Briar Creek Greenway – Randolph Rd. to Meadowbrook Rd.
Stakeholder Group Meeting #2
Minutes
Mint Museum of Art (2730 Randolph Rd.)
April 29, 2009 6:00 pm
1. Welcome and Introductions: Greenway Planning & Development Division
Director Julie Clark welcomed the group and thanked everyone for attending the
meeting. Julie introduced the staff present at the meeting: Joe Mangum,
Greenway Planner and Jimmy Gordon, Project Manager with CharlotteMecklenburg Stormwater Services. The group then went around the room to state
their name and the organization they represent.
Stakeholders Present:
 Hank McKiernan, Mint Museum
 Dick Winters, Greenway Advisory Council, County Safe Routes to School
Coordinator
 Michael Murphy, Wendover Hills resident
 John Fortson, Eastover resident
 Cindy Woodlief, Eastover Residents Association
 Emily Moore, Eastover resident
 David White, Wendover Hills resident
 Bo Proctor, Eastover resident, bicycle proponent
Staff:
 Julie Clark, Division Director, Greenway Planning & Development
 Joe Mangum, Greenway Planner, Greenway Planning & Development
 Jimmy Gordon, Project Manager, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Stormwater
Services
2. Greenway Master Plan Area Map: Julie identified the section of Briar Creek
Greenway that is being designed today between Randolph Rd. and Meadowbrook
Rd. She also identified the timing of development for other sections of Briar
Creek Greenway and whether they are in the five year, ten year, or future (beyond
10 year) development plans.
3. Aerial Photo: Julie then used an aerial photo to focus on the project area. She
pointed out the limits of the project between Randolph Rd. and Meadowbrook Rd.
and identified the major land uses surrounding the project area including Eastover
neighborhood, Wendover Hills neighborhood, Eastover Park, the Mint Museum,
medical offices, Eastover Ridge apartments, and the Catawba Lands Conservancy
(CLC) property.
4. Project History: Greenway Planner Joe Mangum summarized the previous public
meetings regarding this project including the first stakeholder meeting and
community workshop as well as presentations made to the Eastover Residents
Association and their Board.
5. Review of Identified Opportunities and Concerns – Natural Resources: Joe
Mangum reviewed the major issues that had been raised at previous meetings
regarding the natural environment. He also explained how these issues had been
addressed. Environmental education opportunities in the form of signage, kiosks,
and programming were recommended to recognize the CLC and the unique
wildlife on their property. The Park and Recreation Department will continue
working with CLC to develop the signage and kiosks. Programming by either
CLC or Park and Recreation will be explored post-construction. One concern that
had been raised was the impact of greenway trail construction to wildlife.
According to Park and Recreation staff experts as well as CLC staff, construction
impact is minimal. The greenway program allows the County to purchase and
protect large contiguous floodplain properties which effectively protects these
habitats.
6. Review of Identified Opportunities and Concerns – Greenway Design: Joe
addressed the major design changes that had been suggested during previous
meetings. A connection from the existing Mint Museum walkway (adjacent to
the parking lot) to the greenway will be provided. Support for and against a
bridge over Briar Creek to Twiford Pl. was voiced in the first stakeholder meeting
and community workshop. Due to neighborhood sentiment and budget
constraints, no bridge will be constructed to Twiford Pl. as part of this project. A
loop trail within CLC property will not be built as part of this project because of
easement constraints and CLC’s desire to minimize impact to the natural
environment on its property. A non-asphalt or concrete surface was requested by
CLC and recommended in Eastover Park to avoid dispute over deed restrictions
associated with the park. Park and Recreation is exploring different surfaces that
feature a more natural appearance. Pit gravel, such as is used on McAlpine Creek
Greenway, is one possibility.
7. Review of Identified Opportunities and Concerns – Neighborhood and Crime:
Joe explained that he had received communication both in support of and against
the greenway. One of the concerns heard from the community is that the
greenway would increase access to and traffic within the neighborhood. While
the trail will provide a separate pedestrian and bicycle entrance to the community,
vehicular traffic attributed to the greenway should be minimal. Patrons looking to
use the greenway will be directed to park at the Mint Museum in Eastover Park.
Crime and the need for law enforcement were also identified in previous
meetings. Joe explained the role of Park Watch staff on greenways and their
close relationship with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. Another concern had been
the lack of involvement from surrounding neighborhoods in the first stakeholder
meeting. Following the first community workshop, staff identified the correct
Eastover Residents Association (ERA) board members and provided information
about the greenway for distribution to the neighborhood. Park and Recreation
staff presented both to the ERA and their board. Staff also reached out to the
Wendover Hills community and sought to involve them in the planning of the
greenway. Residents of both the Eastover and Wendover Hills were invited to
attend the second stakeholder meeting and provide comments to inform the
planning and design process.
8. Review of Identified Opportunities and Concerns – Stream Restoration: Jimmy
Gordon, Project Manager for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services gave
an overview of the stream restoration project on Briar Creek and the Museum
Drive tributary. One concern from the first stakeholder meeting was that the
tributary restoration would separate two sides of Eastover Park. Joe informed the
stakeholders that a bridge would connect the two sides of the tributary. Jimmy
also explained that there were no plans for a restoration of the Placid Pl. tributary
as was suggested in a previous meeting. Another concern centered on increased
flooding as a result of greenway development. Jimmy explained that the tributary
work should help reduce flooding along Museum Drive in minor storm events.
Joe explained that in order for Park and Recreation to receive a permit to allow
construction, they had to prove that the greenway would not cause a rise in flood
levels.
9. Review of Identified Opportunities and Concerns – Other: Miscellaneous
comments from previous meetings included concerns about parking, land
condemnation, and artwork. Joe described the use of the proposed greenway as
being primarily a neighborhood amenity and that visitors from other parts of city
would be directed to use the Mint Museum parking lot. Parking along Museum
Drive is a problem that needs to be addressed with the Charlotte Department of
Transportation. Joe explained that, although the County has condemnation as a
tool for land acquisition, it is used as an absolute last resort. In some cases where
it is not feasible for a greenway to continue alongside the creek the greenway is
routed using the existing street and sidewalk network. While artwork along the
greenway at Eastover Park and the Mint Museum might seem like a natural fit,
the deed restrictions associated with the property limit the type of artwork that
could be located within the Park. Park and Recreation would be happy to explore
a partnership with the Mint Museum if they were interested in using the greenway
through the park for art exhibits, but the exhibit would need to conform to the
deed restrictions associated with Eastover Park.
10. Revised Concept Plan: Joe presented the revised concept plan that featured
essentially the same trail alignment as the previous plan, but with a pit gravel
surface. Although this surface type is shown, Park and Recreation is still
researching other similar trail surface types. Another difference in the concept
plan is the extension of the museum walkway to the greenway.
11. Museum Drive Tributary Restoration: Joe and Jimmy described how this
tributary through Eastover Park would be restored to a meandering stream. The
tributary is currently piped through the park. Opening the tributary will allow it
return to a more natural state that could support wildlife, help with water quality,
and increase the ability of the stream to better handle water during some flood
events.
12. Project Schedule: Joe highlighted the important upcoming dates for the project
including the second community workshop on Monday, May 11 at Chantilly
Montessori School. The stakeholder group discussed holding a walkthrough of
Little Sugar Creek Greenway along Westfield Dr. to offer interested persons an
opportunity to see what an existing greenway looks like and a chance to speak to
nearby residents about their experience with the greenway before and after
construction. Joe stated that Park and Recreation and Storm Water Services hope
to finish design and submit for permits by July 2009. Due to the County’s
financial situation, construction of both the trail and stream restoration are on hold
indefinitely.
13. Additional Opportunity and Constraint Identification: Joe and Julie then
requested any additional comments for inclusion in the meeting minutes. The
following stakeholder comments were recorded:
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Prefer a hard surface like asphalt to provide better use for road bikes and
bike commuters.
Concerns about safety and crime that could be introduced to Eastover by a
bridge over Briar Creek.
Provide parking on Placid Place properties (owned by County) near the
Meadowbrook Road trailhead.
Connect the trail underneath Randolph Road as part of the current project.
14. Summary and Conclusion: Julie and Joe acknowledged that the stakeholders’
comments would be considered as design progresses. Regarding trail surface, the
County will continue to explore surface types that were more aesthetically
pleasing, potentially more permeable, and would accommodate bicycle
commuters. Julie thanked the stakeholders for their participation in the meeting
and encouraged them to attend the upcoming community workshop on May 11.