AGENDA #9

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Continuation of Public Hearing: Parks and Recreation Master Plan

 

DATE:             May 29, 2002

 

This is a continuation of a public hearing conducted on May 13 to receive public comment on whether the Council should adopt the draft 2002 Parks and Recreation Master Plan as part of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

 

The Manager recommends adoption of the following resolution, which would approve preliminarily the 2002 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, with revisions, as part of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.  Final wording would then be prepared and presented to the Council for final action.

 

Copies of the Report can be found at the Parks & Recreation Department offices, the Chapel Hill Public Library, the Town Clerk’s office, and on the Chapel Hill Town website: www.townofchapelhill.org.

 

BACKGROUND

 

On May 13, 2002, the Council called a public hearing to hear public comment on whether the Council should adopt the draft 2002 Parks and Recreation Master Plan as part of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.  Please see the attached memorandum from the Town Manager dated May 13, which describes the process followed and discusses the issues raised by the various advisory boards and commissions.

 

DISCUSSION

 

One question was raised at the Public Hearing on May 13.  A Council member asked if the goal of building 6-7 miles of improved greenway trail over the next 10 years was high enough.

 

We believe that the goal of building 6-7 miles of improved greenway is ambitious with current funding and staff levels. In the past 10 years the Town has been able to build 2.4 miles of improved greenway trail (Bolin and Lower Booker Creek Trails).  At the same time the developers of the Meadowmont and Southern Village projects constructed another 2 miles of public greenway trail as part of their development approval.  This goal does not include natural surface trails, which require far less funding and staff to construct.  The addition of natural surface trails are limited primarily by availability of land.

 

NEXT STEPS

 

If the Council adopts the Parks and Recreation Master Plan we would then revise the text to address any changes authorized by the Council. Once the master plan has been modified and corrected we would then print the document and make it available to the public and the Council. It would also be posted on the Town’s website, as is the current draft.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Complete recommendations of all Boards and Commissions are attached.

 

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board: On March 26, 2002, the Board voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Please see the attached recommendations.

 

Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission: On April 17, 2002, the Commission voted unanimously (10-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Please see the attached recommendations.

 

Greenways Commission: On March 27, 2002, the Greenways Commission voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Please see the attached recommendations.

 

Housing and Community Development Advisory Board: The Board met on March 26, 2002 and voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Please see the attached recommendations.

 

Library Board: The Board met on March 18, 2002 and voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Please see the attached recommendations.

 

Parks and Recreation Commission: The Commission met on March 27, 2002.  The Commission voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Please see the attached recommendations.

 

Planning Board: The Planning Board met on March 5, 2002 and voted unanimously (9-0) to recommend adoption of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Please see the attached recommendations.

Transportation Board: The Transportation Board met on March 19, 2002 and voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Please see the attached recommendations.

 

 

 

Manager’s Recommendation: 

We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution, which would adopt preliminarily the Parks and Recreation Master Plan with the following changes, as discussed in our May 13 memorandum. With the Council’s guidance, we will prepare revisions to the text and present them to the Council for final action by the Council after the summer.

 

• A list of recommended access improvements shall be inserted in Chapter 4. These recommendations should be on a park by park basis and should address parks that do not have adequate pedestrian, bicycle, or bus access.
• A list of University recreation facilities that are generally open and available to the public shall be included in Chapter 2.
• The map showing neighborhood parks should be modified to better illustrate the intent of locating the northwest and southeast neighborhood parks within the region rather than specific locations.
• A synopsis of the major recommendations of the report shall be inserted in the report’s Summary.
• Sections addressing lighting and site furnishings should be added to Chapter 4.
• The Policy section of Chapter 2 shall include statements that would refer to Bicycle Standards for the development and renovation of any park, the Percent for Arts ordinance and policy resolution, and a statement that it would be a goal of the Town to reduce or eliminate any unnecessary light pollution in our parks.
• Chapter 4 should be modified to include the most up to date information for Meadowmont Park.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1. May 13, 2002 Agenda Item- Public Hearing: Parks and Recreation Master Plan (p. 5)

 

 

A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2002 PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN AS PART OF THE TOWN’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITH REVISIONS (2002-05-29/R-11)

 

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill adopted a Comprehensive Plan in 2000, and

 

WHEREAS, a goal of the Comprehensive Plan was the development of a Parks and Recreation Master Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, a committee was appointed to draft a master plan document for the Council’s consideration; and

 

WHEREAS, an extensive public process was used to prepare the draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan based on current and anticipated conditions; and

 

WHEREAS, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission, Greenways Commission, Housing and Community Development Advisory Board, Library Board, Parks & Recreation Commission, Planning Board, and Transportation Board have recommended adoption of the draft 2002 Parks and Recreation Master Plan;

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby preliminarily approves the 2002 Parks and Recreation Master Plan as part of the Town of Chapel Hill’s Comprehensive Plan with the following revisions:

• A list of recommended access improvements shall be inserted in Chapter 4. These recommendations should be on a park by park basis and should address parks that do not have adequate pedestrian, bicycle, or bus access.
• A list of University recreation facilities that are generally open and available to the public shall be included in Chapter 2.
• The map showing neighborhood parks should be modified to better illustrate the intent of locating the northwest and southeast neighborhood parks within the region rather than specific locations.
• A synopsis of the major recommendations of the report shall be inserted in the report’s Summary.
• Sections addressing lighting and site furnishings should be added to Chapter 4.
• The Policy section of Chapter 2 shall include statements that would refer to Bicycle Standards for the development and renovation of any park, the Percent for Arts ordinance and policy resolution, and a statement that it would be a goal of the Town to reduce or eliminate any unnecessary light pollution in our parks.
• Chapter 4 should be modified to include the most up to date information for Meadowmont Park.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council will review the revised portions before taking final action on adoption of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan as part of the Comprehensive Plan.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council that the Manager is authorized to make any changes needed to correct factual errors, clarify the report, or improve organization of the document.

 

This the 29th day of May, 2002.