Agenda - 10-04-2016 - 6-a - Minutes

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14 1 Craig Benedict said all entities would need to be involved if the Board wants to change 2 any part of the 2002 resolution. He said this resolution did not get into the specific uses of the 3 open space acreage. 4 Commissioner Rich asked if there is a plan for mixed-use, and if the support services for 5 this area can be identified. 6 Craig Benedict said the 2002 resolution only has a general amount of acreage and did 7 not get into a mixed-use discussion. He said this discussion would need to be opened. 8 Commissioner Jacobs said he does have some historical knowledge of this tract. 9 Commissioner Jacobs said the parcel they did not discuss was the 60 acres, and they 10 need to decide what to do with this and get it off the table. He said it was decided to keep it as 11 protected open space with passive recreation, per the Town of Chapel Hill. He said an entity, 12 that will conserve this parcel, should be found. He said if this can be accomplished, there 13 would be a remarkable amenity in this area of Chapel Hill. 14 Commissioner Jacobs said the other issue is what to do with the other parcel. He said 15 there was initially great resistance to mixed-use, but over time people started talking about it as 16 a possible school site. He said also people began talking about opening up active recreation on 17 the 99-acre site, in association with a school, and housing, etc. His historical recollection was 18 that staff was directed to bring back a mixed-use proposal for this parcel, but this has not 19 happened. 20 Commissioner Jacobs said he hoped that this meeting would lead to the 60-acre parcel 21 being completed, and the 99 acres having a mixed-use scenario, including a school, active 22 recreation and affordable housing. 23 Chair McKee said he has no issue with setting aside the 60-acre parcel, as originally 24 intended. He said having a partner to do so, may be financially advantageous. 25 Commissioner Jacobs said his intent would be for this to be low impact recreation in the 26 midst of an urbanized area. 27 David Stancil gave some historical background on the 60-acre parcel, and the possible 28 conservation on this site. 29 Bonnie Hammersley referred to the multi-jurisdictional staff team, and said they are 30 looking at the environmentals of the Greene Tract site, which she shared with the Town 31 Managers. 32 Chair McKee suggested bringing this back to the Assemblies of Governments (AOG), 33 which would afford the opportunity to gauge the buy-in from all involved. He echoed 34 Commissioners Rich and Jacobs' comments that only placing affordable housing in this area is 35 irresponsible. He said there must be commercial as well. 36 Bonnie Hammersley said presenting to the AOG would be at the discretion of the Board. 37 She said the work group has talked about the work that the Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood 38 Association (RENA) has done on this, and when she gets this report she will share it with the 39 Board of County Commissioners. 40 Commissioner Pelissier endorsed Chair McKee's suggestion to add this topic to the 41 AOG. She said this issue has to move forward. 42 Commissioner Burroughs said there are now only two places left for elementary schools: 43 the Greene Tract and Carolina North sites, with the latter being shaky. She said part of the 44 goal of the bond is to increase capacity in the schools. She said growth will continue, and the 45 Greene Tract may be an option. 46 Commissioner Jacobs thanked the Manager and staff for their work on this item. 47 Commissioner Jacobs reiterated the previous suggestion of the County buying out its 48 partners in this site, if they are not interested in pursuing something on it. 49 Commissioner Rich said she thinks people are ready to move forward with the Greene 50 Tract.