Agenda 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 David Stancil said one of the challenges of the 2001 bond was that the County split up the money so much that it was hard for them to do meaningful projects. He said funding remains in the Twin Creeks account to help build the entry road into the park, and Carrboro has sent emails recently asking about the status of the park. He said the % mile greenway from Morris Grove School into Lake Hogan Farms has been built, which has been treated as phase one of the park. Commissioner Jacobs said Carrboro approached the County about putting a gym there, and Orange County was willing to share the cost, but Carrboro declined. He said something that increases the costs, is that Carrboro has required a road with sidewalks and bike lines on the eastern side of the park, going from the bottom to the top. He said this issue remains unresolved. Commissioner Jacobs said Orange County wanted a park on this site, and Carrboro wanted it for economic development. He said this was an uncomfortable topic for several years, and some of the older elected Carrboro officials felt that Orange County had stolen an opportunity from the Town. He said most, if not all, of these officials are no longer serving, so maybe this could be an opportunity for collaboration once again. Commissioner Marcoplos asked if this has been contentious in recent years. David Stancil said the last discussion was in 2007 or 2008, and the conversation has been stalled since the greenway was put in. He said the Town was going to do a study of storm water and transportation in the area, but that never came to fruition. Commissioner Jacobs said even the greenway was a hard fought win. Commissioner Rich said she reviewed the master plan for Twin Creeks with David Stancil, and she and Commissioner Marcoplos walked the land with David Stancil. She said it is worthwhile to have those conversations with Carrboro again. She said the County is responsible for the entryway, and the road that Carrboro has requested is cost prohibitive, because it needs to cross over the creek twice, and the bridge requirements are very expensive. David Stancil said the road of which they speak is the one that goes into Morris Grove Elementary School, and dead ends. Commissioner Rich said it may be worth re- engaging Carrboro in discussions, as this location is a sweet spot for affordable housing. Commissioner Price said there was a working group that met years ago, and there should be a report from this group. David Stancil said yes. Commissioner Marcoplos said the workgroup could be revived, and many people in Hogan Farms have asked him when this park will be developed. He said if Carrboro is holding this up, and if people realize this is a joint project, then the public could go to Carrboro and inquire of the status. David Stancil said he thinks Carrboro staff may be a different place now than it was 10 years ago. Commissioner Jacobs referred to the master plan, and said next to Morris Grove there are two sites: a school site, and an education facility; the latter of which refers to a possible two school system pre -K facility that could be built on this site. He said this property is right at the line between Orange County Schools (OCS) and Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). Commissioner Burroughs said she hates to be a "Debby downer," and while the long - range plan is lovely, she is not sure if the County can afford it for a while. She said everything should be pushed back two years, with the exception of the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST), due to the momentum behind that project. She said the house at Little River Regional Park is a small enough project to continue, but Blackwood Farm Park and Cedar Grove Park should be delayed.