Orange County NC Website
Chair Jacobs said that the Greene Tract is being discussed as a possible school site. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that the reason this whole thing started is because the entities <br /> need to start paying back the solid waste enterprise fund, and this triggered the discussions <br /> about doing things on this site and whether some of the earlier thoughts should be reevaluated. <br /> Commissioner Nelson suggested having a better copy of a map, because he cannot see <br /> the three different tracts. He also suggested having one term for "decision points". <br /> Chair Jacobs suggested sticking with the discussion points, because no decisions will be <br /> made until all partners come together. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that there has never been any real agreement on how many <br /> units of affordable housing can go on the tract. <br /> Commissioner Gordon described the differences among the tracts. She said that the <br /> 104 acres (2 tracts) is a joint property and has part affordable housing and part open space. The <br /> 60-acre tract is different and was given to the County. She does not agree that the County has to <br /> start paying back on the 60 acres, because it was given to the County as a solid waste system <br /> asset. She suggested that there be two different conversations —one with the Assembly of <br /> Governments about the 104 acres and one within the County government about the 60 acres. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that the attorney is saying that the County did not adequately decide <br /> this with the other two entities. <br /> Background Land Use and Ownership: <br /> Planning Director Craig Benedict said that there are three tracts. Tract 1 is 60 acres that <br /> is part of the solid waste system asset. Tract 2 is an 18-acre affordable housing tract. Tract 3 is <br /> 86 acres for park and open space. Tracts 2 and 3 are the 104 acres that is of joint ownership <br /> between Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County. With the original concept plan group, the <br /> reason for the affordable housing tract being where it is, was because it could be serviced by a <br /> gravity sewer system, and the Tract 3 area is part of three headwaters and is the most <br /> environmentally sensitive. <br /> The original land use plan for the entire Greene Tract was when the joint planning area <br /> was done in 1987 and said, "Landfill Pending Further Study." The joint land use plan was then <br /> changed in 2001-2002 to solid waste purposes in one area and affordable housing and open <br /> space in the other area, so there was a conscious amendment to the land use. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that Chapel Hill was in charge of solid waste, and Chapel <br /> Hill wanted Orange County to take it over. One part of the agreement was that Orange County <br /> got a certain amount of the property free and clear, and it was to be used as a landfill asset. <br /> Later on, there was some discussion about the hardwoods, but it was never in writing. <br /> Chair Jacobs suggested looking over the minutes from some of those Board of County <br /> Commissioner meetings, because there seem to be different recollections. Commissioner Carey <br /> agreed. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that he has a different perspective because he was involved <br /> in the Town of Carrboro at the time. He has a very clear recollection that the County was <br /> adamant that it wanted those 60 acres for solid waste purposes. The purposes were undefined, <br /> but the County was adamant about having the 60 acres for solid waste purposes. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that she also remembers it this way. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that the County Commissioners were adamant about having <br /> the 60 acres as a landfill asset, but not for landfill functions. He thought that the Board was clear <br /> about that. <br /> Geof Gledhill said that the Board was clear about not burying waste. The agreement <br /> prohibits burying solid waste and construction and demolition waste. However, it is just as clear <br /> on the other side of this that the land is to be used for solid waste purposes. <br />