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<br />• Developer seeks Town of Hillsborough regulatory approvals as required <br />Development Timeline <br />• Gateway Center: anticipated completion by November 2007 <br />• Office Building, Library and Parking Deck: anticipated completion by May 2008 <br />Chair Jacobs said that the library will be the central library for Orange County and there <br />is consulting money available to plan the library space with the public and staff within this <br />timeframe. He said that he believes that parking and traffic issues have been addressed with <br />the extra parking and a shuttle service. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the County is doing everything possible to respect the <br />environment and is using green building principles. He thanked George Horton for working with <br />the County. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />Sandy Peterson is current President of the Orange County library. She said that she is <br />glad that the Board of County Commissioners is acting on the Library Services Task Force's <br />recommendations of 2004. She read an Executive Summary of the task force report. She said <br />that the recommendations reflect the fact that the main library, which has never occupied the <br />facility truly designed far library use, has been in need of replacement and expansion for over <br />25 years. The recommendations clearly note that the main library should be the first <br />construction project. The construction of the library will allow for adequate public restroom <br />facilities, programming space, adequate shelving and space for materials, and parking for the <br />patrons. She said that the Library staff is eager to offer more programs and services for the <br />citizens. <br />John Idol said that the main library should be in the County seat to serve all of the <br />citizens of the County. He said that Boone and Brevard have bath constructed new main <br />libraries in the county seats. He said that Orange County should not lag behind and should get <br />a state-of-the-art facility. <br />Mayor of Hillsborough Tom Stevens said that he represents the Town Board and <br />himself as Mayor. He said that the board was delighted that the expansion is in downtown <br />Hillsborough and the board supports this proposal. He said that support should not be <br />construed as regulatory approval. There is concern about the fiscal impact, the environmental <br />sensitivity, and the traffic concerns, but he knows that they can work together on this to move <br />forward. He said that George Horton is a good partner and the board supports this next step. <br />Margot Malachowski is the librarian at the Carrboro Cybrary. She said that although <br />she lives and works in Carrboro, she works for Orange County, and her interest is in seeing <br />strong library services throughout the County. She said that she supports the proposed <br />downtown library. <br />Elaine Crovitz is a volunteer in the OCS and a retired psychologist. She said that she <br />is a frequent patron of the library. She said that, as of now, students have limited access to <br />computers at the library and an adequate library system is what is needed. She said there is <br />also a need for more room for language learning and an adequate children's room. She thinks <br />that this library will improve learning in Orange County. She suggested having a coffee shop an <br />the first floor of the library and she has seen this in other larger areas. She said that teenagers <br />would congregate at the coffee shop and use the library facilities. <br />Joe Phelps said that he is neither for nor against this project, but it will have great <br />consequences for the downtown area. He would like for the Board to take time on this project <br />