AGENDA #5a

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:      Erwin Trace Property Acquisition Status Report

DATE:            September 26, 2005

This memorandum provides a status report on efforts to finalize an agreement with our partners in the acquisition of property in Orange and Durham Counties, which is known as Erwin Trace.

BACKGROUND

The Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, Durham City and Durham County, along with the Triangle Land Conservancy and citizens in the area agreed in June to jointly acquire from Duke University 42.8 acres in Orange and Durham Counties for $1.5 million.  The property is to be held as open space with some low-intensity recreational uses possible.

Since June, the governments involved have been working on an Interlocal Agreement regarding the terms of the transaction and management of the site.  Durham County has drafted an agreement that the Town staff has reviewed in multiple forms.

STATUS

The review of the Interlocal Agreement has not been completed by all of the signatories.  Our staff has provided comments on early drafts to the Durham County staff and will provide the Council with the draft agreement for Council review and approval once the other governments have completed their reviews.

We will provide additional status reports as appropriate.