Agenda - 01-23-2018 6-b - Potential Acquisition and Development of a Multi-Purpose County Campus

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 23, 2018 Action Agenda Item No. 6 -b SUBJECT: Potential Acquisition and Development of a Multi- Purpose County Campus DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office; Asset Management Services ( "AMS ") ATTACHMENT(S): 1 — Hwy 70 Site Assembly 2 — Letter from Hillsborough Dated November 29, 2017 3 — Purchase & Sale Agreements 4 — December 12, 2017 Presentation INFORMATION CONTACT: Bonnie Hammersley, 919 - 245 -2306 Jeff Thompson, 919 - 245 -2658 1 PURPOSE: To: 1) Ratify the Manager's recommendation to pursue the acquisition of approximately 21 acres located with the Hillsborough Highway 70 /Cornelius Street corridor known as the "Hwy 70 Site Assembly" for the development of a County Campus site that addresses multiple County Capital Investment Plan initiatives; and 2) Authorize the Manager to continue the site due diligence and examination process to include pursuing necessary future land use and zoning amendments with the Town of Hillsborough. BACKGROUND: In the spring of 2017, the County began to investigate alternative locations for the new Detention Center after ground lease negotiations with the State failed to produce acceptable lease terms on the Orange Correctional site. During the same spring time period, the Board asked staff to investigate potential sites along the Highway 70 /Cornelius Corridor (the area around Highway 70 between West Hill Avenue and Saint Mary's Road) for the Environment and Agricultural Center as an alternative to remodeling the current facility. The Detention Center site assessment initially included two sites in downtown Hillsborough, the existing jail location and the parking lot adjacent to the Courthouse. However, preliminary findings revealed several significant challenges related to those sites, so the assessment area was expanded to include sites outside of the downtown area. Highlights of this assessment are as follows: 1. Existing detention site (north of Margaret Lane). The existing site poses significant development issues and was not recommended: a. Costs associated with deconstruction and temporary off -site housing of detainees (off -site housing is estimated to cost $5.48 million during the construction timeframe);