Orange County NC Website
11 <br /> 1 The following is included for the record: <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Questions/ comments —from Commissioner Gordon via email for June 3, 2014 BOCC meeting <br /> 4 <br /> 5 A. Draft Orange County Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2040 <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Page 9-Attachment 2 - Planned Schedule of Park Construction (as per CIP) <br /> 8 Twin Creeks District Park, Phase II and III <br /> 9 <br /> 10 This park is scheduled for> FY19-20. Given that there is a master plan for this park which was <br /> 11 approved years ago, and given that at least one member of the public spoke in favor of moving <br /> 12 forward with this park (in a hearing last year, I believe), why is this park so low on the priority <br /> 13 list? All that has been built there is a trail, and that was constructed utilizing federal ARRA <br /> 14 funds. <br /> 15 What is the cost of Phase II and Phase III? Could we at least move Phase II forward to an <br /> 16 earlier time period? Please give an update on the status of this park. <br /> 17 <br /> 18 Staff notes the following regarding Twin Creeks: <br /> 19 <br /> 20 a) It is expected that the County will need to help fund the construction of the east-west <br /> 21 road shared by Ballentine subdivision (MI Homes) and the County along the southern <br /> 22 boundary of Twin Creeks, but it is not known when this road would be built. MI Homes <br /> 23 and Carrboro are not in agreement on whether a bond should be provided for a possible <br /> 24 future stream crossing (perhaps an additional$750,000). <br /> 25 b) The road and stream crossing question is pending analysis by the Town of Carrboro on <br /> 26 storm water and transportation patterns in the area. It is County staff's understanding this <br /> 27 work is underway by Town staff, but County staff does not know the status. <br /> 28 c) Cost estimates to build the drive, parking, two soccer fields and associated <br /> 29 infrastructure (storm water, sidewalks, etc.) exceeded available funds in 2007 when last <br /> 30 examined. It is expected that the total cost to build the paved drive, parking and two <br /> 31 soccer fields will exceed$2 million. This does not include the share of the east-west <br /> 32 road mentioned in "a)"which is $600,000-$750,000. Because of the high "start-up" <br /> 33 costs, funding the remaining phases has been shown in Years 6-10. There is $600,000 <br /> 34 funding for the share of the road previously-appropriated. Approximately$429,000 <br /> 35 remains from the original park funds. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> 38 Allen Green is a member of Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and he relayed an <br /> 39 experience from a recent trip to Western Australia. He said he and his son hiked 600 miles, <br /> 40 and the key was the connectivity and the network of trails between the towns and camping <br /> 41 spaces. He said this gave him a vision for what Orange County could be like. He said there is <br /> 42 a lot to see in this area, and he could see the greenways and Mountains to Sea Trail being <br /> 43 used in this way. He said more connectivity will mean a healthier population. <br /> 44 <br /> 45 Commissioner Rich said survey data showed that the public wanted more walking and <br /> 46 hiking trails. She said a similar survey with the Town of Chapel Hill showed this same need. <br /> 47 Dave Stancil agreed that this is a shared interest. <br /> 48 Commissioner Price said as this plan continues, the community centers need to be open <br /> 49 and accessible more often. She said staff is getting there with the notion of partnering and <br /> 50 working with non-profits and schools in the area. <br />