewer agreement. Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the result of the survey for the site on 15- 501 near the new fire station. Chair Jacobs said that the CCHCS board has looked into it and there will be more information tomorrow. Commissioner Brown clarified that the school board sent letters out to Mrs. Womble and Mrs. Snipes telling them that the school system wanted the property and that they could come to one of the school board meetings. Superintendent Pedersen said that they did send them letters to come to a board meeting. Commissioner Brown said that the Board should show its support for the water and sewer boundary and the Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan. She said that the only reason that this property was never put in a rural buffer is because the Chapel Hill zoning is more protective of this area than our rural buffers. A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to affirm the water and sewer boundary agreement and the comprehensive plan that designates this area along Smith Level Road and the properties to be within that and subject to it. Commissioner Carey said that he does not view it as preemptive to have this on the agenda tonight. He thinks that putting this on the agenda tonight is part of the communication process. He is not sure that the Board needs to take any action to reaffirm something that has already been adopted and stood by for many years. Commissioner Gordon said that she agrees that we do not need to take action tonight. Chair Jacobs said that the Board has communicated that it would be time consuming and problematic to propose a site that is outside the water and sewer service area, that would involve a change in the land use plan. He sees this as an opportunity to offer some positive guidance to say that this is not a viable direction to look for a school site. He would support the idea of the motion. Commissioner Halkiotis said that having the Mayor of Chapel Hill present at the last meeting was a good idea and eliminated some down time in communicating back and forth and improved the lines of communication. He thinks the process of choosing a school site is going to change and he thinks that the public wants the process to change. It needs to be a much more public process. Commissioner Brown said that she appreciates what everyone has said that all of this is communication. She changed her motion to say that this is one of the beginning criteria for siting schools and to send it on to the School Standards Committee. The water and sewer boundary agreement and all of the other inter- governmental agreements should be the foundation and the direction for siting schools. Commissioner Halkiotis agreed to the amendment. Chair Jacobs clarified this new motion: The Water and Sewer Boundary Agreement and other applicable land use agreements be one of the beginning criteria for siting schools and that that understanding be forwarded to the Schools Facility Task Force to be incorporated into the siting of schools.