AGENDA #4k(1)

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:           Peter Calingaert, Chair

                        Morgan Creek Trail Conceptual Plan Committee

SUBJECT:      Morgan Creek Trail Conceptual Plan Committee’s Recommended Plan for Development of the Morgan Creek Trail

DATE:            June 26, 2006

The Morgan Creek Trail Concept Plan Committee is pleased to present its recommendations for development of a greenway trail along Morgan Creek from the intersection of Culbreth Road and US 15-501 to Smith Level Road, with a spur trail to Merritt’s Pasture.

The attached report was adopted by the Committee by a vote of 10-1 on June 14, 2006.

The Committee met from November 2002 until June 2003. At that time we adopted a preliminary recommended plan and then recessed while waiting for the State to complete flood plain modeling and mapping of the Morgan Creek corridor. We reformed as a group in April 2006. At that time we considered the new flood modeling information and adjusted our earlier recommendations to address regulatory issues brought forth by the new information.

We believe that the Morgan Creek Trail has the potential to be important for both recreation and non-motorized transportation. We also believe that our report presents a balanced approach that would enhance safety of trail users, minimize environmental disturbance, and provide a facility that would be heavily used by the citizens of Chapel Hill.

We believe that it is now time for the community to fully evaluate our recommendations and then proceed to a first phase of construction.

The Committee thanks the Council for allowing us the opportunity to work on this important project.