Orange County NC Website
33 <br /> <br />David Stancil said he can only speak to those who have contacted his department, and <br />it is a mixed bag. He said the dilemma in Orange County is that there is no natural boundary to <br />follow. He said if there is a gap in the trail, perhaps it should be left as a gap. He said there is <br />not an immediately plausible trail that can be put on a map and guaranteed. He said there will <br />need to be flexibility, and that may mean putting a line on a map and nothing happens for 20 <br />years; or putting certain lines on a map, and leaving gaps where they may be. <br />Commissioner McKee asked if it would be reasonable to put a put a 2-3 mile corridor <br />rather than a line. <br />David Stancil said the discussion started with a half-mile wide corridor, and in certain <br />areas, this may still be the case. He said landowners change, and people change their minds. <br />Commissioner McKee said drawing a line on a map crosses certain properties, but a <br />mile wide swath is better to work with as every landowner can be approached to ascertain <br />interest and willingness. He said calling it a proposed route does not bring comfort to those <br />who oppose it. <br />David Stancil said he understands that, and perhaps better language is needed. <br />Commissioner Marcoplos said he thought it was a corridor all along. He said the County <br />will not force this on anyone, and they need to have a general route as a starting point to talk to <br />property owners. <br />Commissioner Rich said Laurie Paolicelli, Visitors’ Bureau Director, already left, but she <br />was here to support the conceptual plan. She said Orange County is the missing link in the <br />MST, and this concept map would help so it can be discussed more often from a tourism <br />standpoint. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said he runs a non-profit, and he has no conflict of interest in this <br />trail. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if David Stancil could identify when the County began <br />working on the MST. <br />David Stancil said in 2012, but officially in 2016. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said he understands the concerns, but the County is not going to <br />force this down anyone’s throat. He said this is the step the BOCC asked staff to take. <br /> <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Marcoplos, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs <br />for the Board to adopt the attached map “Orange County Mountains to Sea Trail Route” which <br />shows as the planned MST Trail route the lines indicated as “Proposed Trail” and “Existing <br />Trail”; and that staff report back at a later date on information gathered on the Multi-modal Trail <br />and on discussions held with OWASA. <br /> <br />VOTE: Ayes, 6; Nays, 1 (Commissioner McKee) <br /> <br />b. Potential Acquisition and Development of a Multi-Purpose County Campus <br />The Board considered ratifying the Manager’s recommendation to pursue the acquisition <br />of approximately 21 acres located with the Hillsborough Highway 70/Cornelius Street corridor <br />known as the “Hwy 70 Site Assembly” for the development of a County Campus site that <br />addresses multiple County Capital Investment Plan initiatives; and authorizing the Manager to <br />continue the site due diligence and examination process to include pursuing necessary future <br />land use and zoning amendments with the Town of Hillsborough. <br /> <br />Jeff Thompson, Asset Management Services Director, reviewed the background <br />information below: <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: