AGENDA #4j

 

MEMORANDUM

 

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Acceptance of Gift of Land

 

DATE:             January 14, 2002

 

The attached resolution would formally accept the gift of 6.9 acres of land from John Allen Cates and Ann Cates.  The property is located north of and immediately adjacent to property owned by the Town where the Southern Railroad line intersects with Interstate 40 near Millhouse Road.

 

DISCUSSION

 

Last month, following the last Council business meeting of the year, the Town received an offer from Mr. Cates to donate this land to the Town provided the transaction could be completed prior to the end of the calendar year.  Under the Council's general policies, the Manager is not authorized to accept gifts of real estate to the Town.  Based on receiving favorable response from individual Council members, the Manager and Attorney proceeded to complete the transaction to receive this donation with the understanding that the Council would be asked at tonight's meeting formally to ratify those steps and accept the gift of land.

 

The parcel is located in the apex of the triangle bounded on the east by I-40, on the west by Southern railroad, and on the south by the Town’s recently purchased land. It has no road frontage; informal access appears to be gained by crossing the Southern Railroad right-of-way. (Please see the attached location sketch map.)

 

The land is relatively flat, dry and wooded.  It could be used for a number of uses, including athletic fields and open space.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Council adopt the attached resolution accepting the gift and thanking the Cates' for their contribution.

 

 

 

 

A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GIFT FROM JOHN ALLEN CATES OF 7 ACRES NORTH OF AND ADJACENT TO THE NEW PUBLIC WORKS SITE RECENTLY PURCHASED BY THE TOWN (Tax Map Parcels 7.19..19G, 7.19..19E, 7.19..21B) (2002-01-14/R-10)

 

WHEREAS,  John Allen Cates and Ann Cates has offered to donate to the Town of Chapel Hill 6.9 acres of land bounded by the Town’s new Public Works Site, I-40 right-of-way and Southern Railroad right-of-way; and

 

WHEREAS, the Town has commissioned a Phase I environmental study which shows no evidence of pollution of the site; and

 

WHEREAS, the site is relatively dry and flat and could be used for a number of things, including open space;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council ratifies the acceptance of the gift of 6.9 acres of land from John Allen Cates and Ann Cates.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Council expresses its gratitude to John Allen Cates and Ann Cates for their generosity in giving this land to the Town.

 

This is the 14th day of January, 2002.