Minutes 03-17-2026-Business Meeting

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19 Commissioner Bedford asked for an explanation of private versus public use and does there have to be public use to sell the land. John Roberts said if the Board wants to restrict the use of the property, then it must be sold to a non-profit that carries out that purpose. Commissioner Bedford asked if the county would have a right to use the space. John Roberts said if the property is sold, Orange County would not have any right to use the space. He said if it is sold for a public purpose, then part of the deed restriction would mean it must be open to the public to participate in athletic programming. Commissioner Bedford said the non-profit could have a criteria like payment of a fee. John Roberts said that is correct. Bedford added that the non-profit could not discriminate. John Roberts said that would be part of the negotiation. David Stancil said that is one of the purposes of the Memorandum of Agreement. John Roberts said the buyer of the property would want to have some say in the deed restriction. He said part of the risk they are taking is that if they don't live up to the restrictions, the property reverts to the county. Commissioner Bedford asked how that could be fair. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how the value is communicated to a potential buyer. She asked if they must sell all 45 acres for recreation or could some be used for affordable housing with a non-profit. She asked how close the property is to water and sewer. David Stancil said the closest connection is the Town Operations Center, which is served by OWASA. He said the urban services boundary is the southern border of the property and the property is outside of the boundary. He said the way the document is written is that that non- profits will submit proposals with an offer, and the county may or may not agree with that offer. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked who would negotiate on behalf of the county. Travis Myren said negotiations would be undertaken by staff and the Board would ultimately have to approve those terms. Commissioner Carter asked what is in the vicinity of the property. David Stancil described the neighboring properties and their current uses. Commissioner McKee asked if there is sewer and water at the southern boundary. David Stancil said no. Commissioner McKee asked if the county would negotiate prior to solicitation. David Stancil said no. He said offers would be evaluated to ensure they conform with the requirements. He said at that time an assessment would be performed with a report to the Board, and then from there they would probably begin the negotiation process. Commissioner McKee said that there are OWASA restrictions with the property and asked if anything had changed since the discussion in November. He said people considering the property should not be led to believe sewer and water will be available. Vice-Chair Fowler asked if the county would put out an RFP and then choose one, or if there is a bid process after or if you choose a person in that group and that's it. John Roberts said the Board would choose whichever one was the most appropriate. Commissioner Greene while there was interest in November by some commissioners to use the property for affordable housing, she was not. She said she thought all of it should be sold for recreation. She said that was the intent of the approved bond referendum when the property was purchased, and the need is still present. She said the expense of building water and sewer lines would be phenomenal and would not lead to any affordable housing. She said when the Town of Chapel Hill sold the old library building, the town had an agreed upon sales price with a deed restriction to preserve the building. She asked what prohibits the county from setting a price for the property. John Roberts said there's nothing that prohibits setting a price and it's up to the Board.