AGENDA #4L
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Acceptance and Referral of the Composite Countywide Plan for Parks and Trails
DATE: June 26, 2006
The attached resolution would accept the report entitled Composite Countywide Plan for Parks and Trails and refer the report to the Greenways Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission and the Town Manager for comments and recommendations.
BACKGROUND
In the spring of 1998 representatives from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Orange County began meeting to discuss County-wide recreation and park issues. The group’s mission was to update and modify Orange County’s Master Recreation and Park Plan to be a joint long-range capital facilities plan for Orange County, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill.
On May 26, 1999, the group completed work on the Joint Master Recreation and Parks Plan Work Group Report and forwarded it to elected boards. The report, intended to serve as a possible blueprint for the direction of future joint parks and recreation efforts in the County, included an initial inventory of existing parks and recreation facilities and lands.
On March 27, 2000, the Council adopted the Joint Master Recreation and Parks Plan Work Group Report as a general planning document and adopted a resolution supporting the creation of the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group for a three year term.
On September 7, 2004, the Council adopted a resolution establishing the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group as a standing committee.
On June 27, 2005, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Parks and Recreation Department staff to participate in preparation of a countywide parks and greenways coordination document.
On February 22, 2006, the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group adopted a resolution to forward the completed Composite Countywide Plan for Parks and Trails to elected boards.
DISCUSSION
The Intergovernmental Parks Work Group has completed its work. We recommend that the Council could receive the Composite Countywide Plan for Parks and Trails and refer it to appropriate Commissions and the staff for further review. If the Council accepts and refers this report we would collect comments and recommendations from all sources including board members, citizens, and staff; and make them available to the Council. The planning document plan would be modified to address any changes and corrections required by the Council.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following resolution referring the plan to the Greenways Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Town Manager for comments and recommendations.
ATTACHMENTS