Agenda - 08-04-1997 - 8j - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

e 18 e The proposed subdivision lies within the Chapel Hill District Park Service Area. The Recreation and Parks Advisory Council considered the applicant's proposal to dedicate recreation land at its March 4, 1997 meeting. It recommended payment-in-lieu because previous dedications in Durham Estates and Laurel Springs have already created a continuous greenway along the entire length of Morgan Creek from Dairyland Road to the southern boundary of the property. The calculated payment will be $10,920. The preliminary plan delineates a 100-meter wide(328 feet)wildlife corridor on the west side of Morgan Creek,encompassing from 1/3 to 2/3 of the area of each of the nine five-acre lots lying between Oxbow Crossing Road and the southwestern bank of Morgan Creek. The creek is a major link in the County's wildlife corridor network connecting three natural areas: Pickard Mountain to the northwest,nearby Calvander Bluff and Bottom just to the southeast,and McCauley's Mountain at University Lake farther to the southeast. The wildlife corridor would be protected from building construction,fences,and other physical obstructions,clearing of vegetation, and other activities which could inhibit its function as a wildlife habitat and corridor linking with other habitats identified in the 1988 Inventory of the Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats of Orange County. Hinkley noted that, in the Resolution of Approval, under E. Parkland,#2 should read: Open space to be shown on the Final Plat shall be in the form of easements for recreation/open space use by residents of the subdivision. With the one change in the Resolution,the Planning Staff recommends approval of the Preliminary Plan for Oxbow Crossing per the Resolution of Approval(an attachment to these minutes on pages ). Price asked if there would be jurisdictional problems with fire district designation. Hinkley responded that information received from the Fire Marshall did not address this concern. He stated that he would get further information from the Fire Marshall on this concern. Katz asked for clarification of the easement. John Hartley,developer, responded that the easement is a twenty foot trail easement along the creek accessible to the residents of the subdivision. Barrows asked about the creek being designated as a greenway. Collins responded that Morgan Creek was designated as a greenway on the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan which means that it is a public pedestrian and bicycle trail on the east side. On the side of this development, it is a private easement for the subdivision. MOTION: Katz moved approval as recommended by the Planning Staff. Seconded by Hoecke. VOTE: I 1 in favor. I abstained(Brooks-due to the fact that her firm will be marketing the property). AGENDA ITEM##9: ITEMS HEARD AT PUBLIC HEARING(5/27/97)