Minutes 11-11-2025-Work Session Meeting

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24 2. Options for Sale of Property at 6823 Millhouse Road The Board considered options for the sale of all or a portion of 79.05 acres of County-owned land at 6823 Millhouse Road for the purpose of a future soccer-oriented active recreation facility. BACKGROUND: In November 2004, Orange County acquired 69 acres of land at 6823 Millhouse Road, located north of Chapel Hill, from the late Mrs. Julia Blackwood for a future park site, planned to be a soccer center for southern Orange County. The County subsequently purchased an adjoining 10 acres in 2007 for a total of 79.05 acres. This land is located just north of the old County landfill (north), and is across the North Carolina Railroad "J Line" spur from the Town of Chapel Hill Operations Center. The property is in the Rural Buffer land use and zoning district — adjoining the Orange Water&Sewer Authority(OWASA) urban services boundary on its southern and eastern borders. The concept for a future soccer-oriented park at this location has been listed in previous County Capital Investment Plans (CIPs) dating back to the 2000's, known as the "Millhouse Road Park" project. The planned focus for park is for a soccer field complex, with low-impact recreation on the western portion of the property adjacent to Duke Forest. The northwest corner of the site contains a portion of a State-listed Natural Heritage site, and is in proximity to Blackwood Mountain, located within Duke Forest. The property contains two (2) access easements on the northern and southern boundary lines, the latter of which was the subject of a future realignment plan as part of a 2024 rezoning of an adjacent property owned by Acer, LLC (The Treeist). The Blackwood Division of Duke Forest is located to the west and southwest of the property, and a portion of the original Julia Blackwood property was acquired by Duke in 2004 as part of the negotiations for the County's acquisition. This land is now a part of Duke Forest. Preliminary design work was undertaken around 2008 for a six-field soccer complex and approximately 25-30 acre wooded preserve adjacent to Duke Forest, but the project was deferred after the economic recession of 2009. In 2015, the County began discussions with the Town of Chapel Hill regarding a joint partnership for the soccer complex, which was reflected in both the County and Town parks and recreation master plans and CIPs (the project was subsequently pushed beyond the 10-year County CIP in June 2025). In 2022, discussions expanded to include a potential third party for the soccer complex. However, the project timetable was such that the creation of the facility was still several years out. In 2024, parties approached the County about purchase of the land for the purpose of constructing a privately-owned soccer center. An appraisal was conducted in March 2025 which found the value of the 79.05 acre property at $1,976,000 (or $24,997 per acre). Approximately 30 acres of the western part of the site (see attached map) is proposed to be retained by the County to protect the natural resources present on the property, which includes a North Carolina Natural Heritage site and a tributary of Old Field Creek. This section of the property also includes steep slopes and is beyond the area of the site that was planned for soccer fields and related amenities. Preliminary discussions between County staff and Duke Forest have been held regarding this area, as it abuts the Forest on two (2) sides. North Carolina law generally prohibits a governmental entity from conveying property with restrictions or conditions unless the property is conveyed to another governmental entity or to a nonprofit entity that will use the property for a public purpose. Interests that the County might wish to address in the sale might include: