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Orange County Space Needs Update <br /> March 24 , 2005 . <br /> Executive Summary <br /> Purpose <br /> The purpose of this report is : <br /> 1 . To identify departmental changes that may impact the recommendations <br /> or implementation of the 2000 Space Needs Task Force Report ; and <br /> 2 . To modify Study recommendations to reflect changing conditions and <br /> Board direction received since the original report ; and <br /> 3 . To create a fundable roadmap for developing , adequate space to meet the <br /> operational needs of county departments through 2020 ; and <br /> 4 . To identify facility needs which require additional study and/or may fall <br /> butside of the 2020 study period . <br /> Assumptions and Principles <br /> Overarching principles used to formulate study recommendations include : <br /> 1 . Co - location . Co- locating departments that serve the same customer base <br /> with similar services promotes greater efficiency and creates a more <br /> desirable level of customer service . <br /> 2 . Consolidation . The findings in this report will support the consolidation of <br /> County operations to as few sites as may be practicable . <br /> The recommendations contained in this study do not support the <br /> expansion of existing facilities for the most part , but rather advocate for <br /> the development of an alternative county campus to be sited in central <br /> Orange County in or around the Hillsborough area . The property on <br /> Homestead Road in Chapel Hill serves as the County ' s main service <br /> delivery location for the southern part of the county and has proven to be a <br /> wise investment . As the Hillsborough area continues to develop , it seems <br /> prudent to replicate that effort and establish a new campus while the <br /> availability of land is still somewhat reasonable . <br /> 3 . Ownership . The findings contained in the report continue to support <br /> owned space vs., leased space to house permanent County offices . In <br /> 2000 the County paid $ 349 , 000 per year for nine leases as opposed to <br /> 2004 , which carries lease costs of approximately $ 349 , 000 for five leases . <br /> The bulk of the lease costs reside with the Senior Centers . Within two <br /> years , both Centers should be operational , thereby eliminating the need <br /> for leased space . The County ' s annual commitment for leased space at <br /> that point will be approximately $ 200 , 000 , <br /> I <br />