Jun 13, 2016 - side of Merritt's Pasture to Fordham Boulevard. From there as a sidepath to Morgan. Creek Road and Oteys
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Item Overview Business Meeting – 06/13/2016 Agenda # 8 Subject: Consider Installation of a Pedestrian Bridge over Morgan Creek Using 2015 Bond Funds Staff: Jim Orr, Director Bill Webster, Planning and Development Manager
Department: Parks and Recreation
Overview: On September 16, 2015 the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission petitioned the Council to explore the possibility of installing a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Morgan Creek that would connect Ashe Place on the north side to Arboretum Drive on the south side of the creek. The Manager and Mayor referred the petition to the greenway design process. The Commission sponsored public forums in April and May 2016. In May 2016, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Council authorize the Manager to proceed with the installation of the pedestrian bridge as part of the greenway project. Recommendation That the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Town Manager to proceed with a project to plan, design, permit and install a pedestrian bridge over Morgan Creek at Ashe Place and Arboretum Drive. Decision Points Authorization to start design and permitting of the proposed pedestrian bridge. Authorization to contact Orange County officials concerning potential collaboration. Where is this item in its process? Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission Petition to Council 9/16/2015
Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission Public Forums 4/2016 and 5/2016
Council Authorization to Proceed 6/13/16
Council Goals: ☒
Create a Place for Everyone
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Develop Good Places, New Spaces
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Support Community Prosperity
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Nurture Our Community
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Facilitate Getting Around
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Grow Town and Gown Collaboration
Attachments: Staff Memorandum Resolution Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission Recommendations
Begin Design and Permitting 6/14/16
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Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board Recommendations Topic Area- Public Input Process
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Staff Memorandum Business Meeting – 06/13/2016 Overview: On September 16, 2015 the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission petitioned the Council to explore the possibility of installing a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Morgan Creek that would connect Ashe Place on the north side to Arboretum Drive on the south side of the creek. The Manager and Mayor referred the petition to the greenway design process. The Commission sponsored public forums in April and May 2016. In May 2016, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Council authorize the Manager to proceed with the installation of the pedestrian bridge as part of the greenway project. Recommendations: Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Town Manager to proceed with a project to plan, design, permit and install a pedestrian bridge over Morgan Creek at Ashe Place and Arboretum Drive. Advisory Board/Commission Recommendations: Key: : Approval recommended Advisory Board/Commission Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board
X: Denial recommended : Comments Support Staff Notes/Edits Recommendation? Address concerns in the planning process. Reaffirmed earlier support
Key Issues: Authorization to start design and permitting of the proposed pedestrian bridge. Authorization to contact Orange County officials concerning potential collaboration. Fiscal Impact/Resources: Design and permitting would cost about $84,000. Based on previous bridge projects we estimate that the bridge installation could cost around $125,000-$150,000. We anticipate no maintenance costs for at least ten years after installation and no significant maintenance costs for at least twenty-five years. This project will be funded from the 2015 Greenway General Obligation bonds that will be issued in the 3rd quarter of FY17. Interim funding will be provided by using available fund balance that will be reimbursed from bond proceeds in FY17. Connections to Other Documents: The Morgan Creek Trail is discussed in the Town’s Greenways Master Plan, pages 4751. We have contracted with Stewart Engineering to provide design and permitting services for the Morgan Creek Trail project. The project has four distinct pieces:
Installation of a pedestrian bridge at Ashe Place and Arboretum Drive.
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Staff Memorandum Business Meeting – 06/13/2016
Extension of the existing Morgan Creek Trail from its eastern end, across the western side of Merritt’s Pasture to Fordham Boulevard. From there as a sidepath to Morgan Creek Road and Oteys Drive. Extension of the existing Morgan Creek Trail from its western end to Carrboro. Expansion of the existing parking lot. The existing parking lot is beyond capacity on many weekends.
Schedule for all Phases Work Products
Completion
Surveying, soil borings
July 2016
Public Input Process
January 2017
Complete Design and Permitting (Eastern Extension of trail, no bridges or waterways)
July 2017
Start Construction of Eastern Extension of Trail
September 2017
Complete Design and Permitting (all other phases that affect streams)
December 2017
Start Construction of all other Phases
March 2018
Complete Construction of Eastern Extension
July 2018
Complete Construction of all other Phases
March 2019
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Staff Memorandum Business Meeting – 06/13/2016
Area Maps:
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Staff Memorandum Business Meeting – 06/13/2016
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A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH THE MORGAN CREEK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE PROJECT (2016-06-13/R-5) WHEREAS, in September 2015, the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission petitioned the Council to explore options for installation of a pedestrian bridge over Morgan Creek near Ashe Place and Arboretum Drive; and WHEREAS, the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission subsequently held two public forums and solicited and accepted comments via email communications; and WHEREAS, the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission has reviewed the public comment record and has recommended that the Council authorize the Manager to proceed with the Morgan Creek pedestrian bridge project using 2015 bond funds; and WHEREAS, the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission also recommended that Orange County be approached to collaborate on the project. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Manager to proceed with a project to plan, design, permit and install a pedestrian bridge over Morgan Creek near Ashe Place and Arboretum Drive using 2015 Greenways bond funds. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council that the design process should explore issues raised by citizens during the public input process. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council that the Manager is authorized to contact Orange County officials for the purpose of seeking opportunities for collaboration on the project. This the 13th day of June, 2016.
104 MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor and Town Council
FROM:
Erin Crouse, Chair, Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission
SUBJECT:
Proposed Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge over Morgan Creek
DATE:
May 18, 2016
At our September 16, 2015 meeting, the Commission petitioned the Council to explore the possibility of installing a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Morgan Creek that would connect Ashe Place on the north side of the creek to Arboretum Drive on the south side of the waterway. Our September petition included the following language: 1. This project would provide a major point of pedestrian/bicycle connectivity in the southern part of Chapel Hill. Currently there are no legal means of crossing the creek for about eight (8) miles: from the Morgan Creek Trail, west of Highway 15-501, to the Chapel Hill limits to the east. 2. The bridge would allow residents south of Morgan Creek safe pedestrian and bicycle access to the University of North Carolina and to the proposed light rail station at the Smith Center. 3. The bridge would support Chapel Hill 2020’s focus on bicycle/pedestrian transportation and connectivity. 4. A representative of the Botanical Garden and Botanical Garden Foundation, which owns the property between Ashe Place and Arboretum Drive, has reported that both organizations are supportive of the idea. 5. To ensure that the project is a success, a public process should be utilized which would allow residents to participate in the process to explore whether this bridge should be constructed.
Subsequently the Commission held two well attended public forums on April 20, 2016 and May 18, 2016. After accounting for people who spoke at both meetings and emails from people who could not attend we found the following breakdown of opinions: Attendees of Public Forums in Favor of the Bridge Email communications in Favor of the Bridge
36 13
Attendees of Public Forums Opposed to the Bridge Email communication Opposed to the Bridge
8 1
105 Attendee who presented ideas that were both pro and con 1 After hearing and considering public comment the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to recommend to the Council that the Council authorize the Manager to proceed with planning for the bridge using bond funds. During the public forums, there were several issues that concerned residents of the neighborhoods near the bridge. To address these concerns, the Commission recommends that planning efforts for this project should include:
The exploration of other locations for bridge placement Protection of private property for residents living near the proposed bridge Options for addressing parking issues if they arise Flooding mitigation Extension of pedestrian connectivity to the north side of Fordham Boulevard
The Commission also voted unanimously (5-0) to recommend to the Council that the Manager be authorized to approach Orange County to explore opportunities for collaboration.
Members Present: Erin Crouse (Chair), Joan Guilkey, Bob Myers, Mary Musacchia, and Jochen Schwarz Members not present: Steve Price (Vice Chair), Joseph Battle, Regina Blalock, and Raymond Wong
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SUMMARY OF TRANSPORTATION AND CONNECTIVITY ADVISORY BOARD ACTION
Subject:
Morgan Creek Bridge
Meeting Date:
May 24, 2016
Recommendation: The Board reaffirms the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission’s recommendation to support the Morgan Creek Bridge
Vote:
8-0
Ayes:
Jeff Charles (Chair), Paul Neebe (Vice Chair), Eric Allman, Josh Kastrinsky, Kayley Lyons, Jason Merrill, Mirta Mihovilovic, Mark Stanton
Nays:
none
Prepared by: Jeff Charles Chair, Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board David Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Planning Manager
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Attachment Business Meeting – 06/13/2016
Topic Area: Public Input Concerning the Proposed Pedestrian Bridge at Ashe Place and Arboretum Drive Advisory Board/Commission Recommendation: The Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission recommends moving forward with the project using bond funds and that planning efforts should attempt to address:
Protection of private property Potential issues related to parking Flooding impacts to the bridge Extension of pedestrian connectivity to the north side of Fordham Boulevard Other potential bridge locations.
The Commission also recommends that the Manager be authorized to approach Orange County to explore opportunities for collaboration. April 20, 2016 and May 18, 2016 Public Forums and Email Communications The Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission sponsored two public forums. We looked at both public forum attendees and email communications. After accounting for people who either spoke or emailed more than once, we found the following breakdown of opinions: Citizens in Favor of Installing a Pedestrian Bridge
49
Citizens Opposed to Installing a Pedestrian Bridge
9
Citizen who presented ideas that were both pro and con
1
Arguments in Favor of Installing a Pedestrian Bridge Speakers presented the following arguments in favor of installing the proposed bridge:
People could visit neighbors without driving. Increase sense of community. Increase opportunities for recreational walking and biking. Allow people to visit Morgan Creek and the Botanical Gardens without the need to drive several miles. Allow walking and bicycling to UNC. Many people report walking across the OWASA sewer pipes, which they report as being dangerous. The community on the north side is not a private community. It is like any other Town neighborhood with public streets.
Arguments Against Installing a Pedestrian Bridge
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Attachment Business Meeting – 06/13/2016
Speakers opposed to the idea of installing the proposed bridge presented these reasons:
The neighborhood on the north side of the creek is a private community. Some speakers do not want walkers or bicyclists from other neighborhoods. A bridge will encourage even more trespassing on the informal trails located on private properties that lead to the Merritt’s Pasture. Any bridge would be used by many motorcycles to avoid traffic on Highway 15-501 and Fordham Boulevard. A bridge would lower property values. Some speakers asked that any bridge be located elsewhere. OWASA should allow people to walk on the pipes. The bridge should not be built until a safe pedestrian crossing of Fordham Boulevard is in place. Many people report walking across the OWASA sewer pipes, which they report as being dangerous.
