Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
35 <br />Parks and Recreation Department records indicate approximately 20% of registered <br />activity. participants reside in non-Chapel Hill areas of Orange County (including <br />Carrboro). The percentage of County, non-Town participants receiving fee waivers <br />is significantly higher. Thirty-nine percent of fee waiver participants in the Town's <br />popular summer day camp program last year were County, non-Town residents. Fee <br />waivers to County, non-Town residents far this program alone amounted to over <br />$20,000. <br />We are concerned with the issues of equity raised by the fact that the County's <br />contribution does not appear to be commensurate with County, non-Town resident <br />use. In addition, the Town of Chapel Hill currently operates significantly more <br />indoor recreation facilities than the other jurisdictions. <br />7. Payment-in-lieu Changes <br />The report findings indicate that the current payment-in-lieu programs in- Carrboro <br />and Orange County have not been effective as the funds derived have not been <br />sufficient to fund projects. In addition, the rules related to use of payment in lieu <br />funds have prevented those jurisdictions from using some of the funds. they have <br />received over the past years. <br />The Work Group's report also recommends exploration of the establishment of a <br />recreation impact fee or impact tax. <br />Mana er's Comment: To date, Chapel Hill has not experienced similar problems. <br />The report recommends currently maintaining separate payment-in-lieu systems, <br />recognizing that Orange County and/or Carrboro may wish to change their own <br />processes. <br />We believe the establishment of a recreation impact fee or impact tax is worth <br />exartLning. We believe this would be part of an appropriate charge for a newly <br />created Parks and Resource Lands Council. <br />8. Address Current Needs <br />The report recommends that one critical need is to immediately begin land banking <br />in to meet current and future land needs of the community. The report <br />sug~ that the County would need 6~5 additional acres of parkland just to meet <br />curre~ needs. The estimated .cost to meet current needs would be 10 to 12 million <br />dollars. <br />Manager's Comment: We agree that land should be purchased as soon as possible <br />even if funds for development are not currently available. <br />