STAFF REPORT
Operations Committee,
August 7, 2008
Town Center Park PARTF Grant Conversion
(PR09-04)
Consideration of conducting a public hearing
regarding conversion of a PARTF grant from Town Center Park property to a
replacement park property
Speaker: Ms. Mary Henderson
From: Mary
Henderson, Director, PRCR
Prepared by: Sandi Bailey, Parks Planner
Approved by: William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager
At its April 24, 2008 meeting Council approved staff’s pursuit of a conversion of a grant from the North Carolina Park and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) from property in the Town Center Park to a park site at the southeast corner of Louis Stephens Road and Morrisville Carpenter Road (Staff Report PR08-023). In order to complete this conversion PARTF requires that the Town conduct a public hearing on the matter. Staff proposes that a public hearing be held at the August 28, 2008 meeting of the Town Council. Following the public hearing PARTF requires that the Town Council adopt a resolution approving the conversion which staff anticipates presenting to Council for adoption at its September 11, 2008 meeting.
This conversion will remove the deed restrictions from the original parcel (325 S. Academy Street) for which the funds were granted thereby freeing that parcel for construction of the vehicular square as approved per the Downtown Streetscape Plan. This conversion will also require that deed restrictions be placed on the replacement property indicating that the parcel will be used for public park purposes in perpetuity.
Since Council’s approval of staff report PR08-023, staff has advertised the conversion in the Cary News and posted notices on both sites requesting public comments, in accordance with PARTF requirements. A public meeting regarding the conversion process was held at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board on July 7, 2008 and notification was mailed to residents surrounding both sites. Public comments received to date have primarily questioned whether a park would still be located in downtown, and whether there would be opportunity for public input on the design of the new park site at Louis Stephens Road and Morrisville Carpenter Road. No comments opposing the conversion have been received.
Fiscal Impact: The fiscal impact will be staff time required to prepare for the public hearing, as well as the costs of advertising the public hearing.
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the public hearing schedule outlined above for the PARTF grant conversion.