FINAL AGENDA
#13b
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Purchase of Open Space on Erwin Road
DATE: December 11, 2000
The attached resolution would authorize the Manager to use 1996 Open Space bond funds to purchase 34.572 acres of property (Springcrest Phases 8 and 9) on the west side of Erwin Road and south of I-40 for $798,655, or $23,000 per acre.
BACKGROUND
In July 1994, the Council approved a subdivision plat for the Springcrest development that included 51 lots on Springcrest phases 8 and 9.
On September 25, 2000, the Council authorized the Manager to begin open space investigation and acquisition work related to the 1996 Open Space Bonds, including work on properties along Dry Creek.
On November 27, 2000, the Council met in Closed Session and directed the staff to negotiate a contract for purchase.
The property is located along a branch of Dry Creek. Please see the attached vicinity map. Since the late 1980s the Town has made an effort to acquire land along Dry Creek.
The stream’s extensive wetlands were identified in the Triangle Land Conservancy’s 1988 “Inventory of the Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats of Orange County, NC” as significant natural areas. These wetlands contain a rich variety of flora and fauna, some of which may be rare. We recently learned that this stream corridor and riparian buffer qualifies as an officially designated NC Natural Heritage Program site.
The Council has adopted several planning documents that call for preservation of Dry Creek and construction of trails, including the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan (1991), Dry Creek Greenway Conceptual Report to the Town Council (1997), and Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan (1998).
We have acquired a significant percentage of Chapel Hill’s portion of the Dry Creek corridor. In addition, we are in the process of constructing the section of the trail that will connect East Chapel Hill High School and Perry Creek Road.
The property being offered for purchase is a 34-acre tract that has been approved for subdivision into 51 lots. The property is bounded on the south and west by Town open space, to the north by I-40 and to the east by Erwin Road. The property is located along the Erwin Road entranceway.
Dry Creek creates extensive wet areas in some locations. A Duke Power transmission easement is located on the southern edge of the upland portion of the property. The buildable portion of the tract is located north of the power easement and south of I-40.
We believe that this property meets several of the guidelines for property acquisition that the Council adopted in June 1999 and reiterated last June including preservation of:
- Non-automobile community connectivity
- Entranceway corridors
- Environmentally sensitive areas
- Resource Conservation District land
- Community open space and neighborhood open space
Both the Dry Creek and the North Trail greenways would cross this property. Over 1,000 feet of frontage on Erwin Road could help create a pleasant entryway to Chapel Hill, even though this not one of the entranceways formally recognized in the 1988 entranceways study.
The property would qualify as a stormwater conservation area. It includes about 15 acres of Resource Conservation District as well as significant amounts of riparian buffer and upland property. It would be very useful as community and neighborhood open space, and possibly even a neighborhood park. Cedar Falls Park is the closest park from the adjoining neighborhoods.
It may be possible or desirable to use a part of this property for another public use. If so, the Open Space bond fund would need to be reimbursed.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following resolution authorizing the Manager to use 1996 Open Space Bond funds to purchase 34.572 acres of property along Dry Creek for $798,665.
1. Location Map (p. 5).
2. Map showing property (p. 6).
3. Record of Activity – 1996 Open Space Bonds (p. 7).
4. Accounting of the use of 1996 Open Space Bonds (p. 9).
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
MANAGER TO USE TOWN OPEN SPACE BOND FUNDS FOR PURCHASE OF 34.572 ACRES OF
PROPERTY WEST OF ERWIN ROAD AND SOUTH OF I-40 FOR $798,665 (2000-12-11/R-19)
WHEREAS, in November 1996,
Chapel Hill voters approved $3,000,000 in general obligation bonds for purchase
of open space;
and
WHEREAS, in 1991, the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, City of Durham, and Durham County adopted the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan, which identifies potential trails and areas to be protected along Dry Creek; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 1997, the Council adopted the “Dry Creek Greenway Conceptual Report to the Town Council,” which set as a goal the construction of a trail along Dry Creek from East Chapel Hill High School to Eastowne; and
WHEREAS, on May 26, 1998 the Council adopted the “Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan”, which includes a trail along Dry Creek; and
WHEREAS, the Town has been actively
acquiring land along Dry Creek; and
WHEREAS, the Council has adopted as a guideline for purchase of land with the Open Space bond funds the preservation of:
- Non-automobile community connectivity
- Entranceway corridors
- Environmentally sensitive areas
- Resource Conservation District land
- Community open space and neighborhood open space
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the
Town Manager is authorized to use Town 1996 Open Space bond funds for purchase
of 34.572 acres of property located west of Erwin Road and south of I-40 from
Springcrest Developers, Inc. (Springcrest Phases 8 and 9).
This the 11th day of December, 2000.
ATTACHMENT 3
RECORD OF ACTIVITY – 1996 OPEN SPACE BOND
In November 1996, Chapel Hill voters approved $3,000,000 in general obligation bonds for purchase of open space.
In January 1998, the Council purchased approximately 6 acres of open space adjacent to Cleland Road, Roberson Drive and Oakwood Drive for $265,000.
In May 1998, the Council purchased 8.7 acres of property for $191,500, for a future fire station and open space. Approximately 7.6 acres of the site can be assigned to our open space inventory. We estimate that $167,345 of the purchase price will be charged to the year 2000 Open Space bond sale.
On May 26, 1998, the Council authorized the Manager to use Open Space bond funds to purchase properties needed for the Lower Booker Creek Trail project. All easements and properties have been acquired using approximately $5,000 in Open Space bond funds.
In November 1998, the Greenways Commission adopted a list of recommended open space target properties including lands along Booker Creek, Bolin Creek, and Morgan Creek.
On June 28, 1999, the Council adopted a resolution, setting out guidelines for the Manager to follow in recommending acquisition of particular parcels. The resolution states the Council’s goals of preserving:
· Non-automobile community connectivity
· Entranceway corridors
· Scenic vistas
· Environmentally sensitive areas
· Resource Conservation District land
· Community open space and neighborhood open space.
In January 2000, the Council rejected an offer to sell to the Town open space property adjacent to Tanyard Branch.
On March 27, 2000, the Council established a goal of making more effective use of the Town funds allocated for purchase of open space.
On June 12, 2000, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Manager to prepare an analysis of undeveloped land in terms of its suitability for promoting non-automobile community connectivity and/or preserving, entranceway corridors, scenic vistas, environmentally sensitive areas, Resource Conservation District land, community open space and neighborhood open space.
On July 5 the Council authorized
the Manager to pursue a possible purchase of the
Whitfield property utilizing HUD Disaster Recovery Grant Funds of $112,000.
Negotiations are underway and we anticipate a closing in January.
On
August 28, 2000, the Council accepted a donation of 35 acres of property
on Dry Creek from Eastowne Associates. The property, which is split by I-40, is
located just west of the Durham/Orange County line.
On September 25, 2000 the Council accepted from Ernest and Hazel Craige a donation of 8.48 acres of property located at the intersection of Mount Carmel Church Road and Bennett Road, adjacent to Town open space purchased as part of the Southern Fire Station property.
On September 25, 2000, the Council authorized the Manager to begin grant and acquisition work related to a number of projects including acquisition of flood damaged homes and lots on Dickerson Court; properties along Bolin, Dry, Morgan, and Wilson Creeks; and additional properties suitable for use of Open Space bond funds including non-complying historic lots and other undeveloped neighborhood lots with pocket park potential.
On November 27, 2000 the Council met in Closed Session and considered the purchase of 34 acres of property adjacent to Erwin Road (Springcrest Phase 8 and 9).
ATTACHMENT 4
USE OF 1996 OPEN SPACE
BONDS
December 11, 2000
Bond
Issue $3,000,000
1998
purchase of 6 acres at Roberson and Cleland Drives $ 265,000
1998
purchase of 7.6 acres at Bennett and Mt. Carmel Roads 167,343
1998
purchase of easements for Lower Booker Creek Trail 5,000
Total
allocated to date $ 437,343
Bond
proceeds remaining to date $2,562,657
Cost
to purchase Springcrest land $
798,665
Bond
proceed remaining if Springcrest land were purchased
$1,763,992