Agenda - 03-04-2004-9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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at additional cost. If the purchase options are exercised by March 15, the cost already paid for those options will be credited against the purchase price. After appropriating funds for the purchase options, in early October 2003 the BOCC authorized staff to investigate and pursue certain infrastructure elements in the general area. Those efforts culminated recently with the approval by the BOCC and the City of Mebane of an interlocal agreement that will result in water and sewer service being provided to the properties in question, all of which are located in one of the County's three Economic Development Districts (EDDs). In December 2003, the Orange County Board of Education received a report on the preliminary conceptual site design of the proposed school site from the project architects, Corley Redfoot and Zack. For the most part, the proposed school will be a prototype based on the Chapel Hill- Carrbora City Schools' Smith Middle School. The December 2003 concept plan (map attached) includes a building of approximately 123,000 square feet that would accommodate 700 students with a project budget of $18.5 million and a tentative opening date of Summer 2006. OCS representatives and the architects will make a brief presentation and respond to questions regarding the proposed school site at this March 4 meeting. During the past year, the BOCC has extensively discussed the importance of siting, designing, and constructing new schools in keeping with "smart growth" principles, The proposed OCS middle school #3 reflects these principles in a number of ways. For example: 1) The use of Smith Middle School as a prototype for OGS middle school #3 could lead to savings of 1 to 2% in the total project cost. 2) Preliminary school design incorporates energy conservation through daylighting. 3) The school site area is large enough to provide for land banking for future uses. Additionally, adjacent properties are available that could lead to the development of joint school-park opportunities. Economies of scale during construction and shared use of infrastructure (e.g. parking, access, turning lanes, water and sewer facilities, electric utilities) should lead to financial savings. 4) Land for the building footprint is primarily cleared of trees, so there is limited encroachment needed of forested areas. Manmade water retention features (ponds) are available for area irrigation purposes and water quality enhancements. 5) Transportation access to the site along major corridors is readily available. The EDD is programmed for a critical threshold of activity that would promote park and ride lots and mass transportation. Under NCGS §11.5C-426f, a board of county commissioners has the statutory responsibility to approve the amount to be spent for the purchase of a school site. The total purchase price for the Allison and Daniel properties is $775,000. OCS has determined that it will only require approximately 41 acres for the middle school, but there is no provision in the purchase options far the properties to be divided. Accordingly, on March 1, 2004, the Orange County Board of Education approved a resolution requesting that the BOCC provide funding for OGS to either 1) purchase the entire 67 acres, 2) purchase 41 acres with the County purchasing the remainder, or 3) purchase an extension of the options. Staff recommends that the BOCC approve the attached capital project ordinance appropriating $775,000 for OCS to acquire the entire Allison and Daniel properties. This amount would provide more acreage than OCS needs far the school site, and would exceed OCS's anticipated expenditures for a school site by roughly $250,000. However, the Board of Education and