AGENDA #10c

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:      Homestead Park Aquatics Center Special Use Permit Application - Consideration of Issues from the Owner's Perspective

 

DATE:                        November 9, 2005

 

 

PURPOSE

 

This memorandum responds to issues raised by the Council and Boards and Commissions from the perspective of the Town as owner of the project.

 

If the Council, in its role as regulator, approves a Special Use Permit for this project, the attached resolution would authorize the Manager to proceed with development of detailed construction drawings and seek construction bids for the project.

 

BACKGROUND

 

A Public Hearing was held on October 19. Various Boards and Commissions reviewed the plans in September and October 30.

 

DISCUSSION

 

A.                BUDGET

 

We have spent or committed $537,000 for design and other pre-construction costs. This leaves a budget of $5,044,000 for construction of the project.

 

SOURCES OF REVENUE

 

1996 Town Park Bond                                                $1,226,000

1997 Orange County Parks Bond                                    855,000

2001 Orange County Parks Bond                                 3,500,000

 

TOTAL REVENUE                                                   $5,581,000

PROPOSED EXPENDITURES

 

Design and Pre-Construction Costs 1                            $537,000

Construction                                                                 4,600,000

Contingency 2                                                                  444,000

 

TOTAL EXPENDITURES                                        $5,581,000

 

1 This amount includes the initial Concept Plan design, SUP and detailed construction design, permitting costs, surveying, required studies, and soils exploration.

2 9.6% of construction budget.

 

B.                 ISSUES FROM THE PUBLIC HEARING

 

The information below responds, from the Town's perspective as applicant/owner, to issues raised during the October 19, 2005 public hearing.

 

1)      Bicycle Parking Issues:   The Council asked where bicycle parking would be located and if some covered bicycle parking would be provided.

 

Comment:  Currently, there are 28 bicycle parking spaces located throughout the park. We propose to add a total of 32 spaces throughout the park. Eight of these spaces would be located near the front entrance, in view of the desk, and would be covered and lighted. The remaining 24 spaces would be added throughout the park adjacent to the existing amenities such as the athletic fields, ballfields, play area, and skate park.

 

2)      Cross Walk at Homestead Road:   A Council member asked about the status of a proposed crosswalk on Homestead Road

 

Comment:  The plans for this project do not include a crosswalk. A crosswalk will be provided as a part of the development of the Orange County Senior Center if it is approved by the NCDOT.

 

3)      Drop-Off Area Accessibility:   A Council member asked about how handicapped patrons could safely access the building from the handicap parking and drop-off area. The Council member commented that it appeared that only a narrow break in the curb would be provided for handicap access.

 

Comment:  Access will be wheel chair accessible along the entire hardscape area in front of the Aquatics Center. We propose to use a smooth transition type curb in this area that would be very slightly ramped to a flat section. Bollards would be installed to prevent motor vehicles from accidentally entering onto the hardscape area. The bollards would also provide lighting that would be directed toward the pavement to assist people getting into and out of motor vehicles.

 

4)      Missing Section of Sidewalk:   A Council member noted that there was a gap in the proposed sidewalk system between the Aquatics Center and the skate park.

 

Staff Comment:  It is our intent to provide a continuous sidewalk system. We will link the sidewalk system for the new building to the existing sidewalk.

 

5)      Completion Date:   A Council member asked when the building was expected to be complete.

 

Staff Comment:  If the Council approves the Special Use Permit this evening we believe that the project could open in late 2008, assuming that no major unexpected problems arise that would delay the project.

 

C.        ISSUES FROM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

The information below responds, from the Town's perspective as applicant/owner, to issues raised by various Boards and Commissions.

 

1)      Fund a Pedestrian Crossing of Homestead Road: The Bicycle and Pedestrian Board recommended that the $1,000 stipulated in Resolution A for a traffic signal warrant study be used instead to help build the pedestrian crossing that may be required as part of the Orange County Senior Center project.

 

Comment:  We recommend the use of the $1,000 for the traffic signal warrant study as stated in Resolution A. Orange County will build the crossing if it is approved by NCDOT.

 

2)      Traffic Signal Warrant Study at Martin Luther King Jr Blvd:  The Transportation Board recommended that the applicant pay for a traffic light warrant study for the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr Blvd and Stateside Drive.

 

Comment:  We believe that this project would not have enough impact on the intersection to justify the requirement that it pay for a warrant study. This intersection was outside of the Transportation Impact Analysis study area.

 

3)      Public Transit and Pedestrian Access Study: The Transportation Board recommended that a stipulation include language that would require the staff to investigate options for public transit and pedestrian access upon opening of the facility.

 

Comment:  We believe that these issues are important and could be handled in a number of ways, but should not be a requirement of the project’s Special Use Permit. We regularly review options for public transit and will continue to do so as a part of our short-range transit planning in 2007. Efforts are currently underway to study possible pedestrian and bicycle improvements to Martin Luther King Jr., Boulevard. In addition, we expect that Homestead Road will become a future NCDOT project and that pedestrian and bicycle improvements would be made at that time. Greenway connections to the north and west are included in the current and draft Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Manager's Recommendation: If the Council approves the Special Use Permit, we also recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution, which would authorize the Manager to begin work on construction drawings and submit the project to the bidding process.

 

 

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND A BIDDING PROCESS FOR THE HOMESTEAD PARK AQUATICS CENTER (2005-11-09/R-7)

 

WHEREAS, the Council has approved a Special Use Permit for the Aquatics Center;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Manager to proceed with development of construction documents, to apply for all needed permits, and to seek bids for construction of the Homestead Park Aquatics Center.

 

This the 9th day of November, 2005.