Orange County NC Website
Kim Livingston also said there has been a desire to connect Hillsborough to Chapel Hill through a multi -modal trail <br />and Orange County staff has been directed by the Orange County Board of Commissioners to work on that but <br />county staff sees that as a project separate from the Mountains -to -Sea Trail. <br />Kim Livingston reviewed that for Segment 11, Dimmocks Mill Road was identified as the best way to get over <br />Interstate 40. The trail is expected to follow the road in places where it is proving difficult to get landowners to agree <br />to grant an easement or sell land for the Mountains -to -Sea Trail. The adopted route is the proposed route, but things <br />change. Orange County only works with landowners who are willing to sell land or donate an easement for the trail. <br />Those working to create the trail know the proposed route will shift to get this complete. In the interim, there will be <br />road routes. The Cane Creek area is ready for trailblazing but there is a memorandum of understanding with Orange <br />Water and Sewer Authority that allows Orange County to put the trail on OWASA land with some conditions. <br />Kim Livingston would like to focus her efforts now on connecting Occoneechee Mountain to Seven Mile Creek <br />Preserve. That trail would cross the property of three landowners. <br />Ed Vaughn said he is surprised some homeowners do not want the trail to be near them. <br />Kim Livingston said a lot of the concern expressed is fear of crime. A brief discussion followed that cars get broken <br />into when people park to use trails. Kim Livingston said the Orange County Sheriff's Office has advised that any <br />parking lots be visible from main roads. <br />Ted Triebel asked whether several landowners are concerned about their loose dogs running on the trail if they were <br />to grant an easement or sell property for the trail. Kim Livingston said she has heard that concern but only from one <br />property owner. <br />Ted Triebel asked what the OWASA conditions are. Kim Livingston answered that one condition is that the county <br />cannot build the section on OWASA property until there is a clear connection completed. So, either the county has to <br />convince OWASA that there is connecting trail via Saxapahaw - Bethlehem Church Road or the county has to <br />complete the trail all the way from Seven Mile Nature Preserve to the reservoir. <br />Kim Livingston said another condition is that if trail is going on OWASA property less than 50 feet from adjacent <br />property owners, the neighbor has to agree to the placement of the trail as well. There is a narrow section that will be <br />close to neighboring property. <br />Ted Triebel asked Kim Livingston for her prognosis. <br />Kim Livingston said the trail is doable. She thinks what is doable in the next three years is connecting Occoneechee <br />Mountain to Seven Mile Creek and building the trail in the Cane Creek Reservoir area. <br />Kim Livingston said the connections through the middle of Segment 11 are likely to take 10 years or longer. In the <br />meantime, there will be a road route. <br />Alex Castro said OWASA's park is only open two days a week. Kim Livingston answered that is only the portion near <br />the dam and the reservoir. The trail will be well away from both and so available every day. She added that none of <br />OWASA's conditions are unreasonable. <br />David Laudicina asked Kim Livingston if she has thought of noting old mills and dams and other historical markers. <br />Kim Livingston answered that Orange County Cultural Resources Coordinator Peter Sandbeck is aware of all those <br />places and that is a great suggestion. <br />Jenn Sykes said she did not think Riverwalk and Occoneechee Mountain had been officially connected yet. Kim <br />Livingston said the land has been acquired. She doesn't know that the trail is complete. <br />Alyson West said Chapel Hill's greenway master plan includes a Millhouse Road connection to Hillsborough. <br />S <br />