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a. Proposed Master Plan for Little River Regional Park The Board considered a proposed master plan for the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area. Land Conservation Manager Rich Shaw described the park and its location in Orange County. Two-thirds of the property is in Durham County and one-third is in Orange County. This is a cooperative project between the two counties, the Triangle Land Conservancy, and the Eno River Association. All four partners contributed funds far the purchase, and all four applied jointly for State funds. Commissioner Jacobs is the representative on the Little River Park Advisory Committee. The role of the committee has been to make recommendations on the uses allowed at the park. The recommendations include picnic shelters, restrooms, playground, group camping, and an elaborate trail system. Most of the property is wooded. He described in detail the aspects of the park master plan. There would be a caretaker residence (a house moved from Heritage Hills} to be used as an an-site presence for the park. They received a $50,000 grant for the walking trails from the State. Also, DOT is going to advise a turn lane for southbound Guess Road. The counties have asked far assistance from DOT to pay far this, and DOT agreed to pay for this (approximately $85,000}. A portion of the caretaker residence is going to be paid from the FEMA grant, and the Board previously allocated $45,000 to have the house relocated here, and that includes a portion of the FEMA assistance. The draft master plan was presented to the advisory committee on May 14t", and the comments were favorable. It was suggested to add a bio-retention area to capture some of the rainwater off the parking area. It has also been submitted to the Planning Department for an initial courtesy review. Since the May 14t" meeting, they have received notice that as part of the condition of receiving federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, they are required to use a portion of the money far an archeological survey of the entire property. They learned a great deal from the survey. Two weeks ago a discovery was made near the entranceway that may affect the alignment of some of the features -notably the caretaker residence and the septic field system. Two pits will be dug to see if there are any intact remains. There is evidence that there may have been structures underground. There is an alternate plan for the residence and septic field if anything is found. Also, there was a change in the designer, and the new designer proposed a smaller parking lot with the same number of parking spaces. There would be 6°l0 less impervious cover, which would make mare of the meadow available for public use. The advisory committee has not seen this change, since it was just received today. He asked the Board to consider this change in the parking lat. The cost estimates for the park based on the master plan is $625,000 for phase I. The grant that was received in 2000 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund was $262,000. This grant will expire September 30t" this year. The County will ask far an extension after both counties have signed the interlocal agreement. After accounting for the $317,000 in available grant funds and previously appropriated funds, this leaves $308,000 still needed to develop the park - $154,000 for each county. Durham County has appropriated another $100,000 toward park construction and Orange County staff is proposing that we match this amount by adding another $55,000 from the payment-in-lieu funds to the $45,000 that the Board already allocated for the relocation of the caretaker residence. Far the remaining amount of $76,000, the Board can consider delaying ar cutting facilities ar using a combination of payment-in-lieu funds or borrowed funds from other park projects that are not yet underway. Durham County intends to cover their overage with park bond funds. Commissioner Halkiotis asked for a definition of "group camping". Rich Shaw said that a group (bay scouts, girl scouts, church group) would register and there would be someone in charge of the group. Both counties agreed on group camping and Durham County was not interested in allowing individual camping in phase I. Commissioner Carey asked if deferral would affect the grant extensions. Rich Shaw said that if the boards can approve this plan before the break, then there should be enough time to ask for an extension. Commissioner Jacobs said that facilities for deferral were not proposed earlier. He said that public roads are paved not graveled and this would be in conflict with haw the County operates. He is a little uncomfortable with borrowing from other projects and would rather use payment-in-lieu monies. He would like to give staff guidance about looking at the funding options and seeing about moving the caretaker's house and approving it in concept. l0