Agenda - 03-13-2006-3 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 13, 2006 Action Agenda Item No. ~~_ SUBJECT: Master Plan Process -New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm DEPARTMENT: ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Proposed Master Plan Process 6/10/02 Memo from HPC 4/26/05 APB Resolution Map INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stancil, 245-2598 Lori Taft, 245-2660 PURPOSE: To consider a process for the creation of a master plan far the New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm property. BACKGROUND: At the end of 2001, Orange County acquired a 152-acre site from the late Nannie and Mary Blackwood located near the intersection of NC 86 and New Hope Church Road in northern Chapel Hill Township. The property was acquired because of its high conservation values (natural area, historic property, former farm) and its suitable location for a future County park. In acquiring the land, the Board noted that it would be land-banked far future use, and that the eventual park design should feature low-impact design and retain some of the agricultural, historic and scenic components of the property. In January, the Fairview Master Plan Committee and staff completed the master plan for the Fairview Public Campus. This plan was presented for review at the joint County/Town board meeting on February 23. While a number of previous projects are still in various stages of design completion/preconstruction (Northern Park, Twin Creeks) and require staff resources, the Board may wish to consider whether to move ahead with the next scheduled park master plan, the New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm. It is currently envisioned that preliminary staff work for the New Hope Preserve (with Durham County, Chapel Hill and Durham City) will begin later this spring, with a master plan committee for that effort being formed and beginning work this fall. The attached draft master plan process attempts tc layout a timetable, operating principles and committee structure that recognize the unusual case and unique opportunities that this site offers. It includes agricultural and historic components as well as the primary park and recreation themes that are somewhat different from previous efforts. The attached process envisions that the master plan would be created between May 2006 and January 2007 by a Master Plan Committee of 15 persons, convened by two County