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Home My WebLink AboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 07D_12/13/1990VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 • (407) 575-6200 FAX: (407) 575-6203 MEMORANDUM: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Thomas G. Bradford, Village Manager --7 December 6, 1990 Palm Beach County Library Site Selection; Agenda Item The two sites under consideration are that area south of the Post Office and the vacant lands adjacent to Village Hall north of Village Green. After reviewing all of the factors related thereto, it is my recommendation that the Village Council vote to recommend that Palm Beach County construct their library south of the Post Office within the Master Plan area. My reasons are as follows: o It makes no sense to effectively give up Village land worth $261,000 an acre in today's dollars so that Palm Beach County may save $107,000, the purchase price offered by the Dorner Trust for that land south of the Post Office. o The alleged hazard in crossing the railroad tracks is minimized by gates which stop pedestrian and vehicular traffic upon approach of a train. o Pedestrian crosswalks exist at the intersection of Old Dixie and Tequesta Drive. o Sidewalks do or will exist to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians to this area. o The Village will eventually require the use of the land next to Village Hall. Witness the expansion plans of St. Jude's Church and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. This area is growing and will continue to grow. Therefore, it is only right that the Village have the ability to avail itself of the highest and best use of this land. o Failure to provide the library within the Master Plan area will be viewed as a lack of commitment to this major planning undertaking. Recycled Paper Memorandum: Village Council December 6, 1990 Page - 2 --------------------------- o It is the County's responsibility to secure its own land for its own purposes. The Dorner Trust has made the County a very reasonable offer for a library ^,jt zF 4-he cost of tr .- =mod i;_ �:_ i.�ges ups_ _, the cui..:__ yefic;Y u: _ I Coull ;y ' s construction budget, such is life. Whenever the Village's construction contingencies are limited or depleted, we have never turned to Palm Beach County for help. A compromise position might be to credit the Dorner Trust with approximately $107,000 in recreational impact fees in return for donating the necessary land to the library. Such credits or incentives are being contemplated as we work toward implementing the Master Plan. This would solve the County budget problem and we get to keep our land. All of these considerations aside, should the Village Council feel that the best location for the library is next to Village Hall, then I would recommend the following: o The land be provided to Palm Beach County by way of a long- term lease. o The lease should allow for cancellation whenever the Village requires the site or facility for any public purpose. o Cancellation should be allowed in the event that the Village of Tequesta opts out of the Palm Beach County Library Taxing District. o Upon cancellation by the Village, the lease should provide for a predetermined depreciated price that the Village would pay to the County for the facility. o The County reimburse the Village for recent Master Plan modifications to indicate alternate library sites for them. o All site modifications and but not limited to, those be at County expense. TGB/ jmm utility relocations, including, referenced in the attached memo, VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 • (407) 575-62()0 FAX: (407) 575-6203 MEMO1:;-"27kNI7L3M TO: Thomas G. Bradford//,Vill ge Manager FROM: Wendy K. Harrisont'A-//tt i tant to Village Manager DATE: December 7, 1990 SUBJECT: Palm Beach County Library Site Selection As you requested, this is to report to you on staff investigation of alternative sites for the new Palm Beach County Library. As you know, there are two sites under consideration: the original site on Old Dixie Highway immediately south of the Post Office and a new site suggestion immediately east of Village Hall on Tequesta Drive and north of Village Green Park on Village -owned property. The new site on Tequesta Drive was suggested in order to provide for contingency funds lacking in the Palm Beach County budget. According to Palm Beach County officials, if the Old Dixie land must be purchased, the interior of the building would most likely be scaled back after construction contingency funds are required. In order to make a recommendation to Village Council, staff have performed a preliminary estimate of square footage and layout requirements for a Police facility, which is the most likely Village use for this property. In conjunction with Gee & Jenson Architects and Village staff, preliminary estimates of Police Department/Public Safety needs indicate that a 14,000 square foot building would be appropriate for a stand-alone facility. The drawings prepared by Palm Beach County staff showing the Police facility and the new library at the Village Green location do provide for an adequately sized Police facility. However, Village staff have reservations regarding the siting of the building. While Palm Beach County would prefer a frontage location close to Tequesta Drive, Village Public Safety Officials would likewise prefer such a location. Police facility planning generally dictates that public access and Police emergency vehicle access be separate. The Palm Beach County plan for the library which includes the Police Facility provides a less than desirable access pattern: Recycled Paper To: Thomas G. Bradford RE: Palm Beach County Library Site Selection December 6, 1990 Page 2 - ------------------------------------------------ According to tax roll information, the subject parcel, which includes Vi ? , n Gr: -Ioi. r°a,:;:, is assessed at s cotal vi r? t ;' y, of $783,000. The site is 2.99 acres in size which results in a per acre assessment of $261,000, or six dollars per square foot. According to purely economic indicators, if the Village leased one acre of land to Palm Beach County for the library, the Village would be "spending" $250,000 in order for Palm Beach County to save approximately $107,000. The Water Department currently has facilities located on the property as shown on the attached site plan. The facilities consist of a 500,000 gallon tank at the northwest corner, pumps servicing the tank and a small storage building at the southwest corner of the undeveloped portion, and an abandoned well at the northeast corner. The tank and pumps are required to remain in service until the new three million gallon tank at the treatment plant is complete, estimated to occur in approximately 11 months. The two high service pumps would need to be relocated northward, and a priliminary estimate of the construction cost of this work is $30,000. Safety considerations relative to the FEC Railroad crossing and Old Dixie Highway have been raised as a concern. The construction of an improvement to three lanes from Tequesta Drive to County Line Road of Old Dixie is scheduled to begin in early 1991. This project includes a six foot concrete sidewalk on the east side of Old Dixie Highway which will connect to the crosswalks at Tequesta Drive. The final consideration is more intangible than the others and involves the relative value of the Tequesta Downtown Development Master Plan. It should be noted that construction of the library in the Master Plan area would be the first major construction of a portion of that Plan, and would probably indicate to developers that the Village was supportive of the Plan. This would theoretically stimulate interest and eventual development. The new Palm Beach County Library will be a positive addition to the community whichever site is chosen. Given potential Village needs for the Village Green site, the economic value of this property, it is suggested that the Village Council may want to consider supporting Palm Beach County Library by a contribution in funding rather than one of land. A land contribution would be of a value higher than required by the County, and would probably limit the Village's options in the future. WKH/mk e h I is • SOO.DOO GO% EI f . � 5 ; stnr.a�r rank »fires R� i _ e r dal p 6 h �4 2 z ' E !ro N. R P;f n c -n nLOncrY,le r--� As i L_J r ► vno .Mar 796 r E c � ' f b 1 i � 1 6 v .•fn. �. " - So. s f � P.oa. DESCRIPTION i