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HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-21-2016 Minutes PRB Regular MeetingPage 1 of 4 Minutes Parks & Recreation Board Tuesday, June 21, 2016 7:00 PM, Town Barn 101 E. Orange St. Present: Chairman Todd Stabley, Vice Chairman Ashley DeSena, Kate Albrecht, Robb English, Annie Jarabek, Noah Mace, Chris Wehrman – PB Rep., Kim Woodell, Brian Lowen – Ex Officio – TB rep. Absent: Rebecca Swartz, Nancy Taylor Staff: Stephanie Trueblood Item 1: Call meeting to order, roll call, and confirm presence of a quorum Chairman Stabley called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. 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 or adjustments. Item 3: Approval of minutes from May 17, 2016 Motion: Vice Chairman DeSena moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Second: Mr. Wehrman seconded. Vote: Unanimous Item 4: Review mock ups for Interpretive Signage-Phase 2 Ms. Trueblood reviewed that there are many contributors to the interpretive sign content. She reviewed the locations and the topics of the signs. Vice Chairman DeSena made a suggestion regarding the wording of the “panic of 1893” to reflect that it was a severe economic depression. She suggested clearer wording on the Confederate library sign as well. Motion: Mr. Mace moved to approve the signs. Second: Ms. Woodell seconded. Vote: Unanimous Item 5: Site Plan review on the provision of recreation areas for Lennar Carolinas, LLC in Waterstone (Development of 200 townhomes on 57 acres) Ms. Trueblood and the developers reviewed the recreation plans. Board members asked clarifying questions. Board members asked whether they’d considered a bigger pool, splash pads, a community garden, and recreation for teens. There was discussion about community gardens and reserving open space for it if it’s desired by residents. It was noted that the change in the presented plan from what was in the agenda packet was taking 50 points off the clubhouse because it doesn’t offer inside recreation space and adding a picnic shelter, picnic stations and small gazebos to make up the difference. Ms. Trueblood asked whether the sidewalk would be within the public access and whether people who live outside the development will be allowed to walk on the trails. Both were affirmative. Ms. Trueblood suggested the developers install bike racks at the pool and play area. Page 2 of 4 Motion: Mr. English moved to recommend approval of recreation of Parcel 17 with encouragement to go beyond the recreational points if possible, adding as many amenities to meet those goals, advocating for space set aside for community garden and noting that it’s contingent on meeting the required number of points and receiving an updated plan. Second: Mr. Stabley seconded. Vote: Unanimous Conditions/Notes: Recommend approval of Waterstone Parcel 17 site plan with encouragement toward additional amenities to meet resident needs and community goals such as setting space aside for pollinator or community gardens. Item 5: Connectivity Plan Update: Review text updates/edits from review of existing plans/policies Ms. Trueblood reviewed that she had changed language to reflect that Riverwalk is complete. She had added language regarding accessibility throughout the document. There was interest in crafting several questions to be included in the town’s Citizens Survey rather than the Parks and Recreation Board creating a separate survey. Ms. Trueblood reviewed the Safe Routes to School Plan. Ms. Trueblood asked board members to read this revised section and let Ms. Trueblood know if they have changes, questions, or additions. Item 6: Reports and Updates  Town Board: Brian Lowen Commissioner Lowen said the board had a presentation on what the public can do to limit mosquitoes in light of the Zika virus.  Planning Board: Chris Wehrman Mr. Wehrman said the Planning Board had been addressing text amendments and he had been re-elected to serve on this board.  Orange County: Annie Jarabek (Joint meeting follow up) Ms. Jarabek sent highlights to the group and was out of town for the most recent meeting.  Intergovernmental Parks Work Group- IPWG: staff There was no IPWG meeting this month.  Park Steward reports: 1. Gold Park: Annie Jarabek, Dog Park: Nancy Taylor Ms. Jarabek said there’s some debris/dead vegetation in major areas like the sidewalk along the pollinator garden. Ms. Trueblood explained that it might be related to the railroad clearing the corridor. They have a corridor 100 feet from the tracks. Ms. Trueblood said there are a lot of downed trees in the buffer that can’t be removed (east side of soccer field along the river). Ms. Trueblood said our policy is to leave dead things for the habitat. Ms. Jarabek said it’s major and looks like debris. Ms. Trueblood said she would go take a look. Ms. Jarabek added there’s another area near The Expedition School. Ms. Trueblood explained that these areas are most likely Duke Energy clearing the power line Page 3 of 4 easement. Their common practice is to leave material on site rather if it is a wooded or undeveloped site. Ms. Jarabek also said the handrails are in worse condition/split or disintegrating along the Eno and are beginning to buckle. Ms. Trueblood said she would inspect and ask Public Works to hire a contractor to fix the handrails. 2. Turnip Patch Park: Annie Jarabek There is debris in the creek that runs under West Margaret Lane. The water fountain is broken. Ms. Trueblood said there’s a work order to replace the fountain’s valve again. 3. Murray Street Park: Ashley DeSena Looks good. 4. Kings Highway Park: Todd Stabley Looks pretty good. A little bit of poison ivy and a few downed branches that extend into the path. 5. Hillsborough Heights Park: Kim Woodell The gate is missing. Ms. Trueblood said it isn’t coming back. The park hasn’t been mulched yet. Ms. Trueblood said it’s on the rotation. Some branches are hanging low and need to be trimmed. 6. Riverwalk: Robb English He hasn’t been recently. Ms. Trueblood reported the Ayr Mount pedestrian bridge is being installed and will be open to the public in July. The latest plan is for the kiosk to say please walk your bicycle. Bill Crowther doesn’t want mountain bikers making their own trails. Ms. Trueblood would like people on the other side of the river from downtown to be able to walk their bikes to Riverwalk. 7. Downtown Sidewalks/Mayo Park: staff No updates.  Staff Updates Ms. Trueblood reported the KHP trash can is coming in July as well as downtown trash/recycling units and recycling units for Riverwalk. A family in town has raised money for three benches – two for Gold Park on the back bridge and one on Riverwalk on phase 3. There might be enough money for a fourth. She has been contacted by a business that also would like to donate a couple of benches. An Eagle Scout has decided to work on a project in KHP – undecided as yet. She would like it to be trail clearing but he wants to build something. It might be nice to have a Parks and Recreation Board work day to clear KHP. There was interest in Public Works treating the poison ivy before a work day. There was brief discussion about an upcoming OWASA meeting regarding the Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail. Page 4 of 4 Item 7: Adjourn women Motion: Ms. Albrecht moved to adjourn at 9:16 p.m. Second: Vice Chairman DeSena seconded. Vote: Unanimous