AGENDA #6
MEMORANDUM
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TO: |
Mayor and Town Council |
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FROM: |
Bill Strom, Mayor Pro Tem, Chair, Library Building Committee |
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SUBJECT: |
Endorsement of the Schematic Design for the Chapel Hill Public Library Expansion Project |
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DATE: |
September 24, 2007 |
Adoption of the attached resolution would approve the Schematic Design for the Chapel Hill Public Library expansion project as presented to the Library Building Committee on September 6, 2007, and authorize the Town’s design consultants to proceed with Design Development plans.
BACKGROUND
In November 2003, voters approved a $16.23 million bond for improvements to the Chapel Hill Public Library. In June of 2004, the Town Council appointed a 15 member Library Building Committee to select an architect for a facility expansion project, and work with the architect through the schematic design process. In October of 2006 the Town executed a contract with Corley, Redfoot, Zack Inc., working with Robert A. M. Stern Architects, to prepare plans for the Library expansion project and improvements to Pritchard Park.
During the winter and spring of 2007, the design consultants worked with affected Town staff and developed design options for consideration by the Library Building Committee. The process involved a number of meetings with the Library Building Committee resulting in a Conceptual Plan that was approved by the Committee on June 14, 2007. On June 18, 2007, the Town Council, acting in its regulatory role, conducted its Concept Plan review of the proposed expansion.
On July 18, 2007 a Schematic Design proposal for the Library building expansion project was presented to the Library Building Committee. The design consultants received comments from the Committee and on September 6, 2007 they presented the final Schematic Design to the Committee. This plan reflected revisions and refinements to the design in response to the Committee’s previous comments. This Schematic Design was unanimously endorsed by the Committee at this meeting.
NEXT STEPS
The design consultants are preparing Special Use Permit application plans for review by Town staff, boards and commissions. These Special Use Permit plans are scheduled to be presented to the Town Council at the November 12, 2007 Public Hearing. The Special Use Permit design process will include development of a Conceptual Plan for improvements to Pritchard Park to allow construction of these future improvements as part of the Special Use Permit approval. The Library Building Committee will reconvene at a future time to review and provide comments on this Conceptual Plan for improvements to Pritchard Park.
During the Special Use Permit approval process the design consultants can begin the Design Development phase of design. This phase includes coordinating the efforts of all of the design team, including structural and mechanical engineers, other specialized design consultants and the public artist, to develop more detailed plans. Upon approval of the Special Use Permit, these Design Development plans will then be further refined into Construction Drawings to be used during final plan approval by the Town staff and for bidding and construction of the project. We expect the Design Development phase to take approximately six months.
RECOMMENDATION
The Library Building Committee recommends that the Council, acting in its role as owner, approve the Schematic Design for the Chapel Hill Public Library expansion project and authorize the Town’s design consultants to proceed with Design Development plans.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (presented at meeting)