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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/06/07 CDC (2) PRESENT: GUESTS: MINUTES THE COLONY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PUBLIC HEARING MARCH 6TH 2007 Don Beckel - President Lisa Leary - Member Debby Short - Member Stephen Sohn - Member TeRan Lawrence - Member Andrea Porter - Member John Sanders - Vice President STAFF: Pam Nelson Keith Helms Kathy Neal ABSENT: Allen Harris Dennis Sims - Dunkin Sims & Stoffels, Inc. Tim MacAllister - Corp or Engineers 1. PUBLIC HEARING AND PRESENT A TION OF THE PRELIMINARY LAYOUT OF THE SHORELINE TRAIL - Don welcomed everyone to the public hearing and read the 4B Proposition that was passed by voters in 1998. Pam explained that the board hired a consultant, Dunkin Sims & Stoffels, Inc., to develop a city-wide Trail Master Plan. The plan was adopted by City Council in 2004. In the 2006 City Survey, the second most requested item was a shoreline trail. The shoreline trail will start at Ridgepointe Park and run along the shoreline to eventually connect to Hidden Cove Park. There is 23 miles of shoreline. The first phase of the trail will start at Ridgepointe Park and connect to Stewart Creek Park. The trail will have to be a natural surface trail. We are trying to build the trail around the 530 elevation. Pam reminded everyone that the design on display tonight is a preliminary design. We are here tonight to get input from the residents on the design of the trail. Dennis explained the trail design. The trail will be a natural surface trail. We have worked with the police and firemen regarding emergency access. There will be some low water crossings. A portion of the trail will be concrete. No construction documents have been made. Pam told everyone that we are working very closely with public safety departments about the development of the trail to make sure they have plenty of access points. We plan to supply them with some type of utility vehicle that will enable them to get to areas quickly. The geoweb material that will be used on the trail will reinforce the trail and will allow an ambulance or police car to drive on it. We have met with the Corp of Engineers on the preliminary layout of the trail and they have come out and walked the trail with us. David Terre - 3941 Teal Cove - He is President of the south side HOA in Stewart Peninsula. He thanked the board for having this meeting and giving residents the opportunity to voice their opinions. He said the HOA wants to be involved in the trail project and offered their cooperation. He thinks the trail project is a good project, but does have some concerns that have been expressed to him by residents - . Homeowner's privacy - trail will come too close to backyards · Hours of operation . Will there be skateboards and motorized scooters on the trail . Trash control . Fire hazards along the trail from trash . Parking . Alcohol usage along the trail . How will the trail be policed? . They don't want the trail to create risks Wayne Proctor - 5400 Merrell Lane - He is infavor of the trail project. He has been on many trails and has never seen anyone smoking or drinking while riding bikes or walking on a trail. He understands the resident's concerns, but the trail is going to be built on corp property and that can be used by anyone. Tony Seiler - 5961 Carroll Dr. - He supports the trail plan. He has some safety concerns - drop ojJs, leaves accumulating along the trail, areas to prevent short cuts, one way traffic option for walkers and bikers, and the trail should be able to accommodate heavy vehicles or pick-up trucks. Trail markers should be in 10 's of miles and there should be benches along the trail. He appreciates the comments made about the proximity of the trail to the homes. Chris Dillard - 3905 Teal Cove - He is against the trail running behind his house. He invested a good price for his home and feels he is owed his privacy. Prior to moving to his home, he contacted the Corp and was told he could not do anything to the property behind his house. There is a lot of shoreline to build the trail on without it coming up to his backyard. Jeff Lankford - 3909 Teal Cove - Against the trail. Has concerns about liability and privacy. The HOA has rules regardingfences. The residents have followed Corp rules and he is very surprised the Corp is doing this. He wants to know who will monitor all the activities on the trail - he thinks the homeowners will be forced to monitor all the activities. How will the homeowner's irrigation systems be affected? Cindy Atanosoff - 4009 Heron Cove Lane - She does not want the trail. Her home is the closest to the trail and she paid a premium price for her lake front home. Having the trail so close to the homes is an invitation for people to come into her home. There will be fire hazards along the trail. She wants the board to consider other options for the trail. Wayne Sueltz - He is president of The Colony Roadrunners. He is infavor of the trail. The trail will be something the City can be proud of There are no other options available to practice our sport. The Colony Roadrunners support the shoreline trail development. David Bayliss - 4001 Heron Cove Lane - Is in support of the Master Trail Plan. His concern is the narrow shoreline variance area. He presented an idea to run the trail through Scout Park, utilize it as a trail head, add some additional parking, and use the existing sidewalk. Doing this would not impact the homeowners along the narrow shoreline, and be a bigger asset to all the homes instead of a negative to certain homes. He wants the homeowners to work with the board to develop a plan. MaryAnn Hardy - 3947 Teal Cove - She lives in the narrow shoreline variance. There is a drainage ditch that runs between her property and dumps into the Corp of Engineers. It is a constant source of maintenance. There is a lot of trash, overgrowth of cat tails, and standing water. There is no lighting along the trail, the trail invites fire hazards, teenagers and vandalism. Fire hydrants should be put in. How will the homes that don't have fences be protected? She is infavor of the bicycle trail but does not think The Colony Police Dept. has the manpower to patrol the area. Pete Dagenais - 4009 Heron Cove - He is infavor of a bike trail as long as it is not behind his house. This trail will give people using Stewart Creek Park a direct path to his house. There are safety issues and he doesn't want people walking behind his house to look at it. He paid a lot of money for his privacy. He will not tolerate anyone crossing his property or getting close to his property in any way. There will be confrontations. He pays a lot of taxes to the City and he wants his privacy. He's not concerned about the gawkers. He's concerned for his family's safety as well as his neighbor's safety. There is already a lot of foot traffic around his home during the summer months and this trail willjust give people easier access to his home. The trail needs to go through Scout Park. The board was asked if they are familiar with or have seen the area of the trail being discussed tonight - they have not seen the area. Tatiana Lankford - 3909 Teal Cove Lane - She is disappointed that the board members have not seen the area being discussed tonight. One of her concerns is about liability issues if someone puts their hand thru a fence and gets bit by a dog. Pam introduced Tim MacAllister from the Corp of Engineers. He told everyone that you can't have private, exclusive use of Corp property. He has not seen the actual location of the trail, but is aware that Pam, Keith and Dennis have been working with the Corp while developing the trail plan. He explained some rules regarding Corp property. He also said he knew of some cities that have built trails along shorelines and have not had any problems such as those mentioned by the residents tonight. Pam informed everyone that the hours of operation have already been discussed with public safety. The hours will be from dusk to dawn and any activity after dark will not be allowed. We will probably get a City ordinance for this. The issue of homeowners being misinformed about their property from builders was also brought to the board's attention. Pam reminded everyone that the plan displayed tonight is a preliminary plan and assured the residents that their concerns will be taken into consideration. She also said that the staff will evaluate the North Colony option as well as the trail alignment behind the homes to determine how far down on Corp property we can go. We will research landscape screening to use a barrier or buffer to discourage people from going through your property. David Terre, HOA President, thanked Pam for inviting the residents to the meeting and listening to their concerns. The HOA wants to be involved in the development of the trail and again offered their assistance. Pam thanked the residents for coming to the meeting and voicing their concerns. They will be kept iriformed. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. ~~A# Kathy Neal, R cordmg Secretary -~z &~~() Don Beckel, President