Minutes 11-11-2025-Work Session Meeting

Browse Search

29 Orange County hotels and restaurants would benefit hosting soccer in the area. She asked if it would it be open to users in Orange County. Commissioner Greene said she wanted to honor the spirit of what the voters wanted to see with the purchase of this property. She said it is important to be intentional about where housing goes. She said for people making lower incomes, they need to be on transit lines and near services. She said this property was not the best place for housing. Commissioner McKee said he agreed with Commissioner Fowler that this was a win-win for the county. He said that due to the slope on the back side of the property, they would not be able to build a soccer complex there. He said that leaves options for the county to use the back side for recreation or some other use. He said if they provide areas for housing, it needs to be on a bus line. He had concerns about the appraisal price of the property and felt it was low. Chair Bedford noted that this property did not have to be limited to soccer. She noted some of the other sports that could be played there. She asked about including pickleball courts. David Stancil agreed. He said that there are occasional lacrosse and ultimate frisbee tournaments that could use the property, but most of the demand is for soccer. He said that a pickleball court could be included if the land was identified. He said there isn't a limitation on the types of activities. Chair Bedford asked how many soccer fields could fit on the property. David Stancil said six, with associated amenities like parking, concessions, and storm water. Chair Bedford asked how the bathrooms would work. David Stancil said they would be on septic. He said there could be a high demand for wastewater, and that would need to be considered. Chair Bedford said she asked Perdita Holtz, Deputy Director for Long Range Planning, about the responsibility for zoning in this area. She said that it is within the joint planning area. She said that recreational facilities in the rural buffer require a special use permit, which is reviewed by the Board of Adjustment per the joint planning agreement, and both Carrboro and Chapel Hill would be invited to comment on the application. She said this is done at the staff level. She said the Board of Adjustment would consider the towns' comments, but they are not binding. She said it appears that the railroad line does not present a safety concern as it is on the other side of the road. Commissioner Carter asked if the community still desires a soccer facility. David Stancil said they did not have data specifically on this property. He said that in the Strategic Plan survey, one of the high-ranking criteria that people liked about the community is the open space and parks. He said a survey done for the adopted parks and recreation master plan, showed that soccer fields were still in high demand. He said he oversees the activities at the Soccer.com complex, and based on his observations there, more soccer fields are needed in the community. Commissioner Carter asked if this property could be sold to a non-profit and conditions attached to the property. Chair Bedford said yes, distinguishing between a sale to a non-profit or government entity versus a regular sale. John Roberts said if it is transferred to a non-profit, then it must have conditions on it to keep it in a public use. He said if the non-profit stops using it for the public purpose it was designated for originally, then it reverts to Orange County ownership. He said if it is sold on the open market, the county cannot put conditions on that sale. Commissioner Carter pointed out that there are opportunities to have trails on the property and consider other uses. Commissioner Fowler asked if the county sells outright and there's already a conservation easement, the new owner will have to abide by that after the sale. John Roberts said yes, easements go with the land.