Minutes - 20091013 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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Although discussed in previous years, Orange County has not yet endorsed the State's planned MST trail route through the county. Toward that end, Staff has identified the following decision points for Board discussion and feedback: 1) Is the Board ready to endorse the general alignment of the planned MST corridor through Orange County? The State's preferred route was identified in 2007 following a two-year stakeholder process that included involving Orange County staff, OWASA staff, land trusts, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and the staff from neighboring jurisdictions. The two points where the MST would enter Orange County from its western and eastern boundaries have been endorsed by the neighboring jurisdictions. Durham County approved the route as part of its City-County Greenways Plan adopted in 2001. Alamance County approved of the route in 2006 as part of its adoption of the Haw River Trail. Both counties are now working with the NC Division of Parks and Recreation, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and other partners to establish the trail in those jurisdictions. Alamance County received a 2008 grant from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to acquire MST trail segments, and has been acquiring land and trail easements on private land at the rate of two miles per year. Durham County signed a memorandum of agreement with other partners in 2006 to complete the Falls Lake portion of the trail (46 miles). The Town of Hillsborough adopted a resolution in 2005 recommending that the selected route of the MST incorporate the Hillsborough Riverwalk from downtown Hillsborough to Occoneechee Mountain. Phase I of the trail was completed with the recent opening of Gold Park and Phase II is now underway with land acquisition for the rest of the trail completed earlier this year. Other jurisdictions have adopted resolutions to endorse or adopt the MST corridor and an example is provided here, for the Board's consideration for action at a future meeting (Attachment 5). If the Board approves the general MST trail corridor, Staff will incorporate the planned trail in the Orange County Comprehensive Plan, the existing Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and include it in an update to the County's parks master plan envisioned for 2010-2011. This action will enable the reservation or acquisition of trail corridor as future development occurs and as conservation opportunities arise along the planned MST route. 2) How should the County coordinate with OWASA on the MST trail alignment? The proposed MST trail would pass through lands owned and managed by Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA). OWASA staff participated in the stakeholder meetings held by State Parks in 2005-2007 to identify the best trail corridor. Since then ERCD has met twice with the OWASA staff to discuss the proposed route. OWASA staff prefers to wait until the BOCC has given its preliminary approval of the proposed trail route before taking it to the OWASA board for consideration and