Agenda - 04-07-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

20 1 Steve Brantley said the language could be changed to say, "how the funds were, or will 2 be, used." 3 4 A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Rich to approve the 5 revised draft Applications, Guidelines & Scoring Sheets for each of two grant programs — 6 Business Investment Grant & Agriculture Economic Development Grant—which are funded by 7 Article 46 one quarter cent sales tax proceeds to support economic development. 8 with the two proposed changes: 1) to designate small grants as amounts below$1,000 and 9 large grants as amounts from $1,000 to $10,000; and 2) item #9 language will be changed to 10 say "how the funds were, or will be, used." 11 12 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 13 14 Steve Brantley gave an update of the website improvements and the digitization of the 15 application. He said the grants and the small business loan programs will be incorporated into 16 the business retention program. 17 18 19 n. Draft Interlocal Agreement for the Hollow Rock Park and Natural Area 20 The Board considered receiving a draft interlocal agreement for the construction and 21 operation of the planned Hollow Rock Park and Natural Area— a planned multi-jurisdictional 22 public park located along New Hope Creek and referring the draft interlocal agreement to the 23 Durham-Chapel Hill-Orange County Work Group for consideration at its March 11 meeting 24 before the agreement comes back to the Board at a future meeting for further discussion and 25 action. 26 27 PUBLIC COMMENT: 28 Bill Hall said is a resident of Durham County and he lives in an area very close to this 29 park. He said approximately 200 homes rely on Randolph Road for access. He said there is 30 opposition to closing Pickett Road, since this will shift significant traffic to Randolph Road. He 31 said a light is warranted at the intersection at Randolph and Erwin Road, but there are limited 32 options for improving the intersection at Randolph and Pickett Road. He said keeping Pickett 33 Road open and developing a safe park environment is not an either or proposition. He said it is 34 possible to design a safe environment for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. He said the 35 residents first heard about this from the Orange County Board of Commissioners, and he 36 appreciates their consideration. He asked the Board to remember that many residents do not 37 want to close Pickett Road, and he asked that plans be made to keep the road open. 38 39 Debra Barnes said she is also here to represent the residents of Randolph and the 40 adjoining roads who do not want to close Pickett Road. She said calling the Hollow Rock area 41 a park and making improvements to it does not change the fact that closing a portion of Pickett 42 Road will divert traffic into a residential neighborhood, decrease roadway connectivity, and 43 negatively impact the safety of residents of Randolph and adjoining roads because of increased 44 traffic. She noted the history of this proposal, which included a petition signed by 61 residents 45 in 2011. She said there have been several suggestions that the road closure is not necessary. 46 She noted the increases in traffic on Randolph Road since the 2010 traffic study, and she said 47 a stoplight at Randolph Road and Erwin Road will not be enough to alleviate the increased 48 traffic issues. She discussed a recent accident to illustrate this assertion, and she asked that 49 the idea of closing part of Pickett Road be dropped from the planning process for the Hollow