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DURHAM

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2010

Open Space & Trails Commission

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Draft /

MINUTES

Wednesday, August 18th 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: / Toby Berla, Chuck Eilber, Glenn Bowles, Bo Glenn, Tom Stark, John Goebel, Kelly Bryant, Jr, Jason Nelson, Charlie Welch, Clay Swenson, Will Wilson, Ellen Reckhow Titania Roberson
Members Excused: / Dan Clever, Josie McNeil-Owens, Lisa Buckley, Annette Montgomery, Deborah Morgan, Kristine Remlinger, LaDawnna Summers, Mike Woodard, George Brine

Members Absent:

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David Sokol

Staff Present: / Helen Youngblood
Guests Present: / Christopher Ammons (public)

I. Call to Order Chairman Tom Stark called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM

II. Approval of Minutes

·  The July 2010 DOST minutes were unanimously approved.

III. Agenda Adjustments

·  Ms. Youngblood requested that the presentation by Beth Timson and Rosetta Radtke of the City Parks and Recreation Dept be rescheduled to the September DOST meeting, when more Commission members would be present. Timson and Radtke will meet with the Trails Committee before the September commission meeting. Mr. Bryant requested that they provide a project priority list at that time.

·  Mr. Glenn requested that a discussion of the billboard ordinance issue be added to the New Business portion of the meeting.

IV. Committee Reports

Open Space Committee

·  No report

Education Committee – (Mr. Eilber)

·  Centerfest

o  Centerfest is coming up in September. The committee circulated a volunteer sign-up sheet, and will also contact members by email. Mr. Goebel encouraged members to get involved in this event, to ensure that we have coverage at all times.

o  We plan to share a table with the Bike/Ped Advisory Commission (BPAC), as in the past.

o  Mr. Berla reported that BPAC hopes to organize a bike valet parking service at Centerfest.

o  Ms. Youngblood reported that DOST is registered at Centerfest.

o  Mr. Swenson asked for materials to assist in answering questions from the public, especially for new members. Ms. Youngblood indicated that we provide a Frequently Asked Questions sheet to DOST Centerfest volunteers for this purpose.

·  Website

o  The Committee requests members to provide fresh content. Articles, photographs, etc.

·  Brochure/Cut Sheets

o  Mr. Goebel proposed that DOST develop cut-sheet brochures describing the existing trails, similar to those that have been done for proposed new trails. He would like to collaborate with the Trails Committee on this.

·  Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (ECWA)

o  Mr. Eilber has contacted the ECWA Executive Director and will be meeting with that organization to discuss shared goals and activities.

Matching Grants Committee

·  No report

Trails Committee (Mr. Bryant)

·  The Committee would like to thanks Ms. Youngblood for organizing the Annual Retreat in July.

·  The Committee will prepare its priority list for 2011 shortly.

·  At a recent meeting, the billboard ordinance was discussed in detail. The City Council voted to deny the request to modify the ordinance. We are now waiting for the decision of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on this issue.

·  The railings have been installed on the NC-147 Kelly Bryant Pedestrian Bridge. There are still a few things to do in preparation for the opening of the bridge. The Trails Committee is coordinating the volunteer effort for the Grand Opening event on September 16th. Helen also reviewed the publicity work being done in preparation for the Grand Opening. Work continues on the trail section connecting to the southern end of the bridge.

·  Ms. Morgan met with Amanda Mansfield of the UNC Public Policy Master program. She will do some internship research work for the Parks and Recreation Department, in the area of land acquisition/trail easements. The goal is to complete an up to date data base for trail easements.

·  The resurfacing work on the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) continues. Most sections are nearly done. This is a heavily used facility by both walkers and cyclists.

·  Mr. Goebel asked for the status of the Third Fork Creek trail. The middle section is nearly complete. The end sections at Southern Boundaries Park and Garrett Road Park still have significant work to be done. The same contractor is currently busy on the ATT resurfacing.

·  The ATT Phase E (includes the new bridge over I-40) is being delayed, because all easements and permits must be acquired prior to putting the work out for contract bids. The date for bids to start has been moved from September 2010 to December 2010.

Development Review Committee (Ms. Youngblood)

·  751 Assemblage project. The BOCC approved the zoning change. Ms. Youngblood reported that many committed elements related to environmental protection were agreed to by the developer prior to the rezoning.

·  There is an outstanding application to build a conservation neighborhood near Herndon and Scott King Rd.

Finance Committee

·  No report

V. Old Business

·  Urban Open Space Plan (Ms. Youngblood)

o  The UOSP Task Force will meet the August 23, 2010 to review the site survey results and discuss upcoming tasks on the plan.

·  BPAC (Toby Berla)

o  Dale McKeel is coordinating efforts to submit GIS data from the Durham Hike & Bike Map to Google Maps, in order to improve the quality of the cycling routes provided by Google.

o  As mentioned, BPAC hopes to provide bike valet parking at Centerfest.

o  Several in-town streets (West Chapel Hill, University) have been resurface recently, with bike lanes added.

·  Recreation Advisory Commission

o  no report

·  Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association

o  As mentioned Mr. Eilber is in touch with ECWA.

·  New Hope Creek Advisory Commission (Mr. Goebel)

o  Working on a couple of projects at Sandy Creek, including adding a new feature to honor the long-time service of Ken Coulter, who passed away recently.

o  Greg Shuster is leaving his job with the county.

o  Old Chapel Hill Rd Park, near Githens School, will open on August 26. The advisory commission is working on adding a connection to nearby existing trails.

o  The advisory commission is considering updating its 20-year-old plan.

VI. New Business

·  Centerfest – see details above.

·  Proposed change to city and county billboard ordinances. Mr. Glenn requested that DOST take up the issue, given that some of the proposed billboard corridors would potentially put new signs very close to existing trails and open space. Ms. Reckhow reviewed the 25-year history of the existing billboard ordinance, including repeated legal challenges from the advertising industry. There are 94 existing billboards in Durham city and county, about equally distributed between the city and county. The proposed change would allow any of them to be moved and upgraded. The proposed corridors for upgraded signs including the new East End Connector, several miles of US-70, NC-147 where it is outside the city and RTP, and parts of 15-501. 25% of the new signs could be brightly lit digital signs with a new message every 8 seconds. There are concerns about energy usage, distractions to drivers, and the greatly increased cost of condemning an upgraded billboard. Any change to the existing ordinance would potentially re-open settled legal issues. Mr. Goebel made a motion to pass, and Mr. Wilson seconded the following resolution: DOST requests that Mr. Glenn draft a letter to the BOCC recommending denial of the petition to modify the existing billboard ordinance. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Reckhow recommends that someone from DOST attend the BOCC meeting at which the issue will be decided, in order to read the letter.

·  Ms. Youngblood reported that discussions between Norfolk & Southern Railroad and NCDOT regarding the Duke Beltline trail are continuing.

VII. Adjournment

Mr. Eilber made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Bowles, and approved unanimously at 8:33 PM.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Toby Berla, DOST Secretary.

Staff Contact: Helen Youngblood, Senior Planner, NCAZO, AICP

919.560.4137 ext 28245 Helen.Youngblood@durhamnc. gov

9/15/2010

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