Orange County is continuing to make progress on its plans for a recreational playing field facility at Millhouse Road and north of Chapel Hill.
The county originally purchased the 75-acre property two decades ago with the intent of creating a soccer-oriented park, although those designs were deferred due to 2009’s economic recession. On Tuesday, the county’s Board of Commissioners reviewed a solicitation document for the site’s eastern portion, seeking to retain and preserve the natural resources to the west.
The 75-acre site located north of Chapel Hill. The county plans to sell the eastern 45 acres to a nonprofit for the purpose of creating a recreational playing field facility. (Photo via the Orange County government.)
In Nov., the board favored selling to an organization that would adhere to the original vision for the property, noting today’s demand for parks and open space. While the March 17 session saw commissioners Phyllis Portie-Ascott, Marilyn Carter, and Earl McKee urging for a portion of the 45 acres be considered for affordable housing, a majority rejected exploration of that option.
“The need is still there for these recreational purposes,” Commissioner Sally Greene added. “And maybe most germane, as Commissioner McKee pointed out, even if theoretically we were to get permission from our partners on a fast track to do this, the expense of building those water and sewer lines from way down below where that line is would be phenomenal, and they would not lead to any production of affordable housing.”
The board agreed in Nov. to sell to a nonprofit, allowing for ownership to revert back to the county if the sites are no longer used for the designated recreation purposes. Once a final version of the solicitation document is approved, the county can begin accepting proposals and offers on the property.
Several board members said they want more clarity in the proposed document’s conditions, which range from buyer experience to the planned scope of service for the facility. Specifically, Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford expressed interest in revising conditions that could exclude smaller recreation groups, also stating she does not want a large Sportsplex that might be inaccessible to some. She said it should also be clear the property is for the public purpose of recreational use, rather than a public-private partnership.
A majority of the board also showed support for setting a minimum price for bids, though that opinion was nearly split.
“I wouldn’t necessarily want to set a minimum,” vice chair of the board Amy Fowler said, expressing how she wants to avoid decisions driven by a price-tag. “Because part of the issue might be one group might offer more, but they’re not going to actually let folks from Orange County play there. Our goal is recreation for folks from Orange County first and foremost. That’s why we purchased the land in the first place.”
However, most argued that naming a price will allow for a general agreement on the property’s value, with room to negotiate with interested organizations or to reject an offer altogether. Since the property was bought with public funds, McKee said he wants to maximize that return on investment for the community.
“I wasn’t thinking necessarily minimum price,” Greene added. “But just setting a price like you would set a price for a house. You sell your house for $500,000, but if the best offer you get is $450,000, maybe you take it. But it would just be your expectation of what it’s worth.”
To view the full Board of Orange County Commissioners meeting, click here.
Featured image via the Orange County government.
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