AGENDA #4b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to a Petition Concerning Safety Issues Related to the Lower Booker Creek Greenway
DATE: March 26, 2001
This memorandum responds to a petition submitted by residents of Markham Drive and Tadley Drive concerning safety issues on the Lower Booker Creek Trail (currently under construction). Please see Attachment 1.
The attached resolution would authorize the Manager to modify plans for the Lower Booker Creek Trail.
The attached parking ordinance would restrict parking on both sides of Markham and Tadley Drives for approximately 250 feet and Daley Road from Stayman Circle to the trail entrance.
In the early 1990s, the Town built Phase I of the project, which was a 200-foot trail section and a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Booker Creek to connect Tadley Drive with Daley Road.
On June 2, 2000, the Council approved bids for construction of Phase II of the Lower Booker Creek Trail. Construction started in the fall of 2000. The trail corridor has been cleared and about 3,000 feet of concrete trail has been poured.
On February 26, thirty-one residents of Markham Drive and Tadley Drive petitioned the Council to consider potential safety issues related to the Lower Booker Creek Trail. The petition asked that the planned parking area for 2 cars on Markham Drive not be built and noted other concerns related to illegal use of the greenway corridor by vandals and drivers of motorized vehicles.
Phase II of the Lower Booker Creek Trail is currently under construction and is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2001. The trail will extend for about 4,300 feet from Booker Creek Road to East Franklin Street.
Parking Issues: The project is not currently programmed for a designated parking lot. However, we anticipate that there will be some need for parking. We have concluded that there are no good opportunities to construct a parking lot for this project. Other than one handicap parking space near the trail’s entrance at Daley Road, the only legal public parking opportunities will be on-street parking at Markham Drive, Daley Road, and Booker Creek Road. It is not our intention to emphasize any of these locations in our literature. The recently published Greenways Brochure simply tells users that “Limited on-street parking” is available.
We believe that no parking-related improvements are needed at Booker Creek Road and Daley Road (except for the construction of the one handicap space at Daley Road). However, in order to minimize hazards, we believe that some improvements are necessary on Markham Drive due to the width of the road, the steep hill, and the side slopes off the edge of the road. Originally we planned for a paved parking area that would accommodate 2 cars parked parallel to Markham Drive about 40 feet from the existing trail entrance.
In response to the neighbors’ request to address safety concerns we propose to move the parking area about 60 feet farther from the curve than was originally planned. This option would continue to allow parking for 2 cars, but in a safer location. See Attachment 2.
In addition, some neighbors have asked that, if the parking areas were to remain, it would be preferable that they not be paved. We agree that the pull-off does not need to be paved at this time. We could grade and level the area so it is suitable for parking, but leave it as a grass surface with a narrow gravel shoulder. If erosion becomes an issue it could be paved at a future time. Although no funds are available at this time, in the future we could construct a short sidewalk that would connect the pull-off area to the trail entrance.
We also propose to restrict parking for about 250 feet, centered on the trail entrance, on both sides of Markham Drive. At the same time we would establish a no parking area on Daley Road from the trail entrance to Stayman Circle. The only parking that would be permitted in this area would be the one handicap parking space. See Attachment 3.
The attached resolution would authorize the Manager to move the parking area, eliminate the paving, and place construction of a sidewalk on future project lists for sidewalk construction. The attached parking ordinance would prohibit parking along a 250-foot section of Markham/Tadley Drives and the section of Daley Road from the trail entrance to Stayman Circle.
Illegal Use of the Greenway Corridor by Vehicles: Currently we are aware of two problems related to vehicle use of the greenway corridor. What most concerns us has been the illegal use of the pedestrian/bicycle bridge by vehicles. We have temporarily placed a large boulder at the bridge entrance to prevent vehicular access. Upon completion of the trail we will have a series of new bollards and entrenched boulders that should prevent unauthorized vehicular access.
The second problem is that of vehicular access to the main trail corridor off of Markham/Tadley Drives. Unfortunately, we cannot secure the Markham/Tadley Drives entrance until construction is complete. We need to maintain flexible access for various construction crews, OWASA, and Duke Power.
Vandalism and Unlawful Access: We agree that there have been problems related to late night gatherings and vandalism at the Booker Creek pedestrian/bicycle bridge. We have urged the neighbors to call 911 every time that there is an incident and will continue to do so. Our police officers plan to meet with the neighbors in the near future to discuss the problems and possible solutions.
We are also aware that some individuals use the Town-owned open space as an approach to property owned by the Lake Forest Association. It is our belief that most of this activity is related to gaining access to fishing holes along Booker Creek and at Eastwood Lake. A series of informal trails have been in existence for many years. We have urged the neighbors to call 911 any time someone is using their property without permission.
BUDGET ISSUES
We believe that there would be little or no cost to relocating the parking area. We would expect a small credit from the contractor if we were to eliminate the paving.
Greenways Commission’s Recommendations: The Commission voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend that the Council place parking restrictions along a portion of Daley Road, Markham Drive and Tadley Drive. In addition, they recommended that the 2 car parallel parking area be moved to a safer location and that the asphalt surface be eliminated. Please see the attached Commission recommendations.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution that would authorize the Manager to:
· Move the parking area further from the trail entrance
· Eliminate the paving
· Place construction of a sidewalk on future project lists for sidewalk construction
The Manager also recommends that the Council adopt the following parking ordinance that would prohibit parking along a 250-foot section of Markham/Tadley Drives and the section of Daley Road from the trail entrance to Stayman Circle.
1. Petition from the Markham Drive and Tadley Drive residents (p. 6).
2. Map showing proposed relocation of parking areas (p. 11).
3. Map showing proposed no parking areas (p. 12).
4. Greenways Commission recommendations (p. 13).
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO RESPOND TO CONCERNS RAISED BY RESIDENTS OF MARKHAM DRIVE AND TADLEY DRIVE RELATED TO THE LOWER BOOKER CREEK TRAIL PROJECT (2001-03-26/R-2)
WHEREAS, On June 2, 2000, the Council approved bids for construction of Phase II of the Lower Booker Creek Trail; and
WHEREAS, plans for trail project included a parking area for 2 cars; and
WHEREAS, on February 26, thirty-one residents of Markham Drive and Tadley Drive petitioned the Council with safety concerns related to the Lower Booker Creek Trail project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council that the Manager is authorized to:
· Move the planned parking area on Markham Drive farther from the trail entrance
· Postpone the paving of the parking area until such time as it may be required
· Place construction of a sidewalk on future project lists for sidewalk construction
This the 26th day of March, 2001.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 21-27 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING NO PARKING AS TO PARTICULAR STREETS (2001-03-26/O-1)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-27 of the Town Code “No parking as to particular streets,” is hereby amended by inserting the following therein, in appropriate alphabetical order:
“Street Side From To
Markham Drive Both Tadley Drive A point 96 feet west of
Tadley Drive
Tadley Drive Both Markham Drive A point 154 feet south of
Markham Drive
Daley Road Both Stayman Circle End”
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective April 30, 2001.
This the 26th day of March, 2001.