AGENDA #4b
MEMORANDUM
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TO: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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FROM: |
Butch Kisiah, Director of Parks & Recreation Bill Webster, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation |
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SUBJECT: |
Referral of the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail |
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DATE: |
November 19, 2007 |
PURPOSE
The attached resolution would accept the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail and refer it to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Greenways Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Transportation Board, OWASA, and Town staff for comment and recommendations. The resolution would authorize the Manager to schedule a public forum for Council consideration of the plan at the conclusion of the advisory board review process.
BACKGROUND
Since the early 1990s the Town has acquired more than 200 acres of property along Dry Creek. In addition, the Town has built about one mile of natural surface trails along the creek.
In 2003 Chapel Hill voters approved a $5,000,000 parks bond that the Council has designated for greenways purposes.
On January 9, 2006, the Council adopted the Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan which recommends development of a Dry Creek Trail from Perry Creek Road to Providence Road in the Eastowne area.
In 2006, the Town installed a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Dry Creek in order to provide access to Town open space and to provide a bridge crossing for the future paved trail.
In May 2006, the Council accepted $64,000 in Direct Allocation funds from the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for design of the Dry Creek Trail.
DISCUSSION
Project Description: The Dry Creek Trail is proposed to be a 10-foot wide asphalt and/or concrete trail that would allow pedestrian and bicycle traffic to travel from Perry Creek Road in the Springcrest neighborhood to Providence Road in Eastowne. Smaller natural surface trails currently provide access west to East Chapel Hill High School and northwest into a portion of the Town’s Dry Creek open space property.
Major components of the proposed trail would include:
Public Input: We informed all residents living within 1,500 feet of the trail corridor that the project planning phase was underway. A public forum was held on September 26, 2007. We have been in close contact with the neighbors living closest to the trail in order to discuss their concerns. We have also built an email distribution list of people interested in the project. We provide email updates at least once per month. The comments we have received so far can be summarized as follows:
Schedule: If the Council accepts and refers the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail we propose the following schedule be followed:
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Board and Commission Review |
December 2007 – February 2008 |
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Council Public Forum |
March 2008 |
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Possible Council Adoption |
April 2008 |
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Start Detailed Design |
May 2008 |
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Complete Detailed Design and Permitting |
March 2009 |
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Start Construction |
May 2009 |
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Complete Project |
January 2010 |
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution which would accept the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail and refer it to various advisory boards, agencies, and Town staff for comment. The resolution would also authorize the Manager to schedule a Council public forum at the conclusion of advisory board comment and input.
ATTACHMENT