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PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT <br />Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director <br />Administration <br />(919) 245-2575 <br />(919) 644-3002 (FAX) <br />www.orangecountync.gov <br />131 W. Margaret Lane <br />Suite 201 <br />P. O. Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> TO: Board of County Commissioners <br />Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County Manager <br />Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager <br /> FROM: Craig Benedict, Planning and Inspections Director <br /> DATE: June 19, 2018 <br /> SUBJECT: Information Item – Greene Tract Update <br /> <br />Background <br />The Greene Tract is a 164 acre parcel of which 104 acres is jointly owned by Orange <br />County/Chapel Hill/Carrboro and 60 acres owned by Orange County (Headwaters <br />Preserve). Last year, local governments agreed to have the mayors and chair consider <br />preservation and development options for the Greene Tract. <br /> <br />May 17, 2017 Managers, Mayors, and Chair (MMC) Meeting <br />The staff work group was requested to examine the development potential of the <br />existing Greene Tract and provide three alternatives illustrating high, medium, and low <br />development alternatives. The MMCs requested that each alternative include specific <br />elements including, but not limited to, a site for a future elementary school, a site for a <br />future park, highlight environmental and cultural areas of significance, development <br />potential, and preliminary road network and infrastructure. <br /> <br />August 30, 2017 Managers, Mayors, and Chair (MMC) Meeting <br />Attendees recommended staff to examine the reconfiguration of the joint owned and <br />county owned tracts. The purpose of this request was to determine the feasibility in <br />adopting a revised resolution supporting the reconfiguration of these tracts. The 60 <br />acres which are county owned will be established as prime preservation areas and be <br />connected to the future joint owned preserve areas of the 104 joint owned lands. As a <br />result, staff amended the proposed conceptual plan based on the proposed <br />reconfigured joint owned and county owned tracts. <br /> <br />January 30, 2018 Assembly of Governments Meeting <br />The proposed modified headwaters preserve area and conceptual plans were <br />presented to elected officials. At that time, the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />requested input from the Chapel Hill Town Council and Carrboro Board of Alderman <br />regarding the possible reconfiguration of the Headwaters Preserve area and input <br />regarding the Greene Tract conceptual plans. <br /> <br />February 20, 2018 BOCC Meeting <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners supported modification to the Headwaters <br />Preserve area and the high development alternative. In addition, the Board authorized <br />1