AGENDA #4h
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Acceptance of an Adopt-A-Trail Grant for the Dry Creek Trail Project
DATE: June 23, 2003
The attached resolution would accept a $4,630 Adopt-A-Trail grant for the construction of a 6-8 car gravel parking lot on the Town’s 34-acre Dry Creek open space property. Please see the attached map.
In 1991, the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, City of Durham, and Durham County adopted the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan. The only portion of the plan physically within Chapel Hill’s Town limits and planning jurisdiction is Dry Creek. The Plan includes trails along Dry Creek that would connect Chapel Hill to Durham.
Throughout the 1990s, we worked with East Chapel Hill High School and the developers of various subdivisions (including Silver Creek, Springcrest, and Erwin Ridge) to preserve the best and most important portions of the stream corridor. As a result the Town now owns extensive portions of the Dry Creek stream corridor including some of the best wetland areas.
On June 23, 1997, the Council adopted the “Dry Creek Greenway Conceptual Report to the Town Council”, which set as a goal the construction of a trail along Dry Creek from East Chapel Hill High School to the Durham County line.
On May 26, 1998, the Council adopted the “Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan”. The plan includes a trail along Dry Creek from East Chapel Hill High School to the Durham County line.
In 2000 the Town acquired the 34-acre Dry Creek open space property, bounded by Erwin Road and I-40, from the developer of the Springcrest subdivision.
In 2002 the Council authorized the staff to implement the Greenways Commission’s request to build natural surface trails on the property. However, after evaluating the project we determined that there were no safe means of accessing the site.
In 2003 we applied for an Adopt-A-Trail grant to provide a small parking area that would allow safe access to the site.
The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation has awarded the Town a $4,630 Adopt-A-Trail grant for the Dry Creek Trail project. If the Council accepts the grant the funds would be used to build a small gravel parking lot on the 34-acre Dry Creek property at the intersection of I-40 and Erwin Road. If any funds remain they would be used to buy materials that would be used by volunteers to build natural surface trails.
The property is bordered on the north by I-40, on the west by a tributary of Dry Creek, to the south by Dry Creek, and to the east by Erwin Road. Currently the only possible access is from Erwin Road. However, we believe that the access from Erwin Road has too many safety problems. The potential parking area on the shoulder of the road is too narrow for safe use. In addition, there is no place for vehicles to turn around safely. The parking area would allow trail users a safe access to the future trails and to allow vehicles to exit onto Erwin Road in either direction.
Budget: The total cost of the project should be covered by the amount of the grant. However, if the costs exceed the amount of the grant we would expect to use a portion of the $18,400 remaining in the Dry Creek Trail project account to cover any additional costs.
The year end budget amendment includes an increase in the Dry Creek Trail project account in the Multi-year capital fund for this grant.
Potential Conflicts with other Uses: The Council has not yet determined the ultimate use of the property. The Council has mentioned this property as a possible site for affordable housing and a portion of the site is identified in the Town’s Park and Recreation Master Plan as a future neighborhood park site. However, we believe that the parking lot can be located so that it would not interfere with either of those projects or other possible public improvements. Because the trails would be natural surface they could easily be rerouted or removed at some future date.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the following resolution accepting a $4,630 Adopt-A-Trail grant for the construction of a 6-8-car gravel parking lot on the Town’s 34-acre Dry Creek open space property.
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A $4,630 ADOPT-A-TRAIL GRANT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PARKING LOT ON THE 34-ACRE DRY CREEK OPEN SPACE PROPERTY (2003-06-23/R-9)
WHEREAS, in 1991, the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, City of Durham, and Durham County adopted the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan, which includes trails along Dry Creek; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 1997. the Council adopted the “Dry Creek Greenway Conceptual Report to the Town Council”, which set as a goal the construction of a trail along Dry Creek from East Chapel Hill High School to the Durham County line; and
WHEREAS, in 2000 the Council purchased the 34-acre Dry Creek open space property; and
WHEREAS, in 2002, the Council authorized the Manager to build natural surface trails on the 34-acre Dry Creek open space property; and
WHEREAS, there is currently no safe access to the property;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council accepts a $4,630 Adopt-A-Trail grant for the construction of a 6-8 car gravel parking lot on the Town’s 34-acre Dry Creek open space property.
This the 23rd day of June, 2003.