Minutes 05-15-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dwight Bassett said zoning code requires that 20 percent of each new development be set aside for public amenity space. He said staff plans to connect to the greenway trail system. He said there is an area behind Whole Foods that cannot be developed and staff has asked for this space to allow for creation of additional greenspace. Commissioner McKee asked how staff arrived at the figure of$1.2 million for stormwater capital. He said this will not build a lot of infrastructure. Dwight Bassett said this original budget was for design cost and the building of two retention ponds. He said the approach changed, and the on-site stormwater retention was prioritized over the public amenity side. He said the allocated money is intended for site by site future improvements. Commissioner McKee said that does not address the problem of that area being flooded today. He said this project may not increase the flooding, but it will not decrease it. He questioned whether there might be access to additional money or grants to mitigate the problems in that area. Dwight Bassett said this was part of the reason for the grant applications. He said the Chapel Hill Stormwater Master plan is the most important thing that can be done in implementing new infrastructure in the flood basin that feeds the district. He said this is more important than anything that can be done inside the district. He said staff will be looking at measures that can be taken upstream to reduce the water coming in to the area. He said the build out estimates show only a 6-8 percent impervious increase in 15 years, and with the new systems being put in place, he feels this will be balanced out. Commissioner McKee said his concern centers around the idea that a greater likelihood of continuing flooding problems will adversely affect the viability of additional commercial development. He asked if this has been considered. Dwight Bassett said Eastgate Shopping Center is in the floodplain and anything built there must be flood proof according to town code. He said beyond that, the desire is to improve the condition of the basin where the water is coming from. He said once the stormwater management plan is adopted, it will counterbalance the negative impacts on the district and downstream. Commissioner Gordon referred to page 9 in their abstract materials. She asked about the operating costs. She asked about the services that would be financed by the County, other than education, such as social services and Emergency Services. She said there will be 1450 residential units, but she would like to know the resident population, and the cost of the services. Clarence Grier said this was not factored in to the original analysis, but it can be factored in now, and an update can be provided. Commissioner Gordon said Orange County has to fund the schools. She said impact fees will be coming in and there will be costs, so money will be going out. She said the fiscal year 2014-2018 lists 300 students, and this is the approximate cost of half of an elementary school, which is about $17 million. She said there are another 45 students listed in 2019- 2023. She said elementary school #12 is listed in 2021 for $34 million. She said you can look at this according to incremental costs, or when the new school will have to be built. She is trying to figure out what kind of costs have to be applied against the total of$5 million coming in, in terms of services. Clarence Grier said $5 million would be the operational costs of the increased enrollment. He said staff would anticipate that the increase in enrollment would move elementary 12 up, and would potentially mean a new middle or high school. He said this would move the capital plan forward as a current expense. He said, as it stands right now, construction of Elementary 12 would need to begin in 2018.