Minutes 06-05-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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36 Commissioner McKee referred to the last slides on cost per lot, and asked if the total cost per lost could be identified, if well and septic were used. Michael Fiocco said $102,000, and $89,000 per lot with OWASA. PUBLIC COMMENT: Josh Kirschner said he lives on Millhouse Road. He said the study, as presented today, still contains many items for discussion: the lack of water on the site, poor soil condition for water and septic sites, wetlands, rural buffer, repaying the parks fund for the 10 acres being used, and the $2.2 to $2.8 million cost of the infrastructure. He said the time frame for this project is for 20 months, and he thought the County was planning this as a rapid response to residents in need of housing. He said he admired what the County is trying to do, but this site does not fit any of the criteria that the County is trying to accomplish, without jumping the significant hurdles. He said the biggest hurdle is water and sewer, and right across the street is flat piece of property owned by Chapel Hill that has water and sewer, is on a bus route, and within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District. He asked if there is a reason the County is not considering this land. He said the property in question was purchased for a park not a residential area, and Julia Blackwood would have wanted this land kept as a park. Cecil Griffin said he has lived in Orange County for a long time, and he has been involved in past disputes for this same land. He said spending money considering a property, only to find out it is not a viable option, is not wise. He said Commissioner Jacobs mentioned setting aside parkland, and now the Board wants to make it a residential area, which does not make much sense. He said due to the fight against putting a landfill on this property, there is a detailed study of the wells in the area, including his, that was done by a Duke University graduate student, and found that the water is not very good quality. He said the only way to pull this project off is to get OWASA’s water and sewer, which may not even be possible. He said what if he wanted to put a mobile home park on his adjacent land the County would laugh at him. He said there is a man that lives near Morris Grove School, who lived in a mobile home, with well and septic, which deteriorated. He said this man came to Orange County to put another mobile home on the site, and the County told him he could not do it. He urged the County to stop spending taxpayer money to pay for consultants. Shane Purner asked if the County has explored other sites that are inside of Chapel Hill for this mobile home park, since most of these residents are from Chapel Hill. He said Orange County should explore options that have the infrastructure already in place. He said there is already a well on the property of Julia Blackwood’s home. Commissioner Marcoplos asked if there are any details available regarding the land across the street that is owned by the Town of Chapel Hill. Chair Dorosin said only that Orange County does not own it. Commissioner Marcoplos said it is an interesting thought to pursue. Commissioner McKee said the more he sees this project, the less he likes it. He said the County would do better to buy land, with water and sewer, and put a park on it. He said to do this project on well and septic, when OWASA services are across the street, would be insane. He said the property across the street makes more sense to him, and the County and the Town of Chapel Hill have been discussing partnerships for a long time, and this would be a great opportunity. He said the residents in need currently live in Chapel Hill school district, and this property is in Orange County. He said school boundaries may need to be amended, which does not seem like a good idea. He said this property looks worse and worse with each update. Chair Dorosin said learning this information is exactly why the County hired the consultant. Commissioner McKee said he was supportive at one time, but is not so much now.