AGENDA #4c
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Process to Consider Possible Revisions to the Greenways Portion of the Comprehensive Plan
DATE: September 8, 2003
The attached resolution would authorize the Greenways Commission to hold a series of public forums to solicit comments from the public concerning possible amendments to the Greenways portion of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The resolution would also authorize the Manager to schedule a Council public hearing at the conclusion of the information gathering process.
The Greenways 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.
The current Greenways Master Plan has helped guide greenway acquisition and trail development since its initial adoption in 1998. However, we believe that it may be beneficial to look at the Report and consider several possible changes. We propose that the following process be used to explore possible changes to the Greenways Master Plan:
· Hold a series of Public Forums to address specific modification proposals
· Gather all comments and present options to all interested Boards and Commissions
· Staff develops a report and recommendations
· Information and staff report presented at a Public Hearing
· Council considers changes to the Greenways Master Plan
The following are specific potential modifications to the plan that we believe should be addressed during the review process:
Battle Branch Trail: The Greenways Commission and the Transportation Board have recommended that the Council explore the possibility of converting the existing natural surface trail to a hard surface trail in order to promote greater bicycle and pedestrian transportation between residential areas and the University campus.
Dry Creek Trail: The alignment suggested by the current concept plan and the Master Plan would involve trail construction in an extensive wetland area. In 2000, the Council purchased a 34-acre parcel of open space at the southwest corner of Erwin Road and I-40. This purchase could provide an opportunity to modify the alignment of the future Dry Creek Trail to take advantage of the dry land on the new Town property. Any such change would require a bridge to be built to gain access to the property from the Springcrest neighborhood. We have received notification that the State will likely provide the Town a grant in calendar year 2003 to partially fund construction of such a bridge. We do not believe that the Master Plan must be amended prior to accepting the grant or locating the bridge. However, the public process that we would use to develop the detail of that project could be used to help explore the scope of the desired changes to the Greenways Master Plan.
Merritt Pasture: The Greenways Master Plan shows a proposed connection from the Merritt Pasture to Morgan Creek Road. The Council has subsequently adopted the Parks and Recreation Master Plan which deleted the connection. We do not recommend that a public forum be held for this change because the Council has already adopted the change when it approved the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. However, we do believe that the change should be made at the same time the Greenways Master Plan document is amended.
Rail Trail: The Rail Trail is currently proposed to be generally located along the east side of the Norfolk Southern rail line from Estes Drive Extension to I-40. We believe that further investigation should be made to determine the best location of the portion of the Rail Trail south of the Horace Williams Tract and north of Estes Drive Extension. In addition, we believe that we have identified a better location for the Rail Trail in the area of Eubanks Road.
Tanyard Branch Trail: We believe that the Council should consider the option of upgrading the existing Tanyard Branch Trail from a natural surface to a paved trail. In addition, the Town has recently acquired a parcel of property that would allow a trail to be constructed on a tributary of Tanyard Branch to Carrboro’s Baldwin Park.
Upper Booker Creek Trail: The Council approved the open space connections for this trail when it approved the design of the Parkside and Parkside II subdivisions. The final location is known in greater detail than is shown on the Greenways Master Plan. The changes would be made to conform to those later Council decisions. We do not recommend holding a public forum in this case because the Council already approved the alignment when it approved plans for the subdivision.
Wilson Creek Trail: We believe that we have identified a better location for this trail then is currently shown on the approved master plan.
Greenways Commission’s Recommendation: The Commission voted unanimously (4-0) to recommend that the Council undertake a process to explore making potential changes to the Greenways Master Plan including:
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following resolution authorizing the Greenways Commission to hold a series of public forums to solicit input related to proposed changes to the Greenways Master Plan. The resolution also would authorize the Manager to solicit the comments of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Board, and Transportation Board.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER AND THE GREENWAYS COMMISSION TO START A PROCESS TO SOLICIT INPUT FOR POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS TO THE GREENWAYS MASTER PLAN (2003-09-08/R-5)
WHEREAS, on May 26, 1998 the Council adopted the Chapel Hill Greenways Master Plan as a component of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, and
WHEREAS, the Greenways Commission expressed concern that certain portions of the Greenways Master Plan may require modification;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Greenways Commission to hold a series of public forums to gather input related to possible changes to a number of trails in the Greenways Master Plan including but not limited to the Battle Branch Trail, Dry Creek Trail, Rail Trail, Tanyard Branch Trail, and Wilson Creek Trail.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Manager is authorized to:
· Solicit the comments of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Board, and Transportation Board at the conclusion of the public forum process
· Hold a Public Hearing to solicit additional comments from the public at a time that is convenient to the Council.
This the 8th day of September, 2003.