Agenda 04-21-2026; 8-a - Minutes for March 19, 2026, March 21, 2026, and March 23, 2026

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18 1 Preston Mitchell credited Orange County and Orange County Schools for reaching out very early 2 in the process, describing their team as "very impressive" and expecting continued quality collaboration. 3 b) Potential Recreation Considerations 4 5 The construction of a new Elementary School at this site will have two impacts on the recreation 6 options in that part of the county. First and most directly, the use of the land for education will 7 permanently set the boundaries of the Soccer.com Center, which was previously set to expand. 8 However, the construction of parking lots for the elementary school will provide additional 9 parking for soccer events during off-school hours. The County already has a use agreement with 10 the school district for use of parking during off-school hours. The second impact for recreation 11 options is still being explored during the school design process. Municipal, County and School 12 District staff are reviewing the possibility of expanding the gymnasium for the new elementary 13 school for community and recreational use. Staff are planning a trip to Rashkis Elementary 14 School to review a prior experience of oversizing an elementary school gymnasium for 15 community uses. 16 17 Travis Myren explained that Orange County's school capital funding policy engaged 18 municipalities regarding recreational facilities and building capacity for recreational facilities in new 19 schools. He asked Preston Mitchell or Richard White to discuss potential use as a recreation center. 20 Richard White confirmed discussions about partnership opportunities with the school district for 21 recreation facilities to expand their programming.They had explored shared gym use, designing facilities 22 to meet both city and school needs, and had ongoing conversations about appropriate gym size for 23 shared use. 24 Sean Ewing said it seems counter-intuitive to him to have a school in the economic development 25 district. 26 Preston Mitchell said one of the unique aspects of this property was that it was owned by 27 Orange County already. He said Mebane staff did encourage the stacking space to give them options, 28 but it doesn't solve all the school traffic and risks from industrial traffic. He noted that NCDOT said West 29 Ten was widened and can handle the additional traffic. A traffic impact analysis will have to be done as 30 part of City's zoning. 31 Commissioner McKee speculated that most future development would likely occur West back 32 toward Buckhorn Rd., and should not impact the proposed school. 33 Tim Bradley asked why the middle school wasn't annexed, the elementary school would be. 34 Preston Mitchell said there is a partnership opportunity for recreation facilities, and it also 35 prevents a donut hole in terms of Mebane's zoning jurisdiction, which would otherwise create an issue. 36 He explained that the benefit to OCS is they get in-city utility rates, and there are density benefits. 37 Commissioner Bedford said from the school board side, a benefit is having the K-8 campus and 38 improving parking at the middle school and soccer facility. She emphasized the opportunities of the 39 shared gym. 40 Chair Hamilton highlighted the importance of the elementary school being in Mebane because 41 that is where the population is growing. 42 43 c) Potential Emergency Management/Sheltering Considerations 44 45 As new public schools and recreational facilities are proposed, the inclusion of features that 46 improve resilience and support community protective actions during disasters should be 47 evaluated. The County maintains agreements with the school systems for the use of facilities as 48 mass care shelters and recommends that all new schools be developed with this in mind. By