AGENDA #5g
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Greenways Commission’s Status Report on the State of the Town’s Greenways Program
DATE: June 10, 2002
This memorandum presents a brief summary of the major points discussed in the attached report.
The attached Status Report on the State of the Town’s Greenways Program lists major issues of concern to the Greenways Commission, details the progress of the program, and lists the major goals of the Commission.
BACKGROUND
On February 20, 2002, the Greenways Commission met with the Council and agreed to prepare a status report on the state of the Town’s Greenways program for Council review.
Major Issues
The Commission has highlighted the following major issues that they believe should be addressed in order for the Greenways program to progress:
Trail Construction: The Town should build 6-7 miles of improved greenway trail over the next 10 years and complete as much natural surface trail as possible. This recommendation is consistent with the recently approved Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Cooperation with Adjacent Jurisdictions: The greenways system should be coordinated with similar plans in Carrboro, Orange County, and Durham.
Funds for Larger Projects: The Town should have at least one project under construction and another in the planning phase at all times. Currently there are no funds identified to build any project after completion of the Booker Creek Linear Park.
Annual Funds for Smaller Projects: The Commission recognizes the Council’s budget situation. They ask that the Council bring funding back up to historic levels as soon as practical.
Invasive Species Control: The Commission would like to see more citizen-based initiatives formed to remove invasive plant species along the Town’s greenways.
Maintenance and Public Works: With age and the effects of occasional flood events the system will begin to require more maintenance.
Updated Comprehensive Plan: The program will require a new Master Plan in 2007.
Specific Projects Of Interest To The Commission
The Commission indicated that the following projects should be pursued as soon as funds are available:
Bolin Creek Trail: Construct a flight of stairs from the north side of Franklin Street to the trail.
Bolin Creek Trail: Start master planning the Bolin Creek Trail upstream of Airport Road.
Dry Creek Trail: Build a pedestrian/bicycle bridge to access the Town’s recently acquired Dry Creek property. A second phase could be the extension of a hard surface trail to Erwin Road.
Morgan Creek Trail: Complete a conceptual plan for the trail.
Morgan Creek Trail: Complete a phase one project and gain access to the Merritt Pasture as soon as construction funds are available.
North Trail: Build a first phase from Erwin Road through the Town’s newly acquired Dry Creek Property to Chandler’s Green.
Rail Trail: Build a first phase from Homestead Road to Homestead Park. Work with the University to assure that the trail is continued through the Horace Williams Tract.
Tanyard Branch: Restore sections of this trail.
Upper Booker Creek Trail: Build a section of trail from Homestead Park to Weaver Dairy Road.
Completed Projects
The Town currently has about 8.5 miles of completed trail including:
- Battle Branch Trail (Community Center Park to UNC campus)
- Bolin Creek Trail (Community Center Park to Airport Road
- Cedar Falls Trail (loop trail)
- Dry Creek Trail (San Juan Road to Perry Creek Road)
- Lower Booker Creek Trail (Booker Creek Road to Franklin Street)
- Tanyard Branch Trail (Umstead Park to the Northside neighborhood)
ATTACHMENTS
1. Memorandum from the Greenways Commission Chair (p. 3).
2. Greenways Commission’s Status Report on the State of the Town’s Greenways Program (p. 4).
ATTACHMENT 1
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Greenways Commission
Joe Herzenberg, Chair
SUBJECT: Submittal of the State Of The Greenways Program Report
DATE: June 10, 2002
On February 20, 2002 the Greenways Commission met with the Council. At that time the Commission agreed to prepare a status report on the state of the Town’s Greenways program for later Council consideration.
On May 22, 2002 the Commission voted unanimously (6-0) to submit the following report entitled, State Of The Greenways Program. We hope that the report is informative. We will be available to answer questions. As always, the Commission is very interested in any direction that the Council may wish to give concerning the future of the Greenways program.
ATTACHMENT 2
STATE OF THE GREENWAYS PROGRAM
JUNE 10, 2002
GREENWAYS COMMISSION
Joe Herzenberg (Chair)
Audrey Booth (Vice Chair)
Bill Bracey
Peter Calingaert
Jim Earnhardt
Debbie Morris
Brenda Nielsen
HISTORY
Much of the land acquisition efforts that have contributed to today’s successful greenways program actually took place prior to the establishment of the Greenways program and Commission. From the 1960s through the mid-1980s the Town acquired a number of critical properties through donations, open space dedications via the Town’s development ordinance requirements, and active easement acquisition by then Alderman Alice Welsh. The majority of these properties were acquired along Bolin and Booker Creeks.
The Town’s Greenways program was officially started in February 1985 when the Council adopted the Greenways Task Force Final Report. In October 1985 the Council appointed the first Greenways Commission.
Since the adoption of the report the Commission has helped to dedicate over 5 miles of trail built by the Town and helped assure that another 2 miles were built by private developers. The Commission expects that additional miles are expected to be completed soon.
In 1997 the Council adopted an updated Greenways Master Plan as part of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
OVERALL PROGRAM MISSION
The primary mission of the Greenways Commission is the preservation of linear open spaces. The mission is perhaps best expressed by our adopted definition of “Greenway”, which is found in the Town’s Greenways Master Plan:
Networks of natural spaces which provide corridors connecting areas such as neighborhoods, parks, and schools. These passageways typically include trails for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles. They are a link to nature for the enjoyment of the community.
MAJOR ISSUES AND GOALS
We believe that the Chapel Hill Greenways program is faced with several major challenges in the next 10 years of the program. Some of the most prominent of these issues include:
Trail Construction: We are currently working toward completion of 6-7 miles of improved greenway trail over the next 10 years as well as the completion of as much natural surface trail as land acquisition efforts would allow. We currently have about 8.5 miles already completed including the older trails in Cedar Falls Park and projects completed by private developers. There are 22 total miles of all trail types envisioned in the master plan
Cooperation with Adjacent Jurisdictions: The maturing greenways system is now beginning to reach toward Carrboro, Orange County, and Durham. It will be important to coordinate trail construction so that the most logical connections are made. Projects using the $1,000,000 in 2001 Orange County Parks bonds dedicated to greenways will have to be coordinated with Orange County and Carrboro. Potential projects include Bolin and Morgan Creek trails. Other trail links that would require interjurisdictional cooperation include access to the Greene Tract, Old Field Creek connections into Orange County, and Rail Trail connections possibly through Carrboro. In addition the Town would have to work closely with Durham to make connections along Little Creek and Dry Creek.
Funds for Larger Projects: The greenways program has progressed in recent years because there has always been some combination of funding sources that have allowed us to always have a major project underway. Ideally, we should always have at least one project under construction and another in the planning phase. Currently, we are about to close out the Lower Booker Creek Trail project and expect that the Booker Creek Linear Park project could be bid late this year, unless problems arise. We should have the funds to plan the first phase of Morgan Creek Trail. However, there are currently no funds to build any project after that. The County bonds could allow us to build a phase of some project, but that funding will be several years away and may not include Morgan Creek. We hope that some combination of funding can be found to allow the Morgan Creek project to move forward.
The following are major projects with enough land holdings in place (or anticipated) that could be undertaken if funds were available:
Ø Bolin Creek Trail (Airport Road to Village Drive)
Ø Bolin Creek Trail (stairs to north side of Franklin Street)
Ø Dry Creek (Perry Creek Road to Erwin Road)
Ø Dry Creek (Erwin Road – Providence Road)
Ø Morgan Creek Trail (Culbreth Road to Kingswood Apartments)
Ø Rail Trail (Homestead Road through Larkspur subdivision)
Ø Upper Booker Creek Trail (Weaver Dairy Road – Homestead Park)
Annual Funds for Smaller Projects: The Commission understands the Council’s budget situation. We ask that in the upcoming year (FY 2002-03) that about $5,000 be retained in order to give the Department some flexibility in addressing trail issues. One major use of this amount of money would be to buy materials for Eagle Scout candidates working on projects. Eagle candidates have built trails, boardwalks, bridges, etc. The only cost is that of materials. We ask that the Council bring funding back up to historic levels as soon as practical.
Once full funding is restored we would like to see the majority of these funds used for trail renovation and restoration and for construction of natural surface trails. Projects that could be pursued using annual CIP funds could include:
Ø Restoration of the Tanyard Branch Trail
Ø Repair of drainage problems on the Bolin Creek Trail
Ø Extension of Dry Creek Trail onto the campus of East Chapel Hill High School
Ø Bicycle and pedestrian bridge to access the Town’s 24 acre Dry Creek property
Ø Renovation of Battle Branch Trail
Invasive Species Control: The Commission would like to see more citizen-based initiatives formed to remove invasive plant species along the Town’s greenways. Part of this goal would be to return native species to niches that have been overtaken by exotics. The Commission believes that this effort should not involve the use of Town staff or funds.
Maintenance and Public Works: The Public Works Department has done a generally good job in maintaining the Town’s greenways system. However, the Battle Branch and Tanyard Branch Trails are now about 15 years old. Portions of the Bolin Creek Trail are now approaching 10 years of age. With age and the effects of occasional flood events the system will begin to require more maintenance.
Updated Comprehensive Plan: The program will require a new Master Plan in 2007.
SPECIFIC PROJECTS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION
The following are projects which could be accomplished in the near future if funds were available.
Battle Branch Trail: The University should renovate and maintain its section of this trail as agreed upon in its main campus master plan that was approved by the Council in 2000.
Bolin Creek Trail: The existing trail section is complete except for a planned flight of stairs that would allow pedestrians to gain access from the north side of Franklin Street to the trail. Trail users have created an informal trail that is steep and undesirable from several aspects.
Complete negotiations with Orange County over terms of using the $1,000,000 portion of the Orange County 2001 Parks bond dedicated to Chapel Hill greenways. Once negotiations are complete, start master planning the Bolin Creek Trail.
Dry Creek Trail: Build a pedestrian/bicycle bridge to access the Town’s recently acquired Dry Creek property. This would allow the Town to build a system of natural surface trails through the site using volunteer labor. A second phase would be the extension of a hard surface trail to Erwin Road.
Morgan Creek Trail: Use NCDOT funds to start the conceptual plan efforts with Carrboro as soon as possible. Complete a phase one project and the Merritt Pasture access work as soon as construction funds are available.
North Trail: Build a first phase from Erwin Road through the Town’s newly acquired Dry Creek Property to Chandler’s Green.
Rail Trail: Build a first phase from Homestead Road to Homestead Park. Work with the University to assure that the trail is continued through the Horace Williams Tract.
Tanyard Branch: Restoration of this trail is one of the Commission’s top priorities.
Upper Booker Creek Trail: Build the trail from Homestead Park to Weaver Dairy Road.
COMPLETED PROJECTS
Since the adoption of the Report in 1985 the program has seen the completion of over 5 miles of trail. The following are a summary of completed trail projects:
Battle Branch Trail: The Battle Branch Trail is 1.5 miles in length and connects the UNC campus with Community Center Park. A spur trail connects the system to the Greenwood Road neighborhood. About ¾ mile of trail already existed on the university’s Battle Park property. The trail is natural surface with some boardwalk sections.
In order to extend the trail the Town acquired several properties through donation, easement trades, and the recreation area dedication provisions of the development ordinance. The Town also used its power of eminent domain to acquire one critical link.
Eagle Scout candidates built all of the trails on Town property and two bridges. Town forces and contractors were used to build the boardwalks, two bridges, and a sidewalk.
All funds were local except for several small Adopt a Trail grants.
The trail is essentially completed. All new work will likely be related to maintenance and renovation.
Bolin Creek Trail: The Bolin Creek Trail is 1.5 miles in length and connects Airport Road to Community Center Park. Spur trails connect to a private coffee house and to Elizabeth Street. The trail is a 10 foot wide asphalt trail with several concrete sections. Three major bridges, a rechannelization area, and a retaining wall were built as part of the trail construction. The project was built in two major phases.
The Town acquired one major 10 acre parcel through direct purchase. Several properties were acquired through donation, easement donation and purchase, and the recreation area dedication provisions of the development ordinance. The Town also used its power of eminent domain to acquire one critical link.
Funds used for the project include Town CIP, Town Parks bonds, NCDOT grants, National Trails grant, and payments in lieu of recreation areas.
The Greenways Master Plan envisions extensions of the trail both upstream to Carrboro and downstream to Little Creek.
Dry Creek Trail: The Dry Creek Trail connects San Juan Road to Perry Creek Road. The trail is about .75 miles in length. The trail is natural surface with some boardwalk and stairs. An extension of the trail upstream to East Chapel Hill High School is currently underway.
All properties were acquired through the recreation area dedication provisions of the development ordinance.
Funds used for the project include Town CIP, National Trail grant, and a payment in lieu.
The Greenways Master Plan envisions extension of the trail downstream to Erwin Road. From Erwin Road the trail would split with one branch going north of I-40 to the Durham County line and the southern branch following Dry Creek to the Eastowne area.
Lower Booker Creek Trail: The Lower Booker Creek Trail connects Booker Creek Road to Franklin Street. The trail is about .85 miles in length. One major bridge was built as part of the trail construction. The trail is concrete.
Several properties and easements were acquired through donation and the recreation area dedication provisions of the development ordinance. The Town exchanged property to make a vital connection.
Funds used for the project include Town CIP, NCDOT grants, and a payment in lieu.
The Greenways Master Plan envisions extension of the trail downstream to Little Creek.
Tanyard Branch Trail: This .4 mile natural surface trail connects Umstead Park to the Northside neighborhood.
Several properties and easements were acquired through purchase, gift, and the recreation area dedication provisions of the development ordinance.
Funds used for the project include Town CIP, NCDOT grants, and a payment in lieu.
ATTACHMENTS
Note: All of the following attachments are taken from the 1997 Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan. Some of the maps from that report have been modified to reflect current conditions.
- Attachment A: Map of Existing Land and Greenways Trails
- Attachment B: Map of Potential Trail Links with Neighboring Communities
- Attachment C: Map of Bolin Creek Watershed
- Attachment D: Map of Booker Creek Watershed
- Attachment E: Map of Dry Creek Watershed
- Attachment F: Map of Morgan Creek Watershed
- Attachment G: Map of Morgan Creek from Smith Level Road to Merritt Pasture
- Attachment H: Map of Man-Made Greenway Corridors