HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-10 - MinutesCITY OF
a e evl IqY ARKANS
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
March 10, 2014 at 5:30 p.m.
City Administration Building, Room 111
113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
MINUTES
Members: Phillip Watson—Chair, John M. Paul- Vice -Chair, Wade Colwell, Richie Lamb, Terry
Lawson, Chuck Maxwell, Phillip McKnight, David Priest, David Proffitt
City Staff: Connie Edmonston, Director; Byron Humphry, Maintenance Superintendent; Alison
Jumper, Parks Planning Superintendent; Alan Spann, Recreation Superintendent; Melanie
Thomas, Senior Secretary
Call to Order: The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was
called to order by Phillip Watson at 5:31 pm.
2. In Attendance: Phillip Watson, John Paul, Wade Colwell, Richie Lamb, Terry Lawson,
Phillip McKnight and David Priest
Absent: David Proffitt and Chuck Maxwell
Staff: Connie Edmonston, Byron Humphry, Alison Jumper, Alan Spann, Melanie Thomas,
Matt Mihalevich
3. Approval of February 3, 2014 PRAB Meeting Minutes: McKnight motioned to accept
the minutes as written, and Lamb seconded. Watson abstained. Motion passed 5-0-1.
Colwell arrived after the vote.
4. BGSO Annual Report: Walt Eilers, BGSO Board President
Ron Cox was the representative for the Botanical Gardens. He said the gardens opened in
2007. They have many events, such as the green teams from all the schools that meet
annually, bridal events, an orchid show and sale, Little Sprouts, Earth Day, Red, White and
Blooms concert, Firefly Fling, and many others. They have installed a garden fence in the
past month. The inside of the building has been repainted, and the outside has been
stained. They are planning a garden that will be trendy, and will show families what they
can do at home.
Colwell asked if a master plan was available.
Cox said it should be presented next month.
Lamb told him thank you.
Priest wanted to know what the cost was to have programs for the students at the gardens.
Cox said the schools pay $4 per child per day, but it costs $7 per child per day.
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Watson asked what the progress was for the trail.
Cox said he didn't have that information available tonight.
Edmonston commented that their website looks great.
5. Trails Update: Matt Mihalevich, Trails Coordinator
Mihalevich did an update on several trails. He said Clear Creek Trail is almost finished.
The tunnel at MLK is progressing well. April 12 at 1 pm is a ribbon cutting for both of the
trails at the mall. The Tsa La Ghi trail is by Hill Place and needs lights installed at Stadium
Drive.
Paul asked what the decision was for the trail behind MLK.
Mihalevich said it won't have to cross MLK.
Colwell said it would be interesting to have a timeline to see when the money came in for
each trail, and how the trails come together.
Mihalevich said that it helps financially to have a nine man crew that exclusively works on
trails. When the trails are done, Parks and Recreation takes over for maintenance.
Edmonston said it financially helps developers to put a trail in.
Colwell asked if Clear Creek Trail in Johnson will have access to the trail off Gregg.
Mihalevich said it will have a trailhead.
Paul asked if Mihalevich had looked into the costs for a trail to Regional Park.
Mihalevich said yes. He said that Shiloh Trail will be very cost effective. Cato Springs Trail
looks pretty good also.
Paul commented that maybe PRAB can put together something about the Regional Park
and the two options for trails.
Watson asked Mihalevich to send the PRAB members a copy of the five year plan.
Lamb commented that when the City crews plow streets after a snow, the residue gets
pushed onto the sidewalk or the bike lane. He wanted to know who he could bring it up
with.
Mihalevich said he needed to call Terry Gulley.
Colwell said thank you to Mihalevich for all his hard work.
6. Review of Trail Ordinance Amendment: Alan Spann, Recreation Superintendent
Spann said that due to the increase in trail events, there was a need to update the trail
ordinance amendment. The existing ordinance just covers using ballfields. The proposal
covers ballfields, tournament, and special events. For trail event usage, it is proposed that
"Fayetteville trails remain open to the public, with the exception of annual approved events
operated by non-profit entities and/or events organized in conjunction with the City of
Fayetteville. Trails and park areas shall not be closed more than 4 hours at a time unless
approved by the Mayor or his/her designee. "
McKnight wanted to know if non -profits could close the trail.
Spann said no.
Priest asked if that was too limiting.
Spann replied that since the taxpayers pay for the trails, the trails need to be open to
them.
Watson commented that later on when there are more trails, maybe portions could be
closed for events.
Spann said that the trail ordinance will be looked at then.
Paul asked if similar language was used in other cities trail ordinances.
Spann said they really don't have anything except in their event forms.
Priest asked if this was only for people that want to close the trails.
Spann said it was also for people with events that were too large.
McKnight said he has a concern about the four hour limit. He said that in the future, that
may be a problem. He asked where in this ordinance it says anything about the size.
Spann says that information is on the special event form.
PRAB Motion: Lamb motioned to accept the Trail Ordinance Amendment, and McKnight
seconded. Motion passed 6-1-0 by voice vote, with Priest voting no.
7. Park Land Dedication: Alison Jumper. Park Plannina Superintendent
Development Name: Capstone Collegiate Properties
Engineer: CEI Engineering Associates, Inc.
Owner: Capstone Collegiate Communities, LLC
Location: Southeast corner of Wedington Drive and
540
Park Quadrant
Units:
Total Acres:
Land Dedication Requirement:
Money in Lieu Requirement
Existing Parks:
SW
167 multi -family
27.85 acres
2.34 acres
$93,520
Bryce Davis Park, Friendship Park, Hotz
Park, Lewis Soccer Complex, Village at
Developer's Request:
Staff Recommendation:
Estimated Annual Maintenance:
Justification:
Shiloh Land, Hamestring Creek Trail, Shiloh
Trail
Money -in -lieu
Money -in -lieu
N/A
The existing parks and connection trails in
the area will meet the recreational needs of
this development. Additionally, this student
housing development is providing approx. 4
acres of private greenspace for its
residents.
Jumper reviewed the information about the development. She said it is a 167 multi -family
unit development, and close to several parks. She said this student housing development
is providing approximately four acres of private greenspace for its residents.
Watson said he had a concern that the volume of people in the development would
overwhelm the small parks close to the development.
Jumper said both green space and money in lieu can't be required.
Colwell asked if the water retention area was used to determine green space.
Jumper said no, that is not considered.
Edmonston said that Harmony Pointe is a good example.
McKnight said that college students won't use parks too much. They will be too involved in
school activities.
Erin Rushing, the representative for CEI, said the housing would be cottages with parks in
the back. He said it's a new concept, and students take more pride in their area.
Lamb wanted to know what the zoning would be
Rushing said it would be PZD, but is currently AG. He said PRAB is the first step.
Lamb wanted to know if the PZD specified the number of units, so they can't be built on
the greenspace.
Jumper said yes.
Rushing said each cottage will have three to five bedrooms in them.
Lawson asked how many parking spaces were allotted.
Rushing said he can't remember the exact number.
Alan Long, one of the Ward 4 aldermen, said he sent this agenda to the people in his
ward. He said they are not in favor of this development. He asked to please not take the
money in lieu.
Paul asked if this company was doing lots of these developments.
Rushing said he wasn't sure. He said this was the first time he has worked with them.
Colwell asked how many bedrooms total would be in the development.
Rushing said around 800 bedrooms.
Watson asked if there were any more plans for parks in the area.
Edmonston said there may be one in the future.
Lamb asked if a decision had to be made tonight.
Edmonston said PRAB could take the time to walk the property, but it would hold the
developer up.
Watson said he wants to know how much greenspace there will be. He asked if the
developer could get back to PRAB.
Rushing said the deadline is next Wednesday for the PZD. If no decision is made tonight,
it will crowd the construction schedule.
Watson said he would like to see something with a more solid design. He added he is a
little leery of the way it is now, and PRAB shouldn't be either.
Long said he wanted to hear things that are more thought out. He added that he wasn't
concerned about the developer's schedule.
Jumper said that if PRAB makes a recommendation, the plan may change. PRAB may not
see it again.
Watson replied that was why he wanted to see something more solid. He said he wants to
fulfill his obligation to the community.
McKnight added that parkland that is added needs to be in consideration of property.
Watson said he would like to see the required greenspace, plus greenspace for a
community area.
Paul asked how far this will put the developer behind schedule.
Rushing said two to three weeks. The goal was to submit plans earlier than this, but
weather interfered.
Edmonston cautioned that the City attorney says no motions can have requirements for
the developer.
Lamb commented that continually taking money in lieu limits PRAB and Parks.
Paul said the only thing he has seen is student housing. He said that his personal
preference was that as long as they fulfill the greenspace requirement, it's ok.
Long said he had lots of comments from constituents. He said not many wanted the
development. He would like to see it tabled and scrutinized. He added he won't support it,
ever. He told PRAB to not worry about the construction schedule because that wasn't their
concern.
Rushing asked what PRAB wanted to see.
Watson said he wants to see the area that will be the viable greenspace.
PRAB Motion: Watson motioned to table the parkland dedication until the April PRAB
meeting in order to see an assurance of green space. Lamb seconded it. Motion passed 6-
1-0 by voice vote, with Lawson voting no.
8. Lake Sequoyah Land Conversion: Connie Edmonston. Parks & Recreation Director
Edmonston said the requested conversion is being done because the Highway
Department is going to replace the bridge on Highway 16. This will impact approximately
3.1 acres of Lake Sequoyah Park as needed for additional right of way. Of the
approximately 3.1 acres of property that will be needed for the additional right of way, only
0.37 acres lies within a protected boundary by the AR Parks and Tourism Department and
the National Park Service. Previously, the City banked .79 acres of the 4.5 acres of land
donated at Lake Fayetteville to complete the asphalt trail loop at Lake Fayetteville. The
remaining replacement land bank of 3.71 acres at Lake Fayetteville Park will satisfy the
requirement for this 0.37 land conversion, leaving a remaining balance of 3.34 acres of
replacement land. The City of Fayetteville requested that the remaining 3.34 acres of
replacement land at Lake Fayetteville be banked for future possible park land conversions
if needed. The conversion of the 0.37 acres would decrease the boundary of Lake
Sequoyah Park to 499.63 acres. This conversion has been approved by the Highway
Department and Mayor Jordan.
Colwell commented that he hoped there would be a viable access to the subdivision on
the east side of the bridge.
Lamb asked if the highway department was buying the land.
Edmonston said yes, and the money would go to the City. She said this conversion was a
good deal.
PRAB Motion: McKnight motioned to approve Lake Sequoyah land conversion, and
Colwell seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote.
9. Announcements
March 1
Youth Spring Soccer games begin
March 13
Adult Spring softball registration ends
March 16
Early Youth Softball registration ends
March 17
Late Youth Softball registration begins
March 31
Adult Softball Spring season begins
Other Business
Watson said that he went on the walk by Lake Fayetteville by the Botanical Gardens with
Connie Edmonston, Byron Humphry, Alison Jumper, and Matt Mihalevich. Phil Penny, who
does surveys, was leading the walk. Penney said that the area needs a wildlife corridor
from the north to the south. The wetland area needs boardwalks. He recommended at
least a 200 foot buffer zone from the shoreline for the wildlife. He said it's not good to
bottleneck the zone, because the wildlife will infringe on areas such as trails. Watson said
his personal recommendation was to get a study done for the best way to buffer the
animal zones, and keep the water quality good.
Edmonston said that it's necessary to know what the boundaries are for both the Parks
Department as well as the Botanical Gardens.
McKnight wanted to know what will be done with the existing trail. He said he thought the
study should expand the scope of impact around the whole thing.
Edmonston commented that Penny said the study will help determine the boundaries. It
will help determine whether moving the trail would be too big an impact.
Lamb asked if studies like this were done when Lake Fayetteville became a backup water
supply.
Edmonston said that they probably weren't done, since it was back in the 30's.
Lamb said he thought the study was a great idea.
PRAB Motion: Watson motioned to recommend having the study done to help the Park
staff make decisions about the boundaries. Motion passed 5-2-0, with Paul and McKnight
voting no.
Colwell said a Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have property by Gulley Park, and are looking to sell it.
It's approximately eleven acres. It has a shop building and a pond. It is the wish of the
Dunn's to have a soft trail around the property, which is appraised at around $1.3. Colwell
is trying to find a way to fund the purchase of the property for Gulley Park. He would like to
find someone to fund it, so the City could buy it when it was able. He said he has been
talking to a lot of people.
Lamb says almost every time he runs, he goes around that property. He said to keep in
mind that parks can be too big. He added that it would be hard to find a bank to support
that pricing.
Lawson said this would be the place to add property to Gulley, but he has reservations
about the price.
Colwell said the price includes the buildings on the property
Lamb asked where the money would come from.
Edmonston said that 2015 is the year for a Gulley Park project, and the money will come
from HMR. She asked if this property needed to be looked at.
Colwell said maybe a two million dollar bond issue could be done.
Edmonston said maybe a creative way to raise the money could be found.
McKnight suggested maybe a developer could buy it and bank it.
Colwell said that the couple is ready to put the property on the market. He wanted to know
if PRAB was interested, and who should be asked at the City.
Edmonston suggested the aldermen, the mayor, and Paul Becker.
PRAB Motion: Colwell motioned to have PRAB explore opportunities to purchase the
property, and Watson seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote.
10. Attachments
1. February 3, 2014 PRAB Meeting Minutes
2. BGSO Annual Report
3. Trail Ordinance Proposal
4. Capstone Collegiate Properties Development Item
5. HMR Report
11. Adjourn
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15.
12. Submitted by: Melanie Thomas