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2a <br />~-`~~ ~=. <br />L _._ .. <br />.. .+ ~~~~ <br />Town o~ CxAPiz, Hunt, '~ ~ ~~,~ `~ ~ 9 ?~11+" <br />i~ ~ ~~~; <br />306 NoRrx COLUIvIDIA Sir ~ •- ---~ V' <br />CxAP~. Hiza., Naxzx CAROravA 27516 <br />OFFICE OF TF~ MAYOR <br />Moses Carey, Chair <br />Board of Orange County Commissioners <br />Box 81$1 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />(919) 968-2714 <br />May 4, 2000 FAX 919-967-8406 <br /> <br />Dear Moses: <br />This is a follow-up to my earlier letter regazding passible use of a portion of the 1997 Orange <br />County pazk bonds for the planning of the Southern Community park in Chapel Hill, <br />This letter addresses the amount of Chapel Hill bond money available to us, a quick history of <br />Chapel Hill's thinking about this property, and a detailed description of how a concept plan can <br />lead to immediate construction of Phase T of the park. <br />The Town Council is pleased that the Board of County Commissioners has designated $1 million <br />for the Southern Community Pazk, particulazly as county bonds aze currently the only available <br />source of funding for its development. However, we cannot use those funds for beginning <br />construction because we~do not yet have a master plan. The Chapel Hill Town Council requests <br />that the Board~of Commissioners reconsider funding the planning stage of this project, so that we <br />could use the remaining funds to build the first phase of the pazk <br />Some History <br />As you may know, there was a previous plan for the Southern Community Park On May 29, <br />1990 the Chapel Hill Town Council unanimously (7-0) adopted the master plan for the proposed <br />Southern Community Park The plan included a ~ mix of active and passive recreation <br />opportunities, with athletic playing fields, a community center, walking trails, a pond, and a pazk <br />and ride lot. The plea also included a realignment of Dogwood Acres Drive, which cuts through <br />the property and creates a dangerous intersection with US 15-501. Jn May 1990, the Council <br />also authorized the permitting process for the Southern Community Pazk. <br />On March 25, 1991 the Chapel Hill Town Council reviewed the Special Use Permit application <br />for the project. The item was presented immediately following a discouraging fiscal report from <br />the Manager; 1991 was the beginning of the eazly 1990s recession. At that time, staff estimated <br />the project cost, excluding the park and ride lot, to be $5,275,000. After discussion, the Council <br />unanimously (8-0) adopted a resolution directing the Manager to bring back to the Council a <br />