Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
.- <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: April 17, 2000 <br />Action Agen a <br />Item No. - <br />SUBJECT: Hillsborough Court Campus Master Plan <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing & Central Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Report (under separate cover) <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones 245-2652 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: The purpose of this action is as follows: <br />• To present the Hillsborough Court Campus Master Plan; and <br />• To receive direction from the Board regarding their preference of a design concept <br />(articulated as Option A or Option B in the report); and <br />• To receive the Board's direction regarding the progression of events necessary for Court <br />facility development; and <br />• To seek the Board's authorization to begin the architect selection process immediately after <br />July 1, 2000, pending approval of design funds in the CIP; <br />BACKGROUND: The Court system in Orange County continues to experience significant <br />growth in volume of cases handled. Since 1995 the County has engaged various groups of <br />judicial and bar association officials in a collaborative effort to determine what direction the <br />growth of Orange County court facilities should take. There are Court facilities both in <br />Hillsborough and in Chapel Hill. The Hillsborough facilities are owned by the County and <br />support the greatest volume of court activity. However, the Courthouse in Chapel Hill, which is <br />owned by the Town, is an integral part of the court system and is used, extensively. <br />As referenced, a number of groups have explored various aspects of Orange County judicial <br />facilities since 1995. In 1998 asub-committee of the original Justice Facility Study Group <br />(JFSG) assessed the impact of the addition of the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom and the 58 <br />additional beds to the jail. They agreed that the additions, coupled with the reallocation of <br />space for the high volume district court sessions, provided much needed relief. However, it was <br />further noted that the additions were only a temporary solution and encouraged the County to <br />continue the exploring the longer-term needs. <br />