MINUTES

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING

DECEMBER 5, 2005

5:30 p.m.

The Aberdeen Board of Commissioners met Monday, December 5, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. for a Special Called Meeting for the purpose of receiving and reviewing the Master Plan of Aberdeen Lake Park from Susan Hatchell Landscape Architecture, PLLC and Oakley Associates, Architects, P.A.  Members present were Mayor Elizabeth Mofield and Commissioners Pat Ann McMurray, Arthur Parker, Robbie Farrell and Terry Marquez.  Commissioner Donna Shannon was absent from the meeting.  Others in attendance were Town Manager Bill Zell, Parks and Recreation Director Leigh Baggs, Deputy Clerk Regina Rosy and Walter Wright.  Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee members Tim Helms and Faye Honeycutt were also present.

          Mayor Mofield called the meeting to order.  Mayor Mofield turned the meeting over to Parks and Recreation Director Leigh Baggs.  Leigh Baggs gave a summary of all the plans made up to date on the Aberdeen Lake Park Master Plan.

          Susan Hatchell with Susan Hatchell Landscape Architecture, PLLC distributed a copy of the Master Plan survey tabulations for everyone to review.  She highlighted a few areas but left the rest for everyone to read on their own.  She stated an executive summary will be drawn up from the preliminary results to display more accurate conclusions as to what the citizens of Aberdeen are most interested in seeing at Aberdeen Lake Park.

          Susan Hatchell had three different Master Plan drawings on display and explained each of them to the Board.  The first drawing included a waterfront boardwalk, a drop-off area in front of the new recreation building, and a maintenance building located inside of the Rescue Squad building.

          The first drawing had the new recreation building located at the corner of Lakeshore Drive and US Highway 1 with a lot of green space in between the building and the lake.  The first drawing allowed for 191 parking spaces.

 The second drawing had the new recreation building located directly at the lake towards the north of where it is now located.   The second drawing allowed for 180 parking spots and the new recreation building would be less visible from the highway.  The third drawing would allow the recreation building to be in about the same spot it is in now with some open green space to the north.

 The third drawing would include a pier, only one entrance into the park, and a maintenance shop would be located on the other side of the lake.  The third drawing allowed for 199 parking spaces.

          Commissioner McMurray asked if tennis courts and volleyball are usually located near a recreation building.  She believes this would cause too much congestion.  Parks & Recreation Director Leigh Baggs suggested the tennis courts could be eliminated altogether to allow for more parking spaces since Southern Middle School has said Aberdeen residents could use their tennis courts.  Mayor Mofield and Commissioner Marquez agreed there should be at least one tennis court located at Aberdeen Lake Park because Aberdeen residents should not have to drive to Southern Pines to play tennis.

          Tim Oakley with Oakley Associates, Architects, P.A. presented the building plan for the new recreation building which includes 7000 square feet for a banquet area which will seat 280–350 people and will have a portable stage, a catering kitchen (300 square feet) with counter space, two activity rooms (600 square feet each) to be used for exercise and arts/crafts classes and would hold 30-50 people, a game room for day camps to be used by children/youth, three parks and recreation offices and a conference room (1000 square feet), indoor/outdoor restroom facilities, and a four feet overhang coverage around the entire building to allow for walking.  The total square feet for the entire building would be approximately 14,000 square feet with the average building cost being $90 - $135 per square foot.

          After some discussion the Board agreed on the second drawing but with two entrances coming into the lake.  They also agreed the building should be facing north more towards the lake to allow for a longer view of the lake.  Mayor Mofield requested that one tennis court be included in the master plan and for Susan Hatchell to determine the best location to put the tennis court. 

A motion was made by Commissioner McMurray, seconded by Commissioner Farrell to adjourn the meeting.  Motion unanimously carried.

__________________________                         ________________________         

Regina Rosy, Deputy Clerk                                    Elizabeth B. Mofield, Mayor