Agenda Abstract - Assembly of Governments Meeting Discussion Items

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2 In 2017, the joint owners agreed to have the Managers, Mayors, and Chair (MMC) recommend next steps by further considering preservation and development options. Starting in May 2017, a joint staff work group began to examine the preservation and development potential of the existing Greene Tract. That work culminated in the 2019 Greene Tract Resolution and Conceptual Plan which recommended a reconfiguration of the jointly owned 104 acres and the 60 acre Headwaters Preserve and designated areas of the property for specific preservation and development purposes. In February of 2019, Orange County and the Town of Carrboro adopted identical 2019 Greene Tract Resolution and Conceptual Plan documents. In July 2019, the Town of Chapel Hill adopted a substantially similar resolution but modified the master plan map to remove specific land use designations from the areas proposed for development. The Town of Chapel Hill also adopted a companion resolution committing to hold a series of community meetings, solicit input from the public and respective advisory boards regarding land uses and densities, initiate environmental and connectivity assessment; and initiate steps to protect the jointly-owned preserve and the Headwaters Preserve in perpetuity. In an effort to reconcile differences between the adopted resolutions, each jurisdiction is considering a 2020 Greene Tract Resolution to supersede the resolutions adopted in February 2019 by the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Orange County Commissioners and the resolution adopted in July 2019 by the Chapel Hill Town Council. The 2020 Greene Tract Resolution is scheduled for consideration at the January 21 Carrboro Town Council meeting, the January 21 Board of County Commissioners meeting, and the January 22 Chapel Hill Town Council Meeting. The 2020 Greene Tract Resolution establishes the following next steps: 1) Jointly pursue an environmental assessment of the entire 164 acres to consider designating the most environmentally sensitive area as the Headwaters Preserve. The cost of this analysis will be shared among the parties, 43% Orange County, 43% Town of Chapel Hill, 14% Carrboro. 2) Jointly pursue a Memorandum of Understanding for future decision-making processes. This document will be used to ensure the parties participate in good faith in the planning process for potential development of the Greene Tract. The document will describe community outreach efforts. 3) Jointly agree to not initiate formal public engagement until completion of the Memorandum of Understanding document. 4) Jointly agree any potential developers of the Greene Tract may rely upon and utilize the environmental assessment contemplated herein and shall not be required to conduct or obtain a separate environmental assessment. 5) Jointly agree to a discussion of the Greene Tract at the 2020 Assembly of Governments meeting on January 28, 2020.