Minutes - 20041021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Halkiotis said that central and northern Orange are not southern Orange. He used to live in southern Orange and he went to graduate school in southern Orange. He said that there are no Manley estates in central and northern Orange, there is no Carol Woods, and there is no really nice facility that would welcome seniors. He thinks that there are some opportunities at the Spartsplex and he does not have a problem with something being guaranteed by a federal agency. He would like to move ahead with the senior center in this area to show people that they care about seniors in the northern and central end of the County just as much as they do in the southern end. Commissioner Brown said that eight years ago the Board started negotiating with Eaton Vance on this, and it has been a long road. The one issue that was always in the press was haw this complex got built and who was responsible and who made money. She said that it needs to be transparent to the public who is making the money and who is in charge. Commissioner Brown asked if this would be a permanent community use and Craig Benedict said yes, community uses are allowed, but affordable housing would have to go through the zoning process Chair Jacobs said that he thinks this is a great opportunity to be creative about using public resources to do some multi-tasking to meet the needs of the community. He agrees with Commissioner Halkiotis about moving ahead with the senior center in this area. He thinks this proposal makes the Central Orange Senior Center a much more vibrant and interesting connection to a larger community than can be done with a freestanding senior center. He thinks it will be different in good ways. A motion was made by Chair Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to: 1) approve in concept that the staff proceed with LEDAHF to develop a proposal to purchase the Sportsplex and co-locate it with the Central Orange Senior Center; 2) that staff bring back to the Board for approval an independent financial consultant who would review the soundness and feasibility of the proposal; and 3) report back to the County Commissioners on the progress that has been made on developing this proposal for the Board's consideration by the second meeting in December. Commissioner Brown said that Chair Jacobs did not mention affordable housing and Chair Jacobs said that he would like to see if this works first. Commissioner Halkiotis suggested weaving in affordable housing to help eliminate any obstacles. Commissioner Brown said that she heard that there might be a separation of what Eaton Vance would sell the facility for and the other acreage. She thinks it should be part of this proposal. Chair Jacobs added a fourth item to the motion: 4) to investigate the potential to develop affordable housing an other parts of this parcel that might be acquired by purchasing the Sportsplex. Commissioner Halkiotis said that there are people in central and northern Orange that might not be able to afford some of the retirement communities in the southern end of the County. Commissioner Brown pointed out that this affordable housing should be by the County's standards - in perpetuity and under a specific income bracket that is not being served by the public sector. The Board agreed to add this to the motion. The motion, in full, is as follows: 1} to approve in concept, for the staff to proceed with LEDAHF {Linked Economic Development & Affordable Housing Foundation) to develop a proposal to purchase the Sportsplex and to co-locate the Central Orange Senior Center; 2) have staff bring back to the Board for their approval, an independent financial consultant who will review the soundness and the feasibility of the proposal;