Orange County NC Website
<br />Rachel Royce said that she has not had a chance to look at the plans. She is delighted <br />that the library facility will be one block from her house. She uses the present facilities a lat. <br />She thinks that it is important to the business and public health of the Town and the County, as <br />far as making things walkable and bikable. She suggested same things to consider. She <br />concurs that there has not been an opportunity to have public input yet into the plans. She <br />asked that there be play space outdoors of the library, walking and biking access to the site and <br />its connection to the future location of Weaver Street Market, and use of permeable surfaces to <br />prevent runoff into the Eno River. She also has a concern about the view of the development <br />from the Eno River. She does not want the development to be a looming presence over the <br />river. She is delighted about the prospect of the library nearby. She also left a copy of a <br />statement from John Delconte with the Clerk. <br />Jim Baericke lives on Margaret Lane and is just two doors down from the proposed <br />project. He said that the neighbors have been in contact with Mr. Horton about buffering for this <br />area and they think that a library and County offices on that site would be good. He and his <br />neighbors are enthusiastic about this proposal and about maintaining buffers there with Mr. <br />Horton. <br />Library Director Brenda Stephens said that she was pleased when she heard about <br />phase I of the project and that it would include a new library facility. The citizens of Orange <br />County are overdue for adequate restrooms, overdue far shelving books in windows, overdue <br />for having staff to move furniture whenever there is a program far more than 20 people, and <br />overdue to have a building designed for a library. She said that they have been trying to offer <br />21St century services in a 20t" century facility. She said that she and the staff are excited about <br />this proposed plan. <br />Mark Peters emailed the statement below to the Clerk and asked That it be included as part of <br />the public record: <br />I will likely be unable to attend tonight but will try to record the broadcast or get a recording from <br />Mr. Hunt. <br />I have some comments and questions about the county campus. <br />I can see the benefit of having most or all of the county staff in a central location. Most of my <br />questions are in relation to whether this plan is the most ideal one from a fiscal sense as well as <br />to the logistics. I am also not sure why so much of this planning was done in private. <br />Q: What parts of this proposal are going out for bid? Is all of the development to be done by Mr, <br />Horton's company? <br />Q: Are these fair prices for this square footage? Might square footage in another area have <br />been more cost effective? What is the end-of-the-game cost per square foot (for the rented year <br />plus the purchase price)? Why wouldn't a builder make out better doing a private development? <br />Is this a good deal? <br />Q: What departments will be in these buildings? Will it house all of the county government? <br />Are all of the customer-facing departments housed in the campus? <br />Q: What environmental impacts will this have on the nearby Eno River? Some mitigation of <br />runoff is mentioned, but I am not sure how effective these methods are, how reliant on proper <br />upkeep, how likely to be overrun, etc. Any other risks? <br />