Agenda - 09-18-2012 - 8a - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 In October 2009 DEAPR staff presented the proposed MST trail corridor to the BOCC and received feedback on a number of key decision points (Attachment 4), including where staff should focus initial efforts and when to collaborate with potential partners - OWASA and Town of Hillsborough. The Board directed staff to take the MST trail plan to three of its advisory boards (Intergovernmental Parks Work Group, Parks and Recreation Council, Commission for the Environment) for their consideration and recommendations. The BOCC asked DEAPR to meet with OWASA staff to discuss locating portions of the MST through OWASA's Cane Creek Reservoir lands. In December 2009 the OWASA Board of Directors offered its support of the project and directed OWASA staff to begin working with Orange County to identify a specific route for a trail through the OWASA property, provided there would be no compromise of water quality, no expenditure of OWASA funds, and that steps are taken to minimize any additional security risks associated with inviting hikers to use the property around the reservoir (Attachment 5). DEAPR staff reported back to the BOCC in April 2010. The Intergovernmental Parks Work Group recommended approval of the State's preferred MST trail corridor, but with the additional of three trail "links" from Chapel Hill and Carrboro to one of the proposed secondary (or "alternative") trail routes (Attachment 3). The Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough had also formerly endorsed the MST plan. On April 20, 2010 the Board adopted a resolution endorsing the State's preferred MST trail corridor through Orange County (Attachment 6). The adjoining counties (Alamance and Durham) had already endorsed the same plan through their jurisdictions and were working with the State Trails Program, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (FMST) and other partners to acquire land (and trail easements) and construct the trail. Since 2010 DEAPR staff has followed up on the direction from the BOCC, including many days of fieldwork to identify a suitable MST trail route through the County's Seven Mile Creek Preserve, through OWASA's Cane Creek Reservoir property, and other privately-owned lands where willing landowners authorized trail reconnaissance. In the Seven Mile Creek Preserve area, staff is collaborating with State Parks, FMST, and the Eno River Association on locating the trail route on County lands and through some adjacent properties. Negotiations are currently underway to extend the trail on three other properties. Staff has also met with Town of Hillsborough and State Parks staff to consider potential trail links between Occoneechee Mountain and Seven Mile Creek. In southwestern Orange County, staff is collaborating with OWASA and FMST on locating a viable trail route through the OWASA Cane Creek Reservoir lands. Over the past 18 months, the field team has walked the land, flagged potential routes, explored alternatives, and re-flagged some areas. In spring 2012 some neighboring landowners observed signs of the reconnaissance work and began asking questions. DEAPR staff responded to questions and met with individuals and neighborhood groups to explain the process of identifying a potential trail route. Some neighbors continue to object to a potential trail segment through the OWASA property. Other neighbors are supportive and some await further information resulting from the trail reconnaissance, the identification of trail access points, and the development of rules for trail oversight and