Minutes 09-08-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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12 Bonnie Hammersley said staff will provide ongoing updates at regular Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meetings, as information becomes available. She said this practice will allow for momentum to continue. Chair McKee asked if any updates from the Towns could be shared as well, noting that a strong partnership between the County and the Towns is important. 2. Greene Tract Historical Information and Options BACKGROUND: The Greene Tract (164 acres) was acquired in 1984 for $608,000 and came to Orange County as an asset in the Solid Waste Fund. As a result of the 1998 Interlocal Solid Waste Agreement, 60 acres of the Greene Tract was conveyed to Orange County for "Solid Waste management purposes" (now known as Orange County SW 60 Acre Tract). The Interlocal Agreement (amended April 12, 2000) provided for the three owning partners to determine, over a two-year period, the ultimate disposition of the remaining 104 jointly held acres. The Agreement further included a repayment mechanism to the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. The financial reimbursement to the Solid Was Fund began on July 1, 2008. This link http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=27031&dbid=0 provides a history of the Greene Tract from 1999 through 2008 which is a compendium of various reports and studies which were presented at a `Joint Greene Tract Work Session' on April 29, 2008 and at an Assembly of Governments meeting on December 6, 2012. Attachment A in agenda packet provides information regarding the last action taken by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on December 10, 2002. Although there has been considerable discussion about the future of the Greene Tract, no action has been taken by the BOCC since 2002. Although not specific to the Greene Tract, multiple Historic Rogers Road Area (HRRA) small area studies and planning efforts have been conducted by the local governments over the last 15 years. More recently, the HRRA staff workgroup has been reviewing and developing two new initiatives: 1. The Community First planning program (Rogers Road Eubanks Neighborhood Association (RENA) and the Jackson Center) hired by the joint governments. 2. Multi-Jurisdiction Technical Environmental Scan of the Greene Tract. All aspects are being researched and updated and maybe ready for a joint meeting in the fall. The remaining 60 acres of the Greene Tract continues to be owned as an asset in the Solid Waste Fund. However, the FY 2016-17 Capital Investment Plan (CIP) includes funds to purchase the property. Over the years there have been many options (based on various studies) discussed as a possible future use of the 104 acres jointly owned by Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Listed below are the options that have been explored: 1. Joint Affordable Housing could be planned for 18.1 acres and the remaining 85.9 acres would remain join open space. 2. The 104-acre tract should remain as open space to be protected by conservation easements. 3. The acreage for affordable housing could be placed in the Land Trust. 4. Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools requested that part of the Greene Tract be reserved for a future elementary school site. An approximate 11-acre area south of the 18 Affordable Housing site was considered.