HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-01 - MinutesFAYETTEVILLE
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
Meeting Minutes October 1, 2007
Opening:
The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by
Vice Chairman Jay Davidson at 5:37 P.M. on October 1, 2007 in Room 326 of the City
Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Present:
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Davidson, Biendara, Hatfield, Burke, and
Bitler were present, with Davis arriving later. Colwell and Mauritson were absent. Park
Staff Edmonston, Jumper, Jones, Wright, Coles, Thomas, Trail Coordinator Mihalevich
and audience were in attendance.
1. Approval of September 10th, 2007 PRAB Meeting Minutes
PRAB Motion: Bider asked that the minutes be amended to show that he was
not present for the August minutes approval, so the vote should have been
7-0-0. Bider said he arrived at the meeting after the vote. Bider then motioned
to accept the amended minutes, and Davidson seconded the motion. Motion
passed by voice vote 5-0-0.
2. Park Land Dedication
Development Name:
Engineer:
Owner:
Location:
Park District:
Units:
Total Acres:
Land Dedication Requirement:
Money in Lieu Requirement
Existing Parks:
Developer's Request:
Staff Recommendation:
Carole Jones, Park Planner
Sowder Land Dedication for Scull Creek
Trail
N/A
Glenn and Victoria Sowder
North of Wilson Park., east of Frisco Street
SW
N/A
Unknown at this time
Unknown at this time
N/A
Wilson Park
Dedication of 0.74 acres to create a park
land bank
Several negotiations were made on this
project between the owner and city staff
before an agreement was reached on the
proposed land dedication. It is imperative
that the city obtain this land for Scull Creek
Trail. Staff recommendation is approval as
submitted.
Developer's Comments:
Justification: Developer is requesting to dedicate
approximately 0.74 acres of land to the City
of Fayetteville Parks Division and create a
park land bank to remain with Glenn and
Victoria Sowder or an associated LLC to be
used for future development within the
southwest park quadrant. In the future they
plan to build approximately 60 multi -family
units along the remaining acreage to the
north along Frisco Street and near the
intersection of North and Gregg Streets.
They are also requesting that their future
development be locked into the current park
land dedication rate of 0.017 acres/unit with
this dedication.
In order to expedite the construction of Scull
Creek Trail they would like to proceed with
the dedication prior to the development of
the multi -family housing. This dedication
will also accommodate Frisco Street which
is currently located on their property. As
part of the proposed development project the
northern part of Frisco Street should be
relocated to the east about 30 feet so it is
within the existing street right of way.
Burke wanted to know what we were going to do with the north part of the property.
Mihalevich said it offers options for future use for a trailhead parking lot.
Davidson asked where the property line was located.
Jones replied that the property was to the north and on North and Gregg. Sowder owns the
entire main strip, and wants to develop the north part of the property.
Hatfield asked why the park land overlaps the street right of way.
Jones said that there were many meetings in which that subject was discussed. The floodway
line is the cut off point. Sowder wants to bank it for forty two or forty three multi -family units.
Biller asked if this was a take it or leave it proposition.
Sowder said at some point it will be take it or leave it. He said for nine years he has been
paying taxes on the roadway. He attended all twelve of those neighborhood meetings. He said
this was not the first time his family had been involved with the City in this area. In the 1920's,
his grandfather took up a collection in the neighborhood and build the first bridge over Skull
Creek next to Wilson Park.
Bitler wanted to know if the Gregg St. extension was going to affect this request.
Jones said she wasn't sure, but she thought the expansion had been dropped.
Bitler said he thought there was a sign on Gregg St. that said it was part of a bond for
expansion.
Sowder replied that it had been dropped. He said he had a contract on Maple St. and lost the
contract and $300,000 because the street won't be down the east side of the railroad tracks.
Sowder then asked if there were any more questions.
Hatfield wanted to know if it's the City's request that they maintain the right of way on Gregg.
Sowder said that he owns that street now, and he hasn't started charging tolls on it yet. He said
he supposed the City could do anything that it wants.
Jones said that the City would propose to make it a thirty foot public access easement in which
the street and drainage would be maintained by the Transportation division.
Bitler asked if it would be deeded as park land.
Edmonston said she asked the City Attorney if the City could take in a public street as a private
park donation. She was told yes.
Hatfield asked if anyone had talked to the City Engineer about allowing public parking lots in
this area because of the floodway.
Mihalevich said there would hopefully be no long term parking, but possibly a trail head once
Wilson Park's parking lots become full.
Edmonston said the bottom line is that the City needs this land for the Skull Creek Trail.
Bitler said his concern is that we don't know what's going to happen with the Gregg St.
extension project. What would happen if the highway decided to come through the trail?
Mihalevich said that the City is coming through first with the trail.
Davis then asked if the trail would follow the tracks.
Mihalevich said it would to be to the south.
Davis wanted to know when the multi -family units would be built.
Sowder said it could be up to ten years away.
Davis queried if Sowder would have to pay additional fees down the road.
Sowder replied that it was his understanding that he wouldn't have to.
Edmonston said the property would be banked at the existing rate. It can be sold to another
developer using the Park Land Dedication land.
Davidson asked if the land was subdivided, could it still be banked?
Edmonston said yes.
Bitter asked why the trail was coming down the east side and then the west side. Why not bring
the trail down to Lafayette?
Mihalevich said they wanted to make the connection with Wilson Park. On the west side is a
creek and a really big ravine.
Edmonston said she wanted the board to make a requirement that the drainage also be
maintained by Transportation.
PRAB Motion: Two motions were made. Davis motioned to accept as approved.
Bitter seconded it. Bitter then amended the motion to ask that Transportation
maintain the drainage. Davis seconded it. Both motions passed 5-1-0 by voice
vote, with Hatfield voting no.
3. Park Land Donation
Development Name:
Engineer:
Owner:
Location:
Park District:
Existing Parks:
Carole Jones, Park Planner
CMN Business Park Phase III Land
Donation
McClelland Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Leonard Boen and Jim Irwin
East of Gregg Avenue; west of Steele Blvd.;
north and south of Van Asche Drive
NW
Mud Creek Trail and future Park West
Developer's Request: Developer is requesting to donate
approximately 15.39 acres of CMN Business
Park Phase III and 2.49 acres of Lot 5 to the
City of Fayetteville. This will accommodate
the construction of north Scull Creek Trait.
The land is currently under deed restriction
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Mitigation and monitoring of the deed
restricted land is complete except for a
portion of the land that is associated with the
construction of the Van Asche Drive bridge.
Monitoring of this portion will be required
for two years after construction of the bridge
is completed. The current owners will
perform the required monitoring for the
portion of the land that is associated with the
construction of the bridge. Additionally, the
owner of Phase III (Leonard Boen) has
agreed to dedicate a public access easement
for a portion of Scull Creek Trail that lies
between the two land donations.
Staff Recommendation: Approve as submitted
Mihalevich said there were deed exceptions for the utilities. There was some room
left for trail amenities.
Burke asked what the length of the trail would be.
Mihalevich replied that it would be roughly three fourths of a mile. It would connect
Mud Creek and Skull Creek.
Hatfield asked if the City Attorney was ok with the deed restrictions.
Mihalevich said he was not sure.
Mike Morgan from McClelland said that the five year monitoring period required by
the Corps of Engineers is done. There will be a two year monitoring period after the
bridge is constructed, which will be the responsibility of the client.
Bitler commented that it seems great. He asked if we were missing anything.
Edmonston replied that she didn't think so.
Davis wanted to know what type of maintenance was needed for this area, other than
the trail.
Coles said that most of the area would remain natural, so no maintenance would be
needed.
Burke asked why we wanted land that we wouldn't be using.
Edmonston replied that it was always nice to have extra greenspace.
Biendara added that green is always good along trails.
PRAB Motion: Davis motioned to accept as approved. Biendara seconded
it. Motion passed by voice vote 6-0-0.
4. Park Land Dedication Alison Jumper, Park Planner
Project History: This project was presented to PRAB as Waterbrooke at the
7-11-05 meeting. The Board made a recommendation of accepting 2.76 acres
of park land for 115 units. Additionally, the developer was required to make
drainage improvements and place fill in the park area. The improvements
have been made. The roads and infrastructure for the development have
been constructed. The development has been sold to a new developer who is
proposing a new plan for the property.
Development Name:
Engineer:
Owner:
Location:
Park District:
Units:
Total Acres:
Land Dedication Requirement:
Money in Lieu Requirement
Existing Parks:
Developer's Request:
Staff Recommendation:
Developer's Comments:
Justification:
Quarry Trace Commons
Appian Centre for Design
Nock Investments
North of Hwy. 16, East of Bayarri Park
SE
146 Single Family, 92 Multi Family
Approximately 35 acres
5.06 acres
$202,720
None within Yz mile
Dedication of approximately 3 acres with
remaining requirement paid as fees in lieu.
Dedication of approximately 3 acres with
remaining requirement paid as fees in lieu
(approximately $86,400).
In addition to the dedicated park land, the
developer is providing several POA
amenities such as a pool, pavilion and
walking trail around the old quarry to
provide recreational opportunities.
Additionally, the tree preservation area is
adjacent to the dedicated park land and will
be labeled as a tree preservation/recreation
area, thereby expanding the land that will be
open to the public.
Davidson wanted to know the total acreage required.
Jumper replied it would be just over five acres.
Davis asked where the additional recreational area would be.
Jumper said it was the old quarry area.
Bitler asked what type of condition the quarry was in.
Coles replied it was a big pond right now.
Bitler queried if there would be sufficient recreational opportunities in this area.
Edmonston answered that there were several potential areas for recreation.
Bitler wanted to know the size of the pocket parks.
John Nock, with Nock Investments, replied that they would be approximately one tenth
of an acre.
Biendara asked how much acreage was around the pond.
Nock replied that there was roughly two acres.
Davis asked Coles what the cost of maintaining the land would be.
Coles said it is a relatively flat area. The greatest portion would be the natural area.
Davis asked if it would mainly be cutting grass.
Coles replied yes.
Hatfield said he would like us to keep the natural areas, even as the neighborhood
expands out.
Edmonston said a pavilion and a play area could possibly be put there.
Nock said for the greenspace, his company, at their own cost, would build a public alley
around the area with full public access. This would be a possible location for parking.
PRAB Motion: Burke motioned to accept the staff recommendation, and also the
alley with the additional parking. Davis seconded the motion. Motion passed by
voice vote 6-0-0.
5. Park Land Dedication Alison Jumper, Park Planner
Development Name: Bierscheune
Engineer: H2 Engineering.
Owner: Blind Squirrel in the Barn, LLC
Location: Intersection of Sycamore and Chestnut,
Northeast comer
Park District:
Units:
Total Acres:
Land Dedication Requirement:
Money in Lieu Requirement
Existing Parks:
Developer's Request:
Staff Recommendation:
Developer's Comments:
Justification:
NW
15 multi family units
Approximately 1. 12 acres
0.26 acres
$10,200
Gregory Park and Scull Creek Trail
Money in lieu
Money in lieu
The existing park and trail corridor in the
service area of this development will serve
the recreational needs of the residents. The
land requirement for this development does
not provide enough land for a neighborhood
park. Additionally, surrounding land is
already developed prohibiting future park
land in the area.
The only discussion was on the pronunciation of Bierscheune. It is pronounced
phonetically `Beershine".
PRAB Motion: Biendara motioned to accept the money in lieu. Davis seconded
it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote.
6. Red Oak Park Update: Carole Jones, Park Planner
Carole Jones, Park Planner, met with Mr. Evans and the plan was revised. Mr.
Evans presented the revised plan to the City Council at the Agenda Session on
September 25. This item will be considered at the October 2, 2007 Council
Meeting.
Jones said the residents in the neighborhood were still very cautious about the project,
even after Evans presented to them a revised plan.
Bitler wanted to know if Evans addressed the water in the retaining area.
Jones replied that he has not made a formal study of it.
Davidson wanted to know what type of reaction the residents had.
Jones replied that they still think the project is too drastic. We can't give them the exact
number of trees that will be taken out. It will go to Council. The number of trees that will
be taken out has been reduced from around seventy to around fifty-five.
Bitler asked if Parks and Recreation will do a presentation to Council.
Jones said no, because there is no new data. But she said it would be a good idea to be
present for questions.
Biendara said that some of the trees are barely hanging on. A big storm would take them
out. She said that the residents want what they had in the past, but that is not possible.
Hatfield queried if we had had an engineer look at the area.
Jones replied that Ron Petrie had looked at it in 2001, but a full blown investigation had
not been done. The Corps of Engineers denied the plan that Engineering did, but accepted
Evan's plan.
Edmonston said that she was not sure what a better answer to the problem would be.
Volunteer Project Policy Review: Connie Edmonston, Parks & Recreation
Director
This item was tabled at the September I O'h PRAB meeting. It was previous called
Scout Project Policy, but was changed to Volunteer Project Policy in order to be
inclusive of any project a volunteer organization may wish to assist. See attached
Volunteer Project Policy.
Bitler wanted to know if there was any reason Staff wouldn't approve any projects.
Edmonston said it would not be approved if it wasn't a complete project.
Davidson said he wanted the Parks and Recreational Staff to approve projects before the
PRAB board heard them.
Edmonston replied that Staff would make sure it was complete before the Board heard
them. Also, the volunteer would know before it was presented whether Staff approved it
or not.
Bitler wanted to make sure that even if Staff doesn't like a project, the volunteer will still
be able to present it to the Board.
Biendara echoed that thought. She wants them to be able to come before the Board, even
though Staff may not approve the idea.
Edmonston asked the Board to vote on this.
PRAB motion: Biendara motioned that if a project is not approved by Staff, it
can still be presented to the board. Davis seconded the motion. Motion passed 6-
0-0 by voice vote.
8. Regional Park Update: Connie Edmonston, Parks & Recreation Director
Edmonston stated that there will be a meeting tomorrow. It's moving along.
Bitler asked if it would happen reasonably soon.
Edmonston said she has not heard a date yet.
9. Other Business:
Walker Park Neighborhood Master Plan
Jumper said the charrette went very well. The residents came up with some good
ideas.
10. Adjournment: 6:50 p.m.
Minutes taken by Melanie Thomas
