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<br /> 1 40's, and rumor of baseball in Hillsborough back to the turn of the century. Our current programs serve children from ages
<br /> 2 4 to 15. We'll extend that age again in the spring as our charter has increased the age limit to 16 year olds, so we'll actually
<br /> 3 be able to serve all the kids in the spring. Our current programs include baseball and softball. In 2023,we served 879
<br /> 4 players, and in addition to that,we had 250 registered volunteers. We are entirely volunteer run, and we governed by an
<br /> 5 elected board of directors. Our role in the project will be the main user of the baseball and softball fields shown on the site
<br /> 6 plan at the Lawrence Road Recreational Facility. What this project means for us. This project will allow us to serve more
<br /> 7 children.We currently have portfolio of fields of which we will be losing half we expect next summer to the Town of
<br /> 8 Hillsborough's train station development. It will allow us to be schedule existing softball and baseball games. It will give
<br /> 9 our kids better facilities to play at, and provide them with facilities that are convenient for families living in Hillsborough, and
<br /> 10 northern Orange County. As I mentioned,we will lose half of our field inventory probably next summer if the train station
<br /> 11 continues which would be detrimental, and potentially permanently detrimental to HYAA's ability to persist here in Orange
<br /> 12 County. I'd like to make some comments on our consistency for this project with a comprehensive plan. One of the special
<br /> 13 use standards from Section 5.3.2(a),the harmony standard requires this land use to be in compliance with the plan for
<br /> 14 physical development of the county as embodied in the comprehensive plan. I want to briefly elaborate on how this
<br /> 15 proposed land use is consistent with the Orange County comprehensive plan. Chapter 7 of the comprehensive plan deals
<br /> 16 exclusively with parks and recreation. One of the plans park recreation goals is to provide adequate parks and recreational
<br /> 17 facilities for all citizens within Orange County regardless of age, gender, or race. These recreational facilities for HYAA will
<br /> 18 satisfy this goal by providing baseball and softball facilities for young boys and girls. Additionally, HYAA is an inclusive
<br /> 19 organization that allows all to participate in our programs. We have never turned away a child who has come to us. We
<br /> 20 embrace scholarship opportunities through the Orange County Department of Social Services. We have scholarship
<br /> 21 opportunities through sponsors, and at the end of the day, if a child is not able to secure a scholarship,they simply can
<br /> 22 register for free. So, in our history,we have not turned away children to participate based on their ability to pay. We are
<br /> 23 also very active in the community, Christmas parade,volunteer at the exchange club, recently spoke to the Kiwanis club.
<br /> 24 Our board members and our volunteers are also community members in the broader Hillsborough and Orange County
<br /> 25 community, so we have a pretty dynamic organization of volunteers. Another goal of the comprehensive plan is to provide
<br /> 26 the opportunities for health lifestyles, quality of life, and community, building through the provision of variety of affordable
<br /> 27 recreational facilities, and choice of leisure activities. HYAA fields will give kids in the county a chance to engage in
<br /> 28 physical activity that will stimulate a healthy lifestyle, allow them to build a community with their teammates. Additionally,
<br /> 29 as a non-profit,we aim to be as affordable as possible so that kids of all economic backgrounds can participate. No child
<br /> 30 has ever been turned away from us. For these reasons and more, this project is consistent with the guidance of the
<br /> 31 comprehensive plan and will provide a great public benefit to Orange County. If you have any questions, I am here to
<br /> 32 answer them.
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<br /> 34 Leon Meyers: Questions for Mr. Cummings?
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<br /> 36 Adam Beeman: If these fields are built,what will that do to your inventory? You're still going to be using outside fields
<br /> 37 also?
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<br /> 39 Patrick Cummings: That's correct. Our intention is to utilize these fields. We will also maintain use of the Exchange fields,
<br /> 40 as well as the Schley Grange fields, and our existing relationship with Orange County for which we pay$10,000.00 a year
<br /> 41 to use Fairview, Efland Cheeks, and the Cedar Grove fields.
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<br /> 43 Beth Bronson: Have you already worked out a lease agreement with the applicant?
<br /> 44
<br /> 45 Patrick Cummings: We have generated deal points for a letter of intent for us to lease to purchase, or purchase the land.
<br /> 46 We feel really good about where we are, and our ability to fund raise. We,without giving too much of the lease financials
<br /> 47 up,we have a very strong cash position,and feel like the moment that we are granted approval for this project,we will
<br /> 48 immediately proceed in the construction drawings, and site plan approval with the Orange County,followed by what is a
<br /> 49 pretty short timeline for construction. Fortunately for us, there's not a lot of buildings to build. It is simply grading, seeding,
<br /> 50 and fences, and a parking lot,and we can get kids playing baseball and softball pretty quickly. So, our goal is,you know,
<br /> 51 hopefully to fund raise for the capital construction, but we feel like the price of the land can be absorbed with an increase to
<br /> 52 the registration costs. Our registration costs at HYAA has historically been$125.00 for a season, and in the 7 years I've
<br /> 53 been on the board,we've never raised it. There are some leagues in northern Wake County that are$550.00 a season for
<br /> 54 the same amount of games, and the same amount of practices. So there's significant room in our registration fees to cover
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