HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC minutes 020415
Meeting Summary
Parks and Recreation Council (PRC)
Monthly Meeting Summary
MEETING: February 4, 2015
LOCATION: Environment and Agricultural Center Conference Room
____________________________________________________________________________
MEMBERS PRESENT: Neal Bench, Joel Bulkley, Allan Green, Rob Robinson, Tori Williams Reid, Betty
McDade Khan, James Carter
MEMBERS ABSENT: none (Terri Driscoll resigned prior to meeting)
STAFF PRESENT: David Stancil; Rich Shaw; Lynn Hecht
____________________________________________________________________________
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m., with a quorum present.
II. Review Meeting Summary (12/3)/Additions or Changes to Agenda: The notes from
the December 3 meeting were reviewed with no input.
III. Report of the Chair (Bench)
a. Membership status. Bench spoke of recent membership issues. New member
Terry Driscoll has just recently resigned, citing that she is now chair of the Nursing
Home Advisory Group and needs to dedicate time there. As discussed at the last
meeting, Erin Dillard has also been sent a notice by the BOCC removing her for non-
attendance on the PRC. Many attempts had been made by staff to reach out to her
to no avail, and her attendance at meetings had been minimal. This opens up more
spaces on the PRC Board, to include slots for residents from Town of Carrboro;
Town of Hillsborough and Cheeks Township. Two more spaces are At Large
positions. Members were given several recent applications to review.
b. New Hope Creek Advisory Committee Liaison. This group is asking for one of the
PRC members become a member of their group as a liaison. The NHCAC has a great
interest in many issues along the creek, including the Hollow Rock Park and Natural
Area. Bench stated that he might be closest to the meeting place in Durham, and
might be interested, but asked if anyone else had an interest. No one else indicated
interest. Staff member Rich Shaw attends as a resource person and stated the
group meets around 4 times each year.
IV.
New Business
a. Hollow Rock Park and Natural Area: Shaw spoke on the Hollow Rock Park and
Natural Area (agenda item was moved up for his to speak first). The Hollow Rock
Park and Natural Area is located along Erwin Road and Pickett Road and is near the
Trinity School. Total land area is about 75 acres. The site is owned by Durham
County (11 acres); Orange County (62 acres), and Chapel Hill (2 acres). New park
trails will allow extension of existing trails, and many existing trails will be relocated
to get them away from the streams. There will be low-impact recreational
opportunities throughout the park. Current public access the area along where
Pickett Road is unpaved, although the area is not open to the public. A new
parking area off of Erwin Road will be created, and this plus the trails and bridges
work is most of what will be in Phase 1. The old Hollow Rock Store has been
protected and relocating the store to the site may create a place to display the
natural resources of this area to include mineral displays, and archeological
displays. Facilities for phase 2 include some additional parking and easy access
crossing of the Pickett Road (assuming the road is closed). There is a $200,000
grant from NC Recreation and Parks Trails Program to be matched with some
Orange County and Durham County funds to fund current work. Work on Phase 1 is
underway and/or about to begin. A site plan has been presented to the Orange
County Planning Department for approval. There is a draft Inter-local Agreement
(ILA) between Durham County, Chapel Hill and Orange County that will need to be
approved by all parties prior to completion. The ILA plans for Durham County to
maintain their section of the park in Durham County and east of Pickett Road.
Orange County would maintain and operate the area west of Pickett Road. In
response to a question, Shaw noted there are just hiking trails, no bike trails.
b. Discussion of the 2015 Work Plan Items. Stancil began this item by asking the
council what projects and initiatives it wishes to accomplish this year. The annual
work plan created in November shows some of those items. Additionally, the
DEAPR Leadership Team met and they came up with the following potential items,
including park concept plans (Millhouse Road; RiverPark; Mountains to Sea Trail
(MST) segment; Upper Eno Preserve). Bench asked a Chapel Hill board member
about Town of Chapel Hill priorities. A lot of what the County does with Millhouse
relates to what Chapel Hill has in mind. Other items on the list are: further research
on public swimming pool (from P&R master plan); community center strategies; a
Bingham Township survey on park needs; primitive camping; and disc golf. Bench
noted the concept of starting an orienteering course somewhere and felt this is
something the PRC can do. Many other items on this list seem way down the road.
Williams-Reid feels we can easily work on the Community Center strategy. Cedar
Grove Community Center will open soon. Bench feels like the Council and staff
could identify and activate primitive camping areas in a year’s time. Green would
like MST work/concept done. Need to establish a corridor through OWASA lands.
Board members want the MST and UE Preserve topics to be worked on and to work
on the primitive camping idea. Bench suggested staff identify the right place for a
disc golf course. Reid suggested staff invite the disc golf community to help come
up with a plan.
Of the above mentioned priorities, the board made the following their priorities:
Park Concept Plan
MST Trail Segments in Orange County
Upper Eno Preserve
Community Center – Level of Service and Strategies
Primitive Camping – Identify Potential locations
Disc Golf – Identify Potential Locations
c. Changes to Chapter 26, Orange County Code of Ordinances. Stancil passed out an
edited version of these changes based on County Attorney review. Much of the
language needing change goes back to the 1980’s and 90’s and is vry much in need
of update.
d. Recreational Cycling Meeting This was tabled for now.
Bench asked for an update on the Orienteering Course at the March meeting. Stancil
asked which park should we be looking to for this course? Bench asked about how
many acres should be allotted for this. Green says the Little River Park meadow is
sufficient. The Council agreed that this was an amenity that would be a good addition
to the park system. Stancil will report back on possible locations and a plan for
implementing.
Bench also asked if the Council could add an item to each agenda that allows time for
Council members to bring up topics of discussion. Stancil noted this could be added.
V.
Old Business
a. Blackwood Farm Park. Tabled for now
b. P&R Master Plan-Next Steps. Tabled for now.
VI. Report of the Director (Stancil)
a. River Park/Town Transportation Improvements. Tabled for now.
b. Community Centers. Tabled for now, to be discussed at future meeting.
c. Other updates/Parks Tour for the Council. Stancil and Bench asked members
about a park tour. Most agreed that they could go at 3:30pm some day before
a scheduled meeting.
VII. Committee Reports
a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group: No report. Next meeting February 11.
b. Friends of P&R: Green asked for time to speak about the Friends of P&R.
Most are non -profit organizations with 5013-C status. He sent a letter out to all
members about the need to organize to get this status. Green s tated a minimum of
5 members, preferably 7, are needed to be members of this organization. This
would be a volunteer organization which raises funds for parks and recreation. He
added that four members have expressed interest. Bench asked who on the
Council would like to stay and meet on this matter.
VIII. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Next Meeting- 3/4/15