Agenda - 11-03-2004-9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Previous discussions between Mrs, Blackwood, Duke and the County resulted in Duke's purchase of 60 acres (in March 2004) of the rear portion of the property that had been surrounded on three sides by Duke Forest, The Blackwood Division of Duke Forest is now about 1,000 acres. The intended use of the property by Orange County is for a combination of active and low- impact recreation, including the possibility of several soccer fields in the eastern portion of the property nearer to Millhouse Road. The forested western quarter of the property may be conducive to low-impact uses such as nature trails and picnic areas, The park would also include a segment of the proposed Northern Chapel Hill Township Rustic Woodland Trail, which would continue northeast into the new Town of Chapel Hill Operations Center. One of the synergies with the potential acquisition is its location adjacent to the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area and the potential for a soccer park in southern Orange to coincide with the new West Ten Soccer Center in western Orange, Another synergy is the proximity to the Town's new Operations Center, which will be located adjacent to this site and across the railroad line, The Town Operations Center would include Chapel Hill Transit and the Town's Public Works, Current plans for this property are to land-bank it for future use, and a master plan for this park will be developed in the future. There are no funds identified for facility development at this site at the current time, Fallowing several months of negotiations on contract terms and conditions, Mrs. Blackwood has agreed to sell the land to Orange County for $1,260,500 (or $14,500/acre), This price is consistent with an appraisal of the property conducted in 2003 and updated in 2004, The proposed sale does not include two acres of land within an existing 60-foot access easement to an adjacent property; however, the owner may decide to convey that strip of land to the County at no cost, Excluding the access easement, the County would purchase 67 acres. Upon approval by the Board, a closing an the purchase of this property is expected to occur an or before December 31.2004, FINANCIAL IMPACT: The purchase price is $1,260,500 (or 14,500 per acre), with an additional $8,000 to $10,000 in closing costs, Funds would be paid from the County's 2001 Parks and Open Space bond (Lands Legacy). A total of $3.5 million has been appropriated to date from this source, with $780,000 spent. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: • Approve the purchase of approximately 67 acres of land located on Millhouse Road from Julia Blackwood; and • Authorize the Chair to sign the contract on behalf of the County, subject to final review by staff and County Attorney; and • Instruct the County Attorney and staffs from ERCD and Finance to schedule and complete a closing on the property expected to occur on or before December 31, 2004,