Orange County NC Website
Charlie Horne asked if this would be phased and Dave Stancil said that this is a question <br />for the Chapel Hill Town Council. <br />Chair Carey introduced Roger Stancil, Town Manager of Chapel Hill. Roger Stancil said <br />that several phases of the park are planned and it is related to the resources available. He said <br />the Town Council approved a bid last night for everything that the resources can fund. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the PARTF grant and Roger Stancil said that he <br />feels confident that Chapel Hill will receive this grant. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that Orange County has raised this issue with two previous <br />Chatham County Chairs and Vice-Chairs, and some were more receptive than others about <br />entering into some kind of partnership with Orange County or at least discussing it so that <br />Chatham County residents could have access to this park. He said this is the third time this has <br />been brought up and this park is situated so close to Chatham County. <br />Chair Carey said that to build this park completely it will take more funds and that Chapel <br />Hill has asked for more money to assist with this park, and the Orange County Board of County <br />Commissioners will be considering this. He said that people will go where there are parks that <br />are convenient. <br />Carl Thompson asked about amulti-county agreement that the Chatham County <br />Commissioners could look at and Commissioner Jacobs said that the Little River Park has this <br />type of agreement with Orange and Durham Counties. He said that this park has won a lot of <br />awards and grants because of the partnership. <br />Mayor Voller asked about the traffic impact of this park because this intersection is <br />already difficult sometimes. He said that the majority of people in Pittsboro work in Chapel Hill <br />and the drives are increasing because of more development in this area. <br />Commissioner Gordon addressed the question about development. She said that with <br />respect to Smith Level Road, there are efforts to get alternative modes of transportation, and <br />there are plans to try and get sidewalks. With respect to15-501, there is a proposed public park <br />and ride lot in Chatham County, but the only one there now is the one that UNC built for its <br />employees. There are proposed bus routes, but there is no funding. <br />Tam Vanderbeck asked if this land was donated or purchased, and what Orange <br />County's costs are as it relates to this facility. He said that they need these figures to make <br />some kind of determination about a contribution. <br />Chair Carey said that Orange County does not expect Chatham County to give money <br />tonight but to open up discussions on these issues. <br />Roger Stancil said that he proposes to get all of this information to Chatham County. He <br />said that Chapel Hill purchased the land before he was employed here. <br />Chair Carey said that if they move forward on this, it will be important to bring Chapel Hill <br />to the table, since it will be Chapel Hill's facility to operate with a tremendous interest by Orange <br />County. <br />George Lucier asked how Orange County and Chapel Hill pay for parkland and Planning <br />Director Craig Benedict explained the park payment-in-lieu fee. Chapel Hill has something <br />similar. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that Orange County does buy land through the Lands <br />Legacy program, and one purpose is far recreation and parks. <br />3. Open Space Preservation Efforts <br />Dave Stancil said that the next two items are related. In 2000, Orange County created a <br />Lands Legacy program, which was one of the first of its type in North Carolina to try and fund <br />the acquisition of important natural and cultural resource lands within the County. A copy of the <br />brochure was in the agenda packet. He said that, to date, they have protected 1,800 acres and <br />have helped fund another 800 acres. Orange County has been fortunate to have bonds <br />