AGENDA# 4s
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Sewer Easement Dedication to OWASA
DATE: August 28, 2000
Adoption of the attached resolution would authorize the Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with OWASA and dedicate a sewer easement to OWASA on a parcel of Town property adjacent to Dry Creek.
The Town owns a parcel of property located east of Erwin Road and north of Englewood subdivision that was acquired as part of the recreation area dedication requirements of the Englewood subdivision. This property contained a 30-foot wide OWASA utility easement at the time the Town took title.
OWASA proposes to abandon an existing pump station on the west side of Erwin Road and replace it with a gravity flow interceptor system. Gravity systems are more reliable and less expensive to operate. The project would also include construction of a 10-foot wide maintenance road that would parallel the sewer line. The road would be gravel covered with enough soil so that native plants could grow. By taking this approach OWASA believes the road will not have a significant visual impact.
The new sewer line would extend under Erwin Road and for an additional 800 feet to a connection with the existing sewer line that serves Englewood subdivision. The pump station would be removed after completion of the sewer line.
In order to accommodate the new sewer line and maintenance drive, OWASA is requesting that the Town grant two additional easements that total 2,098 square feet, or .05 acre.
We agree with OWASA that the public is best served by eliminating pump stations in favor of gravity sewer lines whenever possible.
We also believe that this project would have a positive effect on the prospects for completing the section of the Dry Creek Trail proposed to link Eastowne with Erwin Road. Because the area is very wet, the Dry Creek Trail Conceptual Plan calls for a continuous boardwalk through this area. The construction of a maintenance road would reduce or eliminate the need for about 800 feet of boardwalk at an estimated cost of $80,000 – $100,000.
The attached resolution contains a condition that requires OWASA to allow trail construction, use, and maintenance within OWASA easements on Town land over the entire Dry Creek Trail corridor (Erwin Road to Providence Road).
Greenways Commission Recommendation: The Commission met on August 9, 2000, and voted unanimously (5-0) to recommend that the Council grant the requested easements to OWASA.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following resolution authorizing the Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with OWASA that would acknowledge the Town’s right to construct a trail within OWASA easements on Town land and dedicate additional sewer easements to OWASA, such easements being located north of Englewood Subdivision and east of Erwin Road, on Town-owned land.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING DEDICATION TO OWASA OF SEWER EASEMENTS LOCATED EAST OF ERWIN ROAD AND NORTH OF ENGLEWOOD SUBDIVISION, ON LAND OWNED BY THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL (2000-08-28/R-14)
WHEREAS, OWASA intends to replace the existing Dry Creek pump station with an interceptor sewer line; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill owns property adjacent to Dry Creek that would be required for the OWASA project; and
WHEREAS, construction of the new interceptor sewer line and maintenance road would require approximately 2,098 square feet of Town owned property;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Manager is authorized to execute an Interlocal Agreement with OWASA that would acknowledge the Town’s right to construct and maintain a public access trail within OWASA easements, on Town property from Erwin Road to Providence Road.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Manager is authorized to transfer to OWASA sewer easements located on Town land, north of Englewood Subdivision and east of Erwin Road, generally as shown in the attached drawings after execution of the above mentioned Interlocal Agreement acknowledging the Town’s right to build and maintain a public access trail.
This is the 28th day of August, 2000.