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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 2, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. q_ q <br />SUBJECT: Master Plan Process — New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm <br />DEPARTMENT: ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proposed Master Plan Process <br />6/10/02 Memo from HPC <br />4/26/05 APB Resolution <br />Map <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245 -2598 <br />Lori Taft, 245 -2660 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a process for the creation of a master plan for the New Hope Park at <br />Blackwood Farm property. <br />BACKGROUND: At the end of 2001, Orange County acquired a 152 -acre site from the late <br />Nannie and Mary Blackwood located near the intersection of NC 86 and New Hope Church <br />Road in northern Chapel Hill Township. The property was acquired because of its high <br />conservation values (natural area, historic property, former farm) and its suitable location for a <br />future County park. In acquiring the land, the Board noted that it would be land- banked for <br />future use, and that the eventual park design should feature low- impact design and retain some <br />of the agricultural, historic and scenic components of the property. <br />In January, the Fairview Master Plan Committee and staff completed the master plan for the <br />Fairview Public Campus. This plan was presented for review at the joint County/Town board <br />meeting on February 23. While a number of previous projects are still in various stages of <br />design completion /preconstruction (Northern Park, Twin Creeks) and require staff resources, <br />the Board may wish to consider whether to move ahead with the next scheduled park master <br />plan, the New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm. It is currently envisioned that preliminary staff <br />work for the New Hope Preserve (with Durham County, Chapel Hill and Durham City) will begin <br />later this spring, with a master plan committee for that effort being formed and beginning work <br />this fall. <br />The attached draft master plan process attempts to layout a timetable, operating principles and <br />committee structure that recognize the unusual case and unique opportunities that this site <br />offers. It includes agricultural and historic, components as well as the primary park and <br />recreation themes that are somewhat different from previous efforts. <br />The attached process envisions that the master plan would be created between May 2006 and <br />January 2007 by a Master Plan Committee of 15 persons, convened by two County <br />