Briar Creek Greenway – Randolph Rd. to Meadowbrook Rd.
Stakeholder Group Meeting Minutes
Mint Museum of Art (2730 Randolph Rd.)
January 12, 2009 @ 6:00
1. Welcome and Introductions: Greenway Planner Joe Mangum welcomed the
group and thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Joe introduced Julie
Clark, Division Director of Greenway Planning & Development and Jim Garges,
Park & Recreation Director. The group then went around the room to state their
name and their interest in the greenway project.
Stakeholders Present:
 Dick Winters, Greenway Advisory Council, County Safe Routes to School
Coordinator
 Roy Alexander, Greenway Advisory Council
 Sharon Wilson, Catawba Lands Conservancy
 Hank McKiernan, Mint Museum
 Andy Grzymski, Charlotte Department of Transportation
 Kirk Otey, Park & Recreation Commission
 Brian Conroy, Park Planner, Capital Planning Services
 Karla Thornhill, Park & Recreation Manager, Central Park District III
Staff:
 Jimmy Gordon, Project Manager, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water
Services
 Julie Clark, Division Director, Greenway Planning & Development
 Joe Mangum, Greenway Planner, Greenway Planning & Development
 James Garges, Director
2. Explanation of Stakeholder and Public Workshop Process: Roy Alexander
explained the stakeholder and public workshop process as defined in the
Greenway Master Plan.
3. Site Orientation: Julie handed out Greenway atlas maps and aerial photos of the
project area. Joe identified other projects in the 5 and 10 year plan in this vicinity.
Joe discussed the geographical setting of this section of Briar Creek as being in
the Eastover neighborhood, between Randolph Rd. and Meadowbrook Rd. Julie
and Joe identified the land uses surrounding the project area including Eastover
neighborhood, Eastover Park, the Mint Museum, medical offices, Eastover Ridge
apartments, and the Catawba Lands Conservancy (CLC) property.
4. Site Features and Relief Sewer: Joe and Julie addressed the topography and
physical features of the site including the flat floodplain, CLC wetlands, a berm
along Eastover Ridge apartments and park conditions. Julie discussed the
easements that have been obtained for the project through Eastover Ridge
apartments and the CLC property. Joe addressed the timeline and impact of the
relief sewer project.
5. Stream Restoration Project: Jimmy Gordon discussed the limits of the project
between Randolph Rd. and Providence Rd. and also the Museum Dr. tributary
relocation within Eastover Park. Jimmy stated that he plans to use the same
staging area currently occupied by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities’ contractor.
6. Greenway Trail Destinations and Location: Julie handed out the greenway
concept plans.
7. Concept Assessment: Julie asked the stakeholders to take the greenway concept
plan and use markers to pinpoint any opportunities (including connections, trail
surface, etc.) and concerns (parking, trail alignment, etc.). The stakeholders were
given several minutes to study and mark the concept plan.
8. Opportunity Identification: Julie asked the stakeholders to share the opportunities
they had identified, one by one. The following stakeholder comments were
recorded on a large notepad:
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Use the greenway to reconnect Eastover Park following the tributary
restoration. Meander the greenway further into the park.
Connect the greenway to the existing linear walkway and seating area
extending from the Mint Museum entrance.
Leave a “placeholder” at the southern greenway terminus at
Meadowbrook Rd. and across from Twiford Pl. to acknowledge
expectations for future trail development.
Connect the trail to Twiford Pl.
Continue conversations with Jim Griffith to get greenway access to
Eastover Ridge apartments.
Develop a loop trail within the CLC land.
Develop a spur trail to connect with Randolph Rd. Park.
Connect trail underneath Randolph Rd.
Connection underneath Randolph Rd. creates opportunity for joint-use
parking.
Develop an environmental education partnership with CLC.
Create an education station with kiosk, benches, and interpretative signage
at the Meadowbrook Rd. trailhead.
Develop education programs for invasive species.
Investigate potential neighborhood connections to Hungerford Pl.
Investigate right-of-ways and easements.
Add stormwater Best Management Practices within CLC property.
Study the opportunity for joint-use parking at the medical offices across
Briar Creek from Eastover Park. Investigate Eastover Ridge Dr. to
determine if it is a public road.
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Tie in trails under Randolph Rd. near the County Health Department and
Billingsley School to the primary greenway.
Create connection from Placid Pl. to Twiford Pl.
Cross over the tributary at Placid Pl. as part of this project.
Develop a creek crossing somewhere near Twiford Pl. to create
connectivity to the west wide of the creek.
Incorporate art along the trail. Explore a partnership with the Mint
Museum.
9. Constraint Identification: Julie asked the stakeholders to share the concerns they
had identified, one by one. The following stakeholder comments were recorded
on a large notepad:
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Increased access to the neighborhoods could be perceived in a negative
light.
Not enough parking for the greenway.
Pervious surface material would be preferred in certain locations,
particularly within the CLC property.
Lack of connectivity to the west side of the creek.
Lack of connectivity to the senior center and apartments.
Need for law enforcement on the greenway.
Overflow parking within Eastover Park should be maintained and signed.
Trailhead terminus at Meadowbrook Rd. feels like a dead end. Don’t
discourage a future extension.
Easement from Jim Griffith is still not recorded.
Make the connection to Twiford Pl. a condition of development of future
greenway to Providence Rd.
Lack of parking at Meadowbrook Rd. creates difficulty for handicap
access.
Lack of neighborhood involvement in stakeholder meeting.
10. Summary and Conclusion: Julie summarized the recurring comments from the
greenway concept exercise. Julie explained to the stakeholders that their input
will be incorporated into the design and that Roy will convey the results of this
stakeholder meeting at the public workshop, Monday, February 2 at 6:45 at the
Mint Museum. Julie and Joe thanked the stakeholders for their participation and
reminded them of the upcoming public workshop.