AGENDA #2a
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Continuation of a Public Hearing for the Draft 2006 Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan
DATE: January 9, 2006
Tonight, the Council continues the November 21, 2005 Public Hearing for the draft 2006 Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan and present recommended changes based on comments received from adjacent local governments, aligned organizations, and Town advisory boards including the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Community Design Commission, Greenways Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Board, and Transportation Board.
The attached resolution would adopt the 2006 Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan.
The current Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan was originally adopted as a component of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan on May 26, 1998. The 2000 Comprehensive Plan lists it as a component in Appendix A.
On September 8, 2003, the Council authorized the Greenways Commission to hold a series of public forums to solicit comments from the public concerning possible amendments to the Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan.
On June 15, 2005, the Council accepted the draft Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan and referred the document to the Manager, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Community Design Commission, Greenways Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Board, and Transportation Board for comments and recommendations.
A Public Hearing was held on November 21, 2005. The Council recessed the Public Hearing and referred comments received that evening to the Manager.
The attached draft 2006 Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan contains several revisions from the version reviewed at the November 21, 2005 Public Hearing:
Changes Based on Recommendations from Town Council Members
A Council member suggested that the master plan specifically address options for accessing the University of North Carolina campus and the downtown area from the Town’s greenway system.
Staff Comment: A section has been added to Chapter 5, to address this issue. This section can be found on pages 34-36.
In summary there are no feasible locations for providing direct access via paved greenway trails to either the campus or downtown areas. Both areas are located on a high point in the Town and are surrounded by long established neighborhoods. Other than Battle Park there are no undeveloped corridors leading from the surrounding residential neighborhoods to the downtown and campus.
The only location we have found that could technically provide such direct access would be along the route of the Battle Branch Trail and Battle Park. However, the Council has already decided not to pursue that option due to issues related to preservation of Battle Park in its current state. In addition, University officials have communicated to us a desire to continue to improve the Battle Park trails, but not to pave them.
The Tanyard Branch Trail can provide direct access by paved greenway trails to the Northside neighborhood, which is a short distance to the downtown area. This connection is shown on pages 34 and 36.
All other access points would require a combination of trails and sidewalks. These include:
It would be possible to upgrade the Town-owned portion of the Battle Branch Trail in order to provide better connectivity between Estes Drive and Greenwood Street. See pages 34-35. Bicyclists could then travel on Greenwood Street to Raleigh Road. From that point they could follow Raleigh Road to the campus.
Access from the Morgan Creek Trail could be somewhat improved once planned work on South Columbia Street is completed. The addition of bicycle lanes would allow easier access from the south. However, the portion of roadway from Fordham Boulevard to Culbreth Road would remain challenging for many riders.
A Council member noted that during the process to renew the franchise license for Public Service Company an agreement was made to allow trails within its easements.
Staff Comment: The language describing the potential use of gas transmission lines on page 70 has been changed to reflect this new opportunity.
Changes Based on Recommendations from Town Advisory Boards
Copies of the draft Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan were presented to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Community Design Commission, Greenways Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Board, and Transportation Board.
The Community Design Commission recommended that the Design Standards and Guidelines chapter be moved toward the front of the document so that the trail width guidelines can be reviewed prior to the chapter dealing with specific trail recommendations. Please see attached copy of the Commission’s recommendations.
Staff Comment: The entire Design Standards and Guidelines chapter has been moved. It was Chapter 7 in the previous version. It is now Chapter 4.
The Planning and Transportation Boards recommended that the Town-owned portion of the Battle Branch Trail be improved to allow easier access for bicyclists. The Board stated that this recommendation does not mean that the trail should be paved.
Staff Comment: We have added a section dealing with access to the campus including changes to the Battle Branch Trail on pages 34-36. In addition language has been added to pages 42 and 43, and page 83 that state that as improvements are made to the Battle Branch Trail the facility should become easier to use for wheeled, non-motorized vehicles. Improvements could include grading to reduce severe slopes, smooth transitions to bridges and boardwalks, and better drainage structures. The master plan also recommends the acquisition of permanent easements from landowners on properties that would be better suited for bicycle use.
Recommendations from Adjacent Local Governments
Copies of the Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan were sent to Orange County, Durham County, Town of Carrboro, City of Durham, Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Orange Water and Sewer Authority.
The Town of Carrboro recommended that there be continued discussion on a possible extension of the Tanyard Branch Trail into Carrboro. Please see attached copy of the Town’s recommendations.
Comment: The Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan mentions this possibility on pages 42 and 85. Any expansion of the trail as an improved greenway into Carrboro would likely be done as a part of Bolin Creek Trail, Phase III project. We believe that the Plan sufficiently covers the need to discuss options for expansion of the Tanyard Branch Trail to the Town of Carrboro. However, we believe the report should note that Carrboro refers to the neighborhood in that area as the Lloyd-Broad neighborhood. That change was made on page 42. In addition, we will continue to be in close communications with Carrboro as part of the Bolin Creek Trail design process, once preliminary site data is available.
The Town of Carrboro requested that the portion of the Fan Branch Trail between Southern Village and Smith Level Road be changed from its current designation as a natural surface trail to a paved Class 6 trail. In addition, Carrboro requested that the Master Plan reflect needed improvements to Smith Level Road in order to allow safe pedestrian and bicycle crossing.
Comment: We agree that a paved trail connection to Smith Level Road would better serve the neighborhood and future high school. We have added language to pages 63 and 85 to describe the portion of the trail from Southern Village to Smith Level Road as a future paved trail as requested by the Town of Carrboro. All maps have also been changed to indicate the change.
However, the portion of the trail within Southern Village cannot be paved due to restrictions in the development’s Special Use Permit.
In addition we have revised the chart on page 84 to reflect the need to provide for safe pedestrian and bicycle crossing of the road.
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority had no specific comments other than to note that many of the Town’s potential projects coincide with its facilities and projects. It requested that we stay in close communications with them as we develop projects. Please see the attached copy of the Orange Water and Sewer Authority’s letter.
Comment: We have worked with the Orange Water and Sewer Authority on many trail projects and appreciate the cooperation we have experienced from the agency. We will continue to work closely with OWASA staff on any future project that has the potential for impacting their facilities or easements.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board’s Recommendation: The Board voted (8-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan. Please see the attached copy of the Board’s recommendation.
Community Design Commission’s Recommendation: The Commission voted (8-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan. The Commission also recommended that the section of the report containing the “Trail Classifications” be moved to the front of the document. Please see the attached copy of the Board’s recommendation.
Greenways Commission’s Recommendation: The Commission voted (6-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan. Please see the attached copy of the Commission’s recommendation.
Parks and Recreation Commission’s Recommendation: The Commission voted (6-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan. Please see the attached copy of the Commission’s recommendation.
Planning Board’s Recommendation: The Planning Board voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend adoption of the master plan. They also recommended that the Town-owned portion of the Battle Branch Trail be improved to allow easier access for bicyclists. The Board stated that this recommendation does not mean that the trail should be paved.
Transportation Board’s Recommendation: The Transportation Board voted (4-2) to recommend adoption of the Greenways Master Plan. The Board also recommended that the Town owned portion of the Battle Branch Trail be improved to allow better bicycle access.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution, which would adopt the 2006 Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan.