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HomeMy Public PortalAbout03-15-2016 Minutes PRB Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3 Minutes Parks & Recreation Board Tuesday, March 15, 2016 7:00 PM, Town Barn 101 E. Orange St. Present: Chairman Todd Stabley, Kate Albrecht, Robb English, Noah Mace, Rebecca Swartz, Nancy Taylor, Chris Wehrman, Kim Woodell, Absent: Vice Chairman Ashley DeSena, Annie Jarabek, Ex Officio – TB Rep. Brian Lowen Staff: Stephanie Trueblood Item 1: Call meeting to order, roll call, and confirm presence of a quorum Chairman Stabley called the meeting to order. Ms. Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum. Item 2: Consideration of changes or adjustments to the agenda There were no changes. Item 3: Approval of minutes from February 16, 2016 Motion: Mr. English moved to approve the amended minutes. Second: Mr. Mace seconded. Vote: Unanimous Change: Add Noah Mace present to February minutes Item 4: Review and discuss I-85 Crossing Study (in reference to Cates Creek Greenway planning) Ms. Trueblood reviewed that the Town Board had approved the Collins Ridge Master Plan the night before. That enables the developer to build the infrastructure. The buildings for each parcel (there are six) will come back before the Town Board for a Special Use Permit. There is a public hearing held for each Special Use Permit. Ms. Trueblood reviewed the desire of connecting the neighborhoods south of the Eno River and the train station with downtown. Planning staff is recommending a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over I-85 in the future. The owners of the Collins Ridge land have set aside a right of way for 15 years to create a landing pad for this pedestrian bridge. When DOT widens South Churton Street, scheduled for 2023, DOT will put in bike lanes under the interstate interchanges and along South Churton Street. This attracts a different type of cyclist than a greenway (i.e., parents wouldn’t take their kids for a ride on South Churton Street). Ms. Trueblood shared a concept drawing of what the Eno River pedestrian bridge on S. Churton Street might look like in the future. Ms. Trueblood shared that there may be an option for providing a pedestrian connection between the future train station and downtown and explained that staff is gathering information on this possibility. Ms. Trueblood asked for feedback from this board. There was appreciation for the more direct route to downtown. Ms. Trueblood reviewed that the Connectivity Plan and Comprehensive Plan would both Page 2 of 3 need to be updated before she can start applying for grants. The board was eager to start that updating process this year to move forward with any grant applications as they are available. The board reviewed that South Churton Street will be four lanes from Orange Grove Road to Waterstone Drive. From Orange Grove Road to the Eno River, there will be sidewalks and bike lanes but the road will be two lanes. The board discussed traffic on South Churton Street and the desire for a sidewalk on Orange High School Road. Item 5: Review and discuss Eno River Pedestrian Feasibility Study (in reference to Cates Creek Greenway planning) This was addressed in the Item 4 discussion. Item 6: Update about recent Joint Advisory Board meeting Chairman Stabley reported that Ms. DeSena, Ms. Jarabek, Mr. English and he attended. They each attended one of four topic groups. Chairman Stabley participated in the discussion on trail/greenway connectivity. There is interest in connecting Hillsborough greenways to Chapel Hill/Carrboro through Black Wood Farm Park. There was discussion on building team spirit around our section of the Mountains-To- Sea Trail. There was mention of the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group, which Chairman Stabley said he doesn’t know much about. Ms. Trueblood explained it’s a large group that includes elected officials. It is supposed to meet three times a year and is helpful when a project crosses jurisdictions. Chairman Stabley added that he enjoyed Orange County Landscape Architect Marabeth Carr’s GIS map for trails and greenways. Mr. English reported that his group discussed the Millhouse Road Park. There is vision for this to have a sports complex like Eurosport’s soccer fields. There is enough space for four times as many fields. There is space for trails and interest in having a building. With its proximity to I-40, it would be a good place for tournaments. It would likely be an Orange County-Town of Chapel Hill partnership. The other two groups were promoting wildlife corridors and riparian buffers (Ms. Jarabek attended) and recreation programming for teens, with focus on a climbing wall (Ms. DeSena attended). Item 7: Reports and Updates  Town Board: Brian Lowen -- absent  Planning Board: Chris Wehrman – The Planning Board has been discussing small amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance. The Planning Board recommended approval of Collins Ridge, 7-1. The Town Board approved it 3-2.  Orange County: Annie Jarabek -- absent  Intergovernmental Parks Work Group- IPWG: staff – didn’t meet  Park Steward reports: 1. Gold Park: Annie Jarabek, Dog Park: Nancy Taylor – Ms. Taylor reported it looks good. Ms. Trueblood reported a portion of fence will be replaced. 2. Turnip Patch Park: Annie Jarabek – absent 3. Murray Street Park: Ashley DeSena -- absent 4. Kings Highway Park: Todd Stabley – There is some trash. 5. Hillsborough Heights Park: Kim Woodell – Looks fine. 6. Riverwalk: Robb English – Looks good. Page 3 of 3 7. Downtown Sidewalks/Mayo Park: staff  Staff Updates: Cates Creek Park signs, CMAQ, CSAIP, pedestrian studies Ms. Trueblood reported that there is money left in the budget and she will use some of it to remove dead pine trees on the Peggy Cates Bartow Loop in Riverwalk. She will also address drainage on a portion of the trail. Also, a 20-foot swath of trees have to be cleared for a water line easement between the geology sign at the bridge at Calvin Street to Faribault Lane. She and Terry Hackett will be sure that the soil is stabilized after the trees are removed. The trails were probably going to be closed for three days the following week while this work was done. Ms. Trueblood reported that the state government has decided that municipalities are no longer allowed to prohibit guns anywhere except on athletic fields during scheduled events. A citizen has already called to request that the signs be removed. New signs will say “no discharge of weapons” because it’s still illegal to discharge weapons in town. Ms. Trueblood is anticipating having to re-bid the sidewalks project because they may not be any bids. The Planning Department reorganization is still being proposed in the FY17 budget and with Town Board approval will likely happen in the next fiscal year. Ms. Trueblood reported that the town received the recycling grant and will be adding 12 recycling bins downtown and Riverwalk. Item 8: Adjourn Motion: Ms. Woodell moved to adjourn. Second: Ms. Taylor seconded. Vote: Unanimous