Agenda - 04-18-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

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6 1 Mary Musacchia thanked the Board of County Commissioners for her appointment these 2 past two terms, and she will be rolling off the Commission in June. She reviewed highlights, 3 and the big issue is the Morgan Creek Trail. She said a bridge will be going across it, and this 4 will be critical with connectivity. 5 Mary Musacchia said another issue is that Orange County and Chapel Hill has shared 6 relations on Millhouse property, and last year they had Chapel Hill to reach out to Orange 7 County for planning purposes. She said there is etiquette to the process of communication, 8 and the Commission believes this property needs planning attention that should start sooner 9 rather than later. 10 Mary Musacchia said another strong concern is the concept of inclusion playgrounds, 11 which should be a standard for all parks. She said this is planned for Cedar Falls Park 12 currently. 13 Mary Musacchia said another topic is the Ephesus Fordham development. She said 14 several years ago Chapel Hill did not include the Commission as part of the development 15 process. She said staff is well involved, but the Commission is not included from a parks 16 mentality. She said this area is at the southern end of Booker Creek, and she said the 17 Commission recommended green space along Booker Creek, such as trails, benches, etc. She 18 said daylighting requirements were also recommended, as well as a code modification for this 19 type of district. She said the request was that 8% of the development be publically accessible. 20 Mary Musacchia said another concern of the Commission is the Legion Road property. 21 She said the Town of Chapel Hill chose not to exercise its right of first refusal, a decision, with 22 which, the Commission disagreed. She said in December 2016, the American Legion Post 23 purchased this 36-acre tract, which is adjacent to another 10-acre tract, which is a park. She 24 said the entire area is about 46 acres and it about the size of a community park. She said 25 Chapel Hill is currently considering how it would be able to purchase all of this land. She said 26 there is strong consideration for whether or not some portion of that land should be sold, once it 27 is acquired, or should there be a public-private partnership, etc. She strongly urged the Board 28 of County Commissioners that this is one of the densest sections of Orange County, and it is an 29 opening to the treasured asset that is the Town of Chapel Hill. She said there are not 30 adequate facilities to handle the residents from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County, and 31 she implored the County to be involved in the future of this land. She said she advocates 32 keeping the parcel a contiguous property, and using it as a community park. 33 Mary Musacchia said her final topic is summer camps, which were full within six hours of 34 registration being opened. She said there are waiting lists, even though camps have been 35 expanded to include 80 additional slots at Frank Porter Graham. She said the camps cannot be 36 expanded further because facilities are maxed out. She asked the BOCC to consider that the 37 Legion Road property could also be a possible site for future camps, inclusive playgrounds, etc. 38 Commissioner Rich thanked her for her service, and encouraged her to look for another 39 board on which she could serve. 40 41 Hillsborough Board of Adjustment— David Remington 42 David Remington said he has been happy to represent Orange County on this 43 Adjustment, and in past terms on the Planning Board. He said extraterritorial jurisdictions 44 (ETJs) have been respected very well. 45 David Remington said Hillsborough's emphasis on zoning and development is to 46 encourage business development north of Town, so as not to add to the traffic problems. He 47 said Eno River Academy Charter School has been approved on Highway 57, and he 48 encouraged the Board of County Commissioner to be aware of, and a part of the coordination 49 of, planning and zoning in around the Town.