HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-17-2017 Minutes PRB Regular MeetingMinutes
Parks and Recreation Board
7 p.m. Oct. 17, 2017
Town Barn, 101 E. Orange St.
Present: Chairman Todd Stabley, Vice Chairwoman Kate Albrecht, Ashley Campbell, Robb English,
Noah Mace, Rebecca Swartz and Planning Board representative Chris Wehrman
Absent: Annie Jarabek, Nancy Taylor, Kim Woodell and Board of Commissioners representative
Brian Lowen (ex officio)
Staff: Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood
Guests: Mary -Beth Brown, Randy Hall and Carson Harkrader
Item 1: Call meeting to order; 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
The board agreed to put Item 7 ahead of Items 5 and 6.
Item 3: Approval of minutes of Aug. 15, 2017, meeting
Motion: Vice Chairwoman Kate Albrecht moved to approve the minutes as submitted.
Second: Board Member Rebecca Swartz seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 4: Review recreation space allocation for West End Heights, a proposed residential development
located at 111 Jones Ave. in West Hillsborough
Board Member Noah Mace informed the board he wished to recuse himself from this discussion due to
a conflict of interest as a neighbor.
Motion: Chairman Todd Stabley moved to recuse Noah Mace from this item.
Second: Board Member Robb English seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Randy Hall of Summit Design and Engineering Services presented West End Heights, a development of
24 residential units in West Hillsborough. He explained that the developer is meeting the recreation
points required in the Unified Development Ordinance with the following calculations:
Recreation Space Requirements
1/35 acre per unit x number of units = square feet required
1/35 acre = 0.029 acre = 1,263 square feet required
1,263 square feet x 24 units = 30,312 square feet = 0.70 acres
30,928 square feet = 0.71 acres provided
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Dwelling unit points
4 attached @ 2 bedroom each x 9.5 points each= 38 points
20 detached units x 12 points each = 240 points
Total points required = 278 points
Amenities provided
Playground equipment = 275 points
Sandbox = 6 points
Total points provided = 281 points
Mr. Hall explained that stormwater features shown on the plans in the recreation area are buried
underground and that only inlet boxes would be visible. He said turf would be maintained above ground.
Ms. Swartz asked if sandboxes are a good idea considering feral cats. Mr. Hall said the developer would
be open to other amenities that meet the points required but suggested that the Unified Development
Ordinance list is limited. Chairman Stabley suggested that the new recreation points list would offer
more innovative choices and said the list was scheduled for public hearing as a text amendment later in
October.
Board members discussed the importance of public access to the recreation areas and determined that
this type of recreation area does not seem to be a candidate for dedication to the town. Handicap
access was discussed to the recreation areas. The proposed recreation areas would not be accessible
according to the Americans with Disabilities Act standards; but if the town were to own and maintain
the park, meeting those standards would be imperative.
Neighbor Carson Harkrader expressed concern about removing trees in the upper recreation area.
Neighbor Mary -Beth Brown expressed concern about tree removal and an interest in seeing more
innovative and natural play equipment in the recreation areas.
Board members discussed the Connectivity Plan recommendation for a high-priority sidewalk on West
King Street and determined that in this location a curb -and -gutter sidewalk would be expected due to
maintenance concerns related to ditches and a desire for neighborhood connectivity. Mr. Hall suggested
the Connectivity Plan should include recommendations for when to use curb -and -gutter sidewalks
versus back -of -ditch sidewalk designs or should allow payment in lieu. Board members discussed the
merits and difficulties regarding payment in lieu for sidewalks, namely that construction costs are
subject to change before the sidewalk is built and that it is hard to amass enough money from
developments to build a complete network.
Motion: Mr. English moved to recognize that the West End Heights development proposal meets
the required recreation points in the Unified Development Ordinance and that the Parks
and Recreation Board recommends the Planning Board approve the recreation plans
with the addition of the following recommendations:
The developer grant public access to utilize the recreation spaces in the
development.
• All efforts be made to maintain the existing trees, including exploring adjusting the
sewer line location to preserve the two trees in the upper recreation area that are
proposed for removal.
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• The developer reviews the new list of recreation points and incentives that this
board recommended for the Unified Development Ordinance text amendment to
evaluate whether to propose different recreation amenities and equipment to meet
the recreation points.
• Install curb -and -gutter -style sidewalks with planting strips rather than back -of -ditch
sidewalks along West King Street.
Second: Vice Chairwoman Albrecht seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 5: Update on survey of Riverwalk users
Ms. Swartz reported she surveyed Riverwalk users two Sundays in July between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It
was very hot. She went to the picnic table area near Weaver Street Market and gathered about 25
responses. About a quarter of users were from out of town, mostly from Chapel Hill. Mostly
Hillsborough residents walk Riverwalk two or three times a week. Other users mostly drove to the
greenway. Many reported it was difficult to find a parking spot near Weaver Street Market. There
weren't a lot of young or older people. The respondents were pleased with maintenance, signage and
security. Most found out about Riverwalk through word of mouth, either through friends or social
media. Some found out about it through WRAL-TV. Many said they would like Riverwalk to extend
farther and would like clearer views of the river. One person said the concrete manholes are
unattractive and are smelly at times.
Item 6: Review Turnip Patch Park Draft Master Plan
Ms. Trueblood reviewed that this draft included recommendations by this board. She shared maps she
had created to indicate suggested improvements. She noted Turnip Patch Park does not have many flat
areas for playground equipment.
Several board members said they were happy with the draft master plan. Ms. Trueblood reminded the
board that the master plan is intended to help guide budget requests but should be updated regularly.
Motion: Chairman Stabley moved to adopt the Turnip Patch Park Master Plan.
Second: Mr. English seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 7: Discuss development of Murray Street Park Master Plan
Ms. Trueblood reviewed there is a slide, climber and swing located in this park. The Tree Board has
planted several trees in the park. The most recent tree planting disappeared. Ms. Trueblood reviewed
some safety concerns she has and that there are dead trees which need to be removed. She reported
she was contacted by a neighbor, Lucy Wilson, who had some comments. She invited anyone present
this evening to offer suggestions as well.
Board Member Ashley Campbell said that the park floods in extreme weather events. Ms. Trueblood
said, when you can retain storm water on site, it's better.
Ms. Harkrader shared that there are several new babies in the community. She would like to have
delineation between the park and the next-door private property. Benches would be great, too, as well
as a baby swing and picnic table.
Ms. Trueblood would like to see some natural play features and a picnic table for a small birthday party.
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The park is not handicap accessible. The entire budget for the park goes for play surfacing (engineered
wood fiber). If the playground area was smaller to reduce the amount of mulch and the picnic area was
separate, that would improve the budget. Ms. Trueblood would also like to see the steep bank beside
Murray Street planted with native species so that it doesn't have to be mowed.
Ms. Campbell suggested berm slides. Others noted the road is too close by.
Vice Chairwoman Albrecht said she sees possibilities of redoing this playground and creating less of a
mulched area. She also advocated for a whimsical feature like a sculpture.
Ms. Trueblood clarified that this is not land in a flood plain but rather an area with a stream buffer and a
stream that floods.
The board agreed to continue to discuss the possibilities for this master plan at the November meeting.
Vice Chairwoman Albrecht excused herself from the meeting.
Item 8: Reports and updates — (Parks and Recreation -related reports)
• Board of Commissioners: Brian Lowen — He was absent.
• Planning Board: Chris Wehrman — Mr. Wehrman reported he was unable to attend the last
meeting. Ms. Trueblood reviewed that the West End Heights proposed development would be
on the agenda for the joint public hearing of the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners and
Hillsborough Planning Board later that week.
• Orange County Parks and Recreation Council: Annie Jarabek — She was absent.
• Mountains -to -Sea Trail: Annie Jarabek — She was absent. Chairman Stabley shared he had
attended a recent Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting about the Mountains -to -Sea
Trail and presented this board's recommendation that the trail move forward. It seemed to him
that the county board was eager to move forward on it but acknowledged there are political
difficulties with the project from Saxapahaw to Hillsborough. It seemed there was interest in
taking small steps to extend the trail in Orange County near Hillsborough.
• Intergovernmental Parks Work Group: Ms. Trueblood — Ms. Trueblood reported she attended
the work group's meeting, as did Mr. English. There was discussion of how the Master Aging
Plan fits into recreation components in the county and municipalities. Also, the trails database is
going through a quality check before it is launched. Orange County's goal is to launch it by 2018
Ms. Trueblood thinks summer 2018 is a more likely goal.
• Park steward reports:
1. Gold Park: Annie Jarabek — She was absent. Dog Park: Nancy Taylor — She was absent.
There were no observations.
2. Cates Creek Park: Robb English — Mr. English said it is busy. He believes people who use the
park appreciate the rain garden stormwater project at the park.
3. Turnip Patch Park: Annie Jarabek — She was absent.
4. Murray Street Park: Ashley Campbell — She reported the park seems pretty good. The
mulch is still in place.
5. Kings Highway Park: Todd Stabley — Chairman Stabley reported it looks a little ragged
because the ditch got cleaned out. The lifesaving buoy is missing. Mr. English said it went
missing about a month earlier.
6. Hillsborough Heights Park: Kim Woodell — She was absent.
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7. Riverwalk: Todd Stabley — Chairman Stabley said he saw mildew on some signs. He can't
recall where. Ms. Trueblood reported volunteers are cleaning the mildew off the
interpretive signs.
Staff updates:
Ms. Trueblood reported several items related to Gold Park:
o Bee hotel — Several bee -themed activities were scheduled to take place Nov. 4 after the
unveiling of the bee hotel, including a bee house workshop, a bee -themed kids craft and
free honey samples. Mr. Mace would be leading the workshop.
o Gold Park playground equipment —Several pieces of playground equipment would be
replaced in November.
o Bridge repair — There is a board in the bridge on the Gold Park path in the direction of
The Expedition School that needs to be replaced. Ms. Trueblood has asked a contractor
to look at it.
Cates Creek Park work — Ms. Trueblood reported that in a few weeks a contractor will be
conducting a stormwater retrofit in the parking lot to send water into the stormwater feature,
which will eventually be a bioretention-planted rain garden. There are other erosion -control
issues in the park around the front entrance. Ms. Trueblood is considering adding compost
blankets to the banks along the entrance, perhaps planting native grasses that would not need
to be mowed.
Turnip Patch Park — Ms. Trueblood reported that the fence was replaced.
Kings Highway Park trail clearing — Ms. Trueblood reported the trail clearing would take place
Oct. 24.
Churton Street Access Improvements Project — Ms. Trueblood reported the project is going well
and would be wrapped up around Thanksgiving. She shared that new outdoor dining and
merchandising standards would be enforced in 2018.
Sidewalk Improvements Project — Ms. Trueblood reported the project was ready to bid and
contractors had expressed interest in it. The project would continue Riverwalk to Occoneechee
Mountain State Natural Area, make sidewalk improvements on Calvin Street, and make sidewalk
and road improvements on South Nash Street.
Turnip Patch Park butterfly garden —The Tree Board reviewed the Turnip Patch Park Master
Plan and decided to use the board's fall planting funds to move the butterfly garden to the
selected new spot and plant trees and shrubs.
Arbor Day — On Nov. 15, the Tree Board is planting an American basswood in Cates Creek Park
for Arbor Day.
Cemetery Committee — The Cemetery Committee is creating master plans for all three
cemeteries. One of the parts of the Margaret Lane Cemetery is to improve the entrance for
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Occoneechee Street. There is money in the budget to do that this fall. The crape myrtles there
have been pruned.
Groundskeeping contract — Not everything is being mowed every week now. The
groundskeeping crew is starting to reseed and remove leaves.
Item 7: Adjourn
Motion: Chairman Stabley moved to adjourn at 9:26 p.m.
Second: Ms. Campbell seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
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