AGENDA #4b

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Dedication of a Sewer Easement on Town Property OWASA (Parkside I Subdivision)

DATE:             January 22, 2001

The developer of the Parkside I and II subdivisions has requested that the Town dedicate a utility easement to OWASA. Please see the attached letter from the developer. Adoption of the attached resolution would authorize the Manager to dedicate a utility easement on a parcel of Town property within the Parkside I subdivision.

BACKGROUND

The Town owns property within the Parkside I subdivision that was recently deeded for open space and greenways purposes. The parcel is located along an unnamed tributary of Booker Creek.

DISCUSSION

In order to provide sewer to the majority of lots approved for the Parkside II subdivision a sewer easement is required across one of the Town open space tracts in the original Parkside I development. The easement would be approximately 225 feet in length and 30 feet wide. Please see the attached sketch of the property.

We agree  that the proposed location is the best site for a sewer line to serve the new subdivision and is consistent with approved plans for sewer service in the approved Parkside II subdivision.

The tract of land in question is also proposed to be the location of a major spur trail that would allow the Town to connect Homestead Park, the Greene Tract, the future Rail Trail and the future Upper Booker Creek Trail. Please see pages 30-32 of the Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan in Attachment 3. In addition to installing the sewer line, the developer has agreed to grade the side slopes of the property from New Parkside Drive to a 5% or less slope. The Town’s standard for paved trail construction are slopes of no more than 5%, which is the maximum slope suitable for a handicap accessible trail.

The attached resolution authorizes the Manager to execute a Deed of Easement.

RECOMMENDATION

Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following resolution authorizing the Manager to dedicate a sewer easement to OWASA, such easement being located on a Town property described in Orange County Deed Book 2008, Page 284.

ATTACHMENTS

1.      Letter from developer (p. 4).

2.      Map showing requested easement (p. 5).

3.      Pages 30-32 of the Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan (p. 6).


A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING DEDICATION TO OWASA OF A SEWER EASEMENT LOCATED ON LAND OWNED BY THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO NEW PARKSIDE DRIVE AND IS DESCRIBED IN ORANGE COUNTY DEED BOOK 2008, PAGE 284 (2001-01-22/R-3)

WHEREAS, the developer of the Parkside subdivision has requested that the Town dedicate a sewer easement to OWASA; and

WHEREAS, the proposed easement would allow sewer connections to be made to the approved Parkside II subdivision; and

WHEREAS, the property is also the proposed location of a future greenway trail;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Manager is authorized to transfer to OWASA a sewer easement approximately 225 feet in length by 30 feet wide located on Town land described in Orange County Deed Book 2008, Page 284.

This is 22nd day of January, 2001.