Agenda - 12-05-2016 - 6-a - Minutes

Browse Search

9 1 More recently, the HRRA staff workgroup has been reviewing and developing two new 2 initiatives: 3 1) The Community First planning program (Rogers Road Eubanks Neighborhood 4 Association (RENA) and the Jackson Center) hired by the joint governments. 5 2) Multi-Jurisdiction Technical Environmental Scan of the Greene Tract. All aspects are 6 being researched and updated and maybe ready for a joint meeting in the fall. 7 8 Over the years there have been many options (based on various studies) discussed as a 9 possible future use of the 104 acres jointly owned by Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. 10 Listed below are the options that have been explored: 11 1) Joint Affordable Housing could be planned for 18.1 acres and the remaining 85.9 acres 12 would remain join open space. 13 2) The 104 acre tract should remain as open space to be protected by conservation 14 easements. 15 3) The acreage for affordable housing could be placed in the Land Trust. 16 4) Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools requested that part of the Greene Tract be reserved for 17 a future elementary school site. An approximate 11-acre area south of the 18 Affordable 18 Housing site was considered. 19 5) Rename the property to recognize the headwaters of Bolin Creek, Booker Creek and Old 20 Field Creek. 21 22 As a result of the Inter Local Agreement, 60 acres of the Greene Tract was conveyed to 23 Orange County for"Solid Waste management purposes". Utility design and extension to the 24 Rogers Road area is in progress. 25 26 Commissioner Jacobs said the plan for the 60 acres is to leave it as undisturbed natural 27 habitat with low intensity recreation purposes. 28 Alderman Seils asked if this decision will be made formal. 29 Chair McKee said the County would like to move toward a formal agreement with the 30 Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro regarding what will happen with the Greene Tract, and 31 whether the Towns will retain ownership or wish the County to take over ownership. 32 Alderman Seils asked if a formal decision will be announced about the 60 acres. 33 Chair McKee said there is no timeframe, but the unofficial intent is for the 60 acres to 34 remain as open space. 35 Bonnie Hammersley said this item will be on the Board of County Commissioners' 36 agenda on October 18th 37 Chair McKee said in regards to the rest of the land, the County would like to have a 38 discussion with both Towns as to what will be done with the 104 acres. 39 Alderman Chaney asked if the location of the closest grocery store is known. 40 Mayor Lavelle said five miles. 41 Alderman Chaney said if affordable housing, financed through low income housing tax 42 credits, is to be built on this site, there must be a grocery store within a mile. She said doing 43 the circuit riding from stakeholder to stakeholder, to find options for the site, is ineffective, and a 44 master plan is needed for this site. She said she saw what can be achieved during the inter- 45 city visit to Boulder. She said it took 10 years, but the City worked with all stakeholders to get it 46 done. She said the property must be maximized to benefit the County as a whole. 47 Commissioner Jacobs said he thought staff was directed, at a previous Assembly of 48 Governments (AOG) meeting, to do a draft master plan of mixed used development on this site, 49 so the elected officials could react to. He thought staff was working on it.