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<br />.. <br />,. <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 1, 2001 <br />Action Age d <br />Item No. ~- <br />SUBJECT: Contracts to Purchase -Bolin Cregk Park Site (John and Roderick Cate) <br />DEPARTMENT: ERCD .PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />Contract to Purchase (R. Cate) TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Map of Site <br />Contract to Purchase (J. Cate) <br />PURPOSE: To consider the purchase of three adjacent tracts of land (total 149 acres) on Old <br />NC 86 from John Henry Cate, Jr. and Roderick Cate for a Chapel Hill Township District Park; <br />and to exempt surveying services incidental to this acquisition from the requirements of G.S. <br />143, Article 3D. <br />BACKGROUND: ERCD identified this property as a potential site for a new Chapel Hill <br />Township District park in August 2000. It was chosen from among 9 potential sites that were <br />evaluated for potential acquisition for this purpose. The property is located on Old NC 86, about <br />'/4 mile south of the intersection with Eubanks Road. The three tracts total 149 acres and have <br />been in the Cate family for well over 100 years. The land was farmed until the early 1990s, and <br />is adjacent to land owned by the Hunter family that is also proposed for purchase as potential <br />Chapel Hill-Carrboro school sites. <br />On January 5~', ERCD sent John Henry Cate and Roderick Cate (father and son) anon-binding <br />letter of intent to purchase. Following negotiations on contract terms and conditions, the Cates <br />have agreed to sell the land to Orange County. The proposed use is for a district park with a <br />combination of active and low-impact recreational uses. <br />The property offers many and varied opportunities for recreational use. The former agricultural <br />fields can support a variety of playing fields. The riparian areas could be linked to the Carrboro <br />greenway system. Woodland areas are adjacent to Duke Forest property. The old farmhouse <br />(ca. 1929), bam and log cabin could provide cultural elements to the park, such as farm exhibit <br />and demonstration areas. Picnic areas could be located around an existing pond. <br />The County would pay the owners $3,500,000 for the property ($23,490/acre), plus $42,300 in <br />deferred use value taxes due on the property and estimated closing costs of $7,700, for a total <br />of $3,550,000. Although there are no known underground storage tanks on the property, a <br />Phase I environmental assessment will be conducted prior to closing. Upon approval by the <br />