Agenda - 03-21-2006-9d - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

2 the Town to simplify open space stewardship of the upper Bolin Creek corridor and enhance planning, construction, operation and maintenance of future greenway trails." The Town shows a proposed segment of the planned Jones Creek Greenway on this property (an upstream segment of this greenway is also reflected in the Twin Creeks Master Plan). A resolution was adopted by the Town Board of Aldermen on August 16~h asking that these properties be transferred to the Town. It is not currently known whether this is anticipated as a purchase at market value (for the 0,2 acre property) or a gift or sale at nominal price, The County Attorney, E&RC Director and Planning Director have met to review these properties and the issues related to conveyance, Other departments were also asked about possible uses of the 0.2-acre property. The small Broad Street lot has a tax value of $9,658, and the 5.03 acres tract in Fox Meadow does not have an estimated tax value. Staff has not been able to identify a potential use by the County for the 0.2-acre (8700 square feet) lot on Broad Street, The property has a stream on it and an O WASA easement and is appears to be generally undevelopable. Its proximity to the Town's Baldwin Park across the street may make it a logical conveyance to the Town, The 5,03-acre lot in Fox Meadow subdivision was acquired as part of the subdivision approval for park and open space purposes, Jones Creek runs through the property and it is designated for a future greenway segment, As owner, once this future greenway is in existence, the County might be asked to help construct a greenway on this property of some point in time. if conveyed to Carrboro, an,y greenway construction would presumably be the Town's responsibility. Staff and the County Attorney have explored whether there are implications for conveying a parcel that was acquired for parks and open space as part of a development, and have determined that there are no legal impediments to ronve,yance of this lot to the Town, However, the County does have an interest in the long-term use of this property as the greenway connects north to Twin Creeks, If this property were conveyed to the Town, one possibility might be to do so with a conservation easement placed on it to ensure that future uses are consistent with open space protection and stream conservation purposes, This "conve,yance with easement" approach has already been undertaken successfully with Carrboro on the Adams Tract. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Conveyance of the two parcels in question could involve transaction costs (surveys, closing casts, attorney fees) for both properties, The 0.2-acre property could be sold on the market, as an alternative to conveyance, which might yield a small monetary return, although its potential for use appears very limited. The 5.03-acre lot was acquired as open space and would need to be used as such by the County, The Town's letter does not indicate whether it proposes to purchase the property or asks that they be gifted or sold at nominal price to the Town, An appraisal would be needed to assess accurately the value of the property. The 0,2-acre lot has a tax value of $9,600, and the value of the 5.03-acre lot is not known. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board 1) offer to sell the 0,2 acre parcel on Broad Street to the Town in consideration of the sum of $1, with the Town to pay all costs of transaction; and 2) offer to convey the 5.03-acre lot in Fox Meadow subdivision in consideration of the sum of $1, with a concurrent conservation easement to be granted and recorded to the County at time of closing that will ensure the property will be used for parks and open space purposes, with the Town to be responsible for all transaction casts.