Agenda - 02-16-2016 - 6-a - Minutes

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20 1 If a motion is being considered this evening for segment 11 of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail, which 2 would go through Bingham Township, the Thunder Mt. (TM), Mitchell Mt. (MM) communities in 3 the Cane Creek Watershed, I respectfully request a tabling of the motion. 4 5 The residents of TM and MM, the two communities in the township most impacted by such a 6 motion, did not know a motion was being considered, and did not have an opportunity to review 7 and discuss the motion. Just yesterday (January 21, 2016), Phil Duckwall and Brenda McCall 8 of MM and Christine and John Silva of TM became aware that a request to reconsider the Cane 9 Creek Watershed area has been initiated by a couple of individuals including one person who is 10 not even a resident of either TT or MM (a Mr. Green). This process was not done in a 11 democratic manner and was not open to TM and MM residents. 12 13 A few years ago a similar attempt to locate a Mountain-to-Sea Trail through the TM and MM 14 communities was vigorously opposed by the Citizens United to Protect the Cane Creek 15 Watershed and this group will once again vigorously oppose any attempt to run the trail through 16 the rural communities and the Cane Creek watershed. I am not opposed to the concept of the 17 Mountain-to-Sea Trail. I have personally hiked the Appalachian Trail from Northern Virginia to 18 Maine. 19 20 I propose that the Orange County Commissioners require the presentation of alternate trail 21 routes for segment 11 of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail that do not go through the TM and MM 22 communities. It is my understanding that one alternate option would allow Orange County the 23 immediate ability to put the Seven Mile Creek area (and points north and east) into service and 24 continue the Mountain-to-Sea Trail on its current route along 1-85. That brings immediate value 25 to Orange County residents and connects existing recreational areas and trails - including trails 26 into Hillsborough and to the Mountain-to-Sea statewide trail. I am sure other viable routes can 27 be determined that will be embraced by impacted residents or have minimal impact on sensitive 28 residential and watershed areas. Thank you. 29 30 Respectfully submitted, 31 John M. Silva 32 Thunder Mt. 33 35-year Orange County Resident 34 35 Christine Silva said she is a long-time Orange County resident, and she is opposed to 36 having the MST behind her neighborhood. She recognizes that there are people in her 37 neighborhood that do desire the trail, but she hopes all opinions will be respected. She 38 advocates for moving forward with the trail systems that already exist in Orange County, and 39 using potential MST funds for the many other needs that exist in Orange County. 40 Allan Green said he had sent a letter to Commissioner Dorosin in response to a 41 previous discussion regarding the MST. He said a group of local residents on Thunder Mt. met 42 to put together a plan for this section of the MST, but found out their plan is redundant in 43 comparison to the Department of Environment Agriculture Parks and Recreation's (DEAPR) 44 excellent plan. He asked them to support getting the master plan completed in the first half of 45 2016 and to being work on the trail by the end of 2016. 46 Allan Green referred to a document from Charles Gregory Smith at the November 47 meeting, which was a description of the support for the trail from some of the Thunder Mountain 48 residents. He noted that the five landowners closest to the proposed MST are in favor of it. 49 Kate Dixon is the Executive Director of the Friends of the MTS, and she appreciates the 50 Board's support for the plan. She reviewed the history and current status of the MTS.