Agenda - 10-19-2004-9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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WEST TEN SOCCER CENTER SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION From the July 21, 2004 Public Comment Session Present at the meeting were: Brian Oswald (Cedar ridge High School Coach), Clnis LaRocca (Orange High School Coach), Herrry Joluis (Mebane City Council), Dean Ray (Mebane Recreation and Parks Director), Chip Foushee (Mebane Youth Soccer Association), Artie Franklin (BOCC Candidate), Leigh Peek (Coleman, Gledhill, Hargrave and Peek), Roosevelt Carter (Citizen), Jonathan Coleman (News of Orange Comity), Geoffrey Graybeal (C.hapel Hill Herald) and Commissioner Barry .lacobs. Staff present were: Diarme Reid, Ardra Webster, Dan Derby, Lori Taft, Dave Stancil, Craig Benedict, David Hunt, Gwen Harvey, Rod Visser; Mike Harnrnersley (Consultant) Rod Visser started with introductions, Then he explained that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the design of West-Ten Soccer Center adjacent to the new Orange County Middle School on West Ten Rd & I85. A Soccer S}nnposium was created 5 years ago, which brought together a group that produced a report, which recognized the severe shortage of soccer fields tluoughout Orange County. The desire was to develop additional soccer fields in Orange County which would increase access to soccer for both adults and children. The Soccer Symposimn had a lot to do with the Orange County Commissioners urcluding in the November 2001 Bond Referendum a proposal 2 million dollars that will be ear marked for what is referred to as The Soccer Superfund which is to be used to acquire land and build fields. Various pazks & recreation staff, elected officials, and advisory boards came together in 1999-2000 to work on a number of issues related to recreation, including increasing soccer fields, In the past few years a number of things have been done to increase the number of fields.. A few examples would be the sower field at Efland Cheeks and also the field at Scroggs Elementazy. There are also plans to include 3 or 4 Fields at Twin Creeks and also 3 or more fields at Southern Comnnmity Park, The other major thing that lead us to where we are tonight was the decision by the Orange County Board of Education to build its next middle school on a portion of 100-acre of land between West Ten Rd.& I85 on the west end of Orange County. The Board only needs 67-acres to build the school which leaves .33-acres, also known as the Euliss Property, available for some other use, The land is marginally cleared and very flat. The purpose of this meeting tonight is to receive public input and have an open conversation in an informal way about what the public would like to see go into the design of this proposed "Soccer Center." Lori Taft spoke of visiting other soccer facilities, using Bryan Park as the main example, comnnuiicating with organizations that have built soccer fields to decide what would be ideal to fit in the 33-acres. She reviewed a list of parameters given to the design firm to included in the design. 1) six full-size soccer fields (.360 x 225) which is quite large, The thinking there is that maximum fields but could also be used for smaller fields, by turning them sideways and could then accommodate many more youth teams at the sane time.