AGENDA #4f
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Purchase of Open Space Adjacent to Pritchard Park
DATE: November 25 , 2002
The attached resolution would authorize the Manager to use $6,000 from 1996 Open Space bond funds to purchase 1,667 square feet of property adjacent to Pritchard Park. A sketch map is attached.
On November 27, 2000, the Council adopted the Report of the Pritchard Park Conceptual Plan Committee. At that time the Council authorized the Manager to complete the portions of the park that did not require a Special Use Permit. Since that time we have used volunteer labor to build about 90% of the Pritchard Park Trail. We expect the trail to be essentially completed in December 2002 except for signs and, if necessary, a flight of stairs.
Use of the Property: The 1,667 square feet of land being offered to the Town would be used for the Pritchard Park loop trail, which circumnavigates the 35-acre park. The trail currently connects to the end of the Audubon Road right-of-way. However, the existing trail is located at a steep bank that currently requires a flight of stairs to prevent erosion and eliminate a potential safety hazard. Any relocation of this portion of the trail on land currently owned by the Town would require a bridge. We believe that a bridge large enough to span the drainage ditch would cost about the same as the proposed land acquisition. Please see the attached map showing the Pritchard Park Trail.
Determining the Value of the Property: We originally proposed purchasing an easement from the owner; however, she indicated that she preferred selling the property in fee simple. In order to avoid the cost of a formal appraisal for this relatively small piece of property we suggested to the owner that we use the same per square foot price as was used in the recent sale of park property to the Hilkey/Wilhelm family. In that case the Town sold 1,767 square feet of Cedar Falls Park land for $6,600 in order to resolve an encroachment issue. We believe that the value of this sliver of land adjacent to Pritchard Park would be similar to the value a like size parcel of property at Cedar Falls Park.
Budget: The Council could use 1996 Open Space bond funds for this proposed acquisition. The Council has spent approximately $1,592,000 of the $3,000,000 in1996 Open Space bond funds authorized by the voters. Approximately $1,408,000 remains in the bond authorization. Please see the budget summary below:
Remaining Bond Authorization $1,408,000
Asking price for the Rice tract -6,000
Reserve for properties currently under negotiation -500,000
Total Remaining Funds $902,000
This offer to sell property to the Town presents opportunities and costs that should be considered.
Potential Benefits of Acquiring a Portion of the Hope Rice Property:
· This acquisition would allow the Town to improve an important access point to the Pritchard Park Trail that would eliminate the need for stairs or a bridge. Stairs represent a barrier to some elderly and marginally handicapped people. Stairs and/or a bridge would require maintenance. The cost of a bridge would likely be the same as the cost of the land.
· The purchase would add 1,667 square feet to Pritchard Park.
Potential Costs of Acquiring the Hope Rice Property:
· This purchase would use $6,000 of the remaining $1,408,000 in Open Space bond funds. This would leave $1,402,000 for other projects.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following resolution authorizing the Manager to use approximately $6,000 in 1996 Open Space bond funds to purchase 1,667 square feet of property from Hope Rice for the Pritchard Park Trail and Pritchard Park.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO USE TOWN OPEN SPACE BOND FUNDS FOR PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF A PARCEL (IDENTIFIED AS CHAPEL HILL TAX MAP LOT 7.44.G.12) TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 1,667 SQUARE FEET OF PROPERTY AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE AUDUBON ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY AND PRITCHARD PARK FOR $6,000 (2002-11-25/R-3.1)
WHEREAS, on November 27, 2000, the Council adopted the Report of the Pritchard Park Conceptual Plan, and
WHEREAS, the Pritchard Park Trail is anticipated to be completed in December 2002; and
WHEREAS, the current location of the Audubon Road trail access requires a flight of stairs; and
WHEREAS, a purchase of land would allow the trail to be relocated without stairs;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Manager is authorized to use approximately $6,000 of 1996 Open Space bond funds to purchase 1,667 square feet of property (identified as a portion of Chapel Hill Tax Map 7.44.G.12) at the intersection of the Audubon Road right-of-way and Pritchard Park for $6,000.
This the 25th day of November, 2002.