Greenways Commission Meeting Agenda Monday, March 20, 2017; 4:00 pm 7:00 pm Town Hall, Parking Lot I. 4:00 4:05 pm Leave Town Hall Parking Lot for Briar Chapel II. III. IV. 4:30 pm Site Visit - Briar Chapel Trail Network Starting at the Information Center, 1342 Briar Chapel Parkway, Chapel Hill 7:30 pm Town Hall a. Approve minutes (February 13) b. Project Updates 8:00 pm Announcements/adjourn
Carrboro Greenways Commission Minutes February 13, 2017 Members Present *Rob Crook *Randee Haven-O Donnell Board of Aldermen *Charlie Hileman (Chair) *Robert Kirschner *Lydia Lavelle Board of Aldermen *Johnny Randall (Vice-chair) *Mary Parker Sonis * indicates voting member Staff Present Trish McGuire-Carrboro Planning Tina Moon-Carrboro Planning Kurt Stolka-UNC Transportation Planning Absent *Ethan Beattie Guests Elise Clouser Sarah Willey Mike McLamb Dave Mabe Aaron Frank Karen Porter Steward Bryan Andrew McLamb Steward Bryan I. Call to Order: Charlie Hileman called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. Everyone went around the room and introduced themselves--greenways Commission members and guest. a. Adjustments to the Agenda: None. b. Minutes: Kirschner motioned to approve the November 14, 2016 and the December 12, 2016 minutes; Hileman seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Members noted that the January 9 th meeting had been cancelled due to inclement weather. II. Special Presentation Steward Bryan, Native Trails Incorporated http://www.nativetrailsinc.com/home.html: Mr. Bryan introduced himself and provided a little background on his work constructing trails in different situations over the last several years, with a focus on natural surface trails and particularly, single track trails. Bryan has constructed trails in Little River Park and Natural Area, the joint park in northern Orange and Durham counties and more recently, in the Briar Chapel subdivision located in northern portion of Chatham County. Hileman related the Greenways Commission interest in learning more about different trail surfaces in different situations, and how they have worked out. Bryan described his niche as single track trails and explained the importance of designing trails based on the terrain, focusing on placing trails along slopes so that they naturally drain rather than in flat areas or wet areas. These are primarily recreational trails not all terrain or greenways trails not designed for commuter traffic. Natural surface trails are not ideal for commuters which will see use in all weather. He also sees-additives or amendments to natural trails such as crushed stone to bind the natural surface tend not to work well without a lot of maintenance. He work does not target hard weather surface trails such as paved greenways. Bryan provide examples of a porous material made from recycled tires, called Flexipave, a flexible pavement that apparently does not get clogged with silt like other permeable pavement
surfaces that need vacuuming. Usually in if you are in a floodplain you typically use 2 inches of stone with smaller stone on top of it, but it will still erode over time. Anything you put in the flood plain isn t going to stay. Hileman asked about Bryan s audience meaning who is to use his trails? Bryan said that eventually all trails are mixed use even if designed for bicycles, pedestrians will eventually use it too. Hilemen asked about ADA access for natural trails and Bryan side that often a more gradual ramp can make trails ADA, but sometimes wheelchair users are looking for a challenging course will use natural surfaces for the challenge. When asked about funding, Bryan said that most of his projects are funding with Recreational Trail Program (RTS) grants and are not necessarily subject to the same requirements as projects funded with state and federal monies administrated by NCDOT. When asked about the location of his trails, Bryan noted that it takes a lot of land to build a trail and that residential developments typically construct paved trails because they are easier to maintain. Bryan also noted that he works within a narrow corridor, which limits the size of the trail. Sometimes that works well, other times it limits it use if you run into rock it may be difficult to move around rock and stay within the corridor. The bike trails at Little River Park where constructed by hand and are maintained by TORQUE. Bryan now for Triangle Land Conversancy and Brumley Forest by New Hope Church Road and NC Hwy 10. Members also talked about how to run trails through flood prone areas, Bryan suggested raised boardwalks. Bryan discouraged the use of utility easements for trails because his experience has shown that people will walk toward views and other destinations rather than stay on the trail; it is better to build the trail where people are already going. Bryan discouraged efforts to work with railroads. III. Updates: a) Rails-to-Trails program and use of rail right-of-way (Rob Crook): Crook provided an overview of his conversations with different staff at the Norfolk Southern Railroad regarding the potential use of rail row-of-way corridors for public or private trails running alongside an active rail line. Crook mentioned his contacts with the Real Estate Division of Norfolk Southern, Tristen Lynn and Ann Powell and related their interest in having a conversation. Dave Mabe, expressed his interest in exploring the use of railroad ROW for trail use. Crook said that it made sense to work toward a design before reaching out too much more the Norfolk Southern so as to be able to ask more specific questions. b) Homestead-CHHS Multiuse Path: Members asked about the timeline for the next step in the construction process. Moon and McGuire provided a brief walk update, particularly as it related to the north side of the path relating to the retaining wall, which is subject to NCDOT approval and the final design work for the pedestrian bridge, which is underway. Sonis asked for more detailed information relating to the project costs. c) Other Updates: Hileman provided an update on the Tripp Farm Road access to the UNC property. It appears that UNC has added some gravel. He thinks the slope is about 8-10%, maybe 12%.
Hileman reported his participation in an initial discussion to consider a process for possible next steps relating to Bolin Creek phases 3 and 4; no decisions have been made to date. Kirschner asked about safety with greenway underpasses where flooding is likely. McGuire indicated that staff has discussed the issue of flooding for the Homestead Road Chapel Hill High School Multi-use path and will continued to develop ideas for handling flood scenarios with Recreation and Parks staff as part of maintenance and can include the Fire Department moving forward. Different mechanisms such as cameras and barricades were considered. IV. Future visits to see other trails such as Briar Chapel and Little River Park: Members discussed their interest in holding the next meeting as a site visit to Briar Chapel or Little River Park. V. Announcements/Adjourn: Kirschner motioned to adjourn the meeting; Sonis seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 pm. The next meeting date was set for March 20, 2017 one week later than the usual second Monday to accommodate schedules and the time change providing more another hour of daylight for the proposed field trip to Briar Chapel.