Minutes 09-12-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Jeff Thompson said the ground floor prime space is upfront on this site and the price did come from the developer Jeff Thompson said the Brewer property is less per sq ft because there is no visibility from the street, and it is more conducive to non-retail use Commissioner Pelissier said the Brewer Lane and 300 Main would involve amendments to the previously approved master plan by the town of Carrboro. She asked what this would involve. Jeff Thompson said, in talking with the developer, it seems that this would be little more than an administrative process. Realtor Ms. Van Zandt said the Brewer property was acquired late last year and by incorporating it into the 300 East Main Development, it allows for expansion of the parking deck on to this property. She said that the reconfiguration of the buildings requires a modified permit from the town of Carrboro; however it is a minor modification that does not require public hearings. Commissioner Gordon asked about the boxy buildings designated as placeholders. Ms. Van Zandt said this refers to the boxy buildings in the second tier with no windows. Commissioner Gordon asked if there is any particular place at the Brewer Lane site that is being considered for a library, and she asked for details on the parking arrangement. Ms. Van Zandt said property will consist of one building and the ground floor will be non-residential. She said the top floor would be condos, and the library would be on the bottom floor. She said there are currently 500 spaces in the deck that will be open to the public, and there is room for a third bay that would add another 250 spaces. She said this gives 750 spaces in the deck and she plans to work together with the town to devise the best plan for use. Commissioner Gordon asked if there would be a lease arrangement with parking and the library. Ms. Van Zandt said this is flexible and could be done either way, lease or purchase. She said with the library there may be a preference for leasing versus ownership early on. Commissioner Gordon asked how this would work with the parking. She asked if the county would be able to have particular spaces at particular costs. Ms. Van Zandt said staff will work with Orange County on this issue. She said the Arts Center and the Cat's Cradle are also there, but the Cat's Cradle does not really operate until after the library is closed, so sharing of spaces does make some sense. Commissioner Gordon asked about a review of the Shetley property on Hillsborough Road, and she asked about the utility easement on that site. She said she is not interested in seeing a library on the Shetley property. She said there had been discussions about swapping properties with Carrboro, so that the library would be on the Carrboro owned property. She questioned whether the Aldermen are interested in a swap, and if not, she feels this site is not suitable for a library because of site limitations, including the utility easement. Frank Clifton said nobody on County staff would recommend the library be put on the Shetley property. He said there were some discussions at one point with town staff regarding a joint project that would involve a County library site on the street frontage of the park property. He said that, it is best to do more study to make sure a library can be built on these sites before proposing them to the public. Commissioner Gordon said her point is that the Board needs to find out if the Aldermen are even interested in a swap.