AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE
title
Authorize the Mayor to Sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project.
presenter
RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT
Christopher C. Blue, Town Manager, Town Manager’s Office
Mary Jane Nirdlinger, Deputy Town Manager
John Richardson, Community Sustainability Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project.
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ACTION/DECISION POINTS
Council must decide whether to sign the MOA and formally participate.
By signing the MOA, the Town would agree to the list of “responsibilities of the parties” in the attached document.
LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT
This item is before Council because the participating local governments (Orange County, Town of Carrboro, Town of Chapel Hill), UNC-Chapel Hill, and the Southern Environmental Law Center are working to formalize an agreement to “collaboratively envision, plan, and jointly seek grant funding opportunities for the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project.” By working with the other parties, the Town can be part of a process to help jointly plan for a multi-modal greenway corridor that supports the Town’s goals for housing, the environment, connectivity, and economic development.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
The goal of this collaboration is to plan for a future scenario where the railroad spur that currently provides coal to the University’s Cogeneration facility is no longer needed and can be used for other purposes.
The MOA has been signed by the Town of Carrboro and Orange County.
The rail spur runs from the Cogeneration facility located on West Cameron Avenue in Chapel Hill, through downtown Carrboro, north along Eubanks Road near the Town’s Public Works and Transit facilities, continuing into the Rural Buffer and ending just south of I-85 at the segment of the main Norfolk Southern railroad located between Hillsborough and Durham.
See attached information from Central Pines and UNC for more details.
TRADEOFFS, ALTERNATIVES, IMPACTS
If the Town decides to officially participate, elected officials and staff from the Town can be included in a long-term planning process that could support multiple Town goals and have an impact on near-term development decisions (e.g., Greene Tract). If the Town does not officially participate, it is possible that planning efforts could be misaligned with Town goals or local development activities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact or obligation directly associated with the MOA. The project team intends to fund planning activities with grants; however, it is possible that matching funds or other financial support may be needed in the future. Future requests can be evaluated by Council and the Manager on a case-by-case basis.
COMPLETE COMMUNITY CONNECTION
The planning associated with this project could support the following Complete Community Framework elements:
• Social Equity Drivers: active transportation options
• Social Equity Drivers: housing diversity
• Social Equity Drivers: access to homeownership for historically marginalized communities
• Programs & Amenities: live/work neighborhoods
• Programs & Amenities: policies to drive live/work spaces in new housing forms
• Programs & Amenities: indoor and outdoor recreation, fitness and play facilities
• Design Attributes: mitigate climate risks - green infrastructure
• Design Attributes: oriented to active transportation and transit
• Design Attributes: Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION
There is an opportunity to include the DEI office in this planning process.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
There is an opportunity to include community engagement in this planning process.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution Authorizing Mayor to Sign MOA
Memorandum of Agreement
Additional Information from Central Pines and UNC
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR THE CO-GEN RAIL TRANSFORMATION PROJECT (2024-09-25/R-8)
WHEREAS, the Town has adopted policies such as the Complete Community Strategy and Climate Action and Response Plan that are designed to advance community goals for housing, the environment, connectivity and economic development; and
WHEREAS, in late 2023, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and UNC-Chapel Hill entered into contracts with Central Pines Regional Council (CPRC) to jointly fund the creation of grant applications for economic, land use and transportation planning along the rail spur that supports the University’s Cogeneration facility; and
WHEREAS, the Town’s participation is an opportunity to include elected officials and staff in a long-term planning process that could support multiple Town goals; and
WHEREAS, the attached Memorandum of Agreement has been signed by the Town of Carrboro and Orange County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Mayor to sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project, as described in the September 25, 2024 meeting material.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council appoints Council Member __________________ to serve on the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project’s Policy Steering Committee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council requests that the Manager provide periodic updates to Mayor and Council about the status of the MOA, including whether funding and other resources are needed, so that Council may evaluate the Town’s continued participation.
This the 25th day of September, 2024.
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