Minutes 02-12-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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parking. My statements about the GSA were made in the context of satisfying Hillsborough's parking requirements for new meeting space constructed as an addition to the Link Center. Alice Gordon In addition to the other concerns, Commissioner Gordon said that after seeing the proposed joint usage configuration, she was concerned about the impact on the neighborhood and the difficulties with parking. She said that the arts group would need permanent space as would the Board of County Commissioners. She said that external concerns aside, the shared use design doesn't seem to satisfy either need. She said that, with the idea of consolidating several services to one location, the meeting facility should be downtown. She noted that there is an underutilized parking deck, many facilities already downtown and a county campus. She said she feels there should be a meeting room on the campus. She suggested adding to the Link Government Services Center. She acknowledged that there may be planning and HVAC issues, but the concept is that their core facilities are at Link Government Services Center and that is where the meeting room should be. She feels the meeting space should be downtown and that there will be scheduling and other issues with sharing meeting space with performance space. She said there has been excellent analysis done of the facilities, but no analysis of the needs. Commissioner McKee said Commissioner Gordon touched on many of his concerns about space needs and the scheduling of a joint facility or a shared facility with other towns and schools. He said if three entities plus an arts center are using it, he does not know how they could all use it in a logical manner. He said he does not see this as a two purpose facility. Commissioner Rich said, just coming off the Chapel Hill Town Council, she has seen their meeting room used for many purposes, and it was scheduled for every night. She said it would be a good idea to know who meets when. She is not as concerned about the other governmental bodies using it but can see the concern with a performance group. She noted that the Town Council chambers are not used on the weekends, so she thinks that part could work out. She said she would like to hear from Board of County Commissioners about the impact on and the feedback from the neighborhood. Chair Jacobs said the Board of County Commissioners has not met with the neighborhood, but he has talked with the Mayor who has met with the neighbors. Frank Clifton said there is a reason things are moving in the order they are. He said Commissioner Gordon is correct in that they do want to know the uses that are going to be in a facility; however they pay for maintenance, heating, lights on Whitted every day and wanted to see what the facility could be used for. The request for joint usage came from the arts group and the town and the arts group would prefer the Board not be in the building at all, but that didn't make sense from a cost standpoint. He said with the Board of County Commissioners' rotating meeting schedule, they would not be using this facility on a daily basis. He said they did tell the arts group that there will be times when events cannot be scheduled; however in the summer time the facility would be available every night. He said talking with the neighborhood was left to the Town of Hillsborough. He was told that the government uses are all appropriate for the area, as the building has always been for government use. Margaret Hauth, Planning Director from the Town of Hillsborough, said money given to the arts center came from their tourism board not the town or the Town's Board of Commissioners. She said that this fact does not lessen the town support of the cultural center. The concept has not come before the town yet for a vote. She said they have advised the cultural center to talk with neighborhood to find out the issues, since they know the intensity of their usage. She noted that comparison will need to be done regarding old use, with new use. The recreation center is a nighttime peak use and a cultural arts event would most likely be a