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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 21, 2006 SUBJECT: Master Plan Process -New DEPARTMENT: ERCD Action Agenda Item No. ~~ Park at Blackwood Farm 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 Stanch, 245-2598 Lori Taft, 245-2660 PURPOSE: To approve, in follow-up to discussion at the Board's March 13, 2006 work session, a process for the creation of a master plan for 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 for 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 far that effort being formed and beginning work this fall. The attached draft master plan process attempts to 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.