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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 19, 2013 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 7 -b <br />SUBJECT: Southern Branch Library Siting Criteria — Process Update <br />DEPARTMENT: Library, Asset Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />Services (AMS) <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. September 18, 2012 Site Selection <br />Criteria Abstract <br />2. December 6, 2012 Carrboro <br />Recommendation Letter <br />3. Site Evaluation Criteria <br />4. Southern Branch Library Site Locator <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Lucinda Munger, (919) 245 -2528 <br />Jeff Thompson, (919) 245 -2652 <br />Michael Harvey, (919) 245 -2597 <br />1 <br />PURPOSE: To update the Board of County Commissioners ( "BOCC ") on the Southern Branch <br />Library site selection analysis, provide feedback to staff on next steps, and authorize staff to <br />present this information and relevant BOCC comments to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen at its <br />April 9, 2013 work session. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Purpose and Overview of the Site Selection Process — On September 18, 2012 the BOCC <br />approved a set of guiding principles and a comprehensive site selection criteria for locating the <br />Southern Branch Library, potentially a single level, 20,000 square foot facility contemplated for <br />operation during fiscal year 2016 -17 within the Capital Investment Plan (note Attachment 1, <br />"September 18, 2012 Site Selection Criteria Abstract "). The criteria and its related processes <br />are a guide for staff examination, evaluation and recommendations to the BOCC for final site <br />selection. The criteria and process were crafted over several months with public input as well <br />as that of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. <br />The criteria focus on a process providing two tiers of analysis. The first level ( "Phase 1 ") <br />focuses on technical considerations for the site, including location, broad geographic attributes, <br />jurisdiction land use requirements, site constraints, access, and general cost considerations. <br />Preliminary staff evaluation of selected sites would lead to recommendation(s) to the BOCC for <br />more in -depth technical study of a given parcel(s) requiring the engagement of third party <br />professional services firms in the areas of soils, topography, environmental, and cultural <br />characteristics, utility capacity, access, transportation, and title issues. These in -depth studies <br />would require an estimated $10,000 to $15,000 investment for each selected site to determine <br />the full viability and support of a Southern Branch Library. <br />