Agenda - 10-03-2000-5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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27 Wilson Efland Subdivision Dedication of Corridor for Potential Future Linear Recreation "Pros and Cons'f Issue: Should the County require dedication of a strip of land along McGowan Creek floodplain from the developers of the Wilson Efland minor subdivision? Because land is being subdivided into two lots, the current land dedication requirement would yield a strip of land 10 feet X 218 feet. If the payment -in -lieu alternative were selected, payment - in -lieu of dedication would be $422. Proposed Method to Address Long -Term: Staff is working on a report for the November 1 BOCC meeting clarifying the process for acquisitions through development. This report will address the process for approval of dedication versus payment -in -lieu, amendments to clarify this section of the Subdivision Regulations, and a range or "menu" of possible priority areas where land dedication would be most appropriate. The findings of this report would then be incorporated into amendments to the Subdivision Regulations at a subsequent public hearing, as well as into next year's update to the Master Recreation and Parks Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Pro • Several major developments along the McGowan Creek corridor have the potential to create a linear park or wildlife corridor along the creek • Long -term linkages: This corridor could link public .spaces near McGowan Creek to the County's new McGowan Creek Preserve (and eventually, beyond that to Hillsborough's Riverwalk and Eno River State Park). Such a network would also connect to a long -term "Cane Creek to Eno River" Rustic Woodland Trail, which was identified in the Joint Master Recreation and Parks report. Finally, the potential exists for this corridor to be part of the new "Mountains -to -Sea Trail" State Park, which was adopted into the State Park system this legislative session. • The corridor could be reserved pending a future decision on how it would ultimately be used (wildlife corridor or future linear park) • The Efland area has been identified on existing land use maps as a transition area where development is anticipated and is occurring. • Efland will be a dramatically changing area in the next 10 -20 years, and may need this corridor - which is the only green corridor in the community. • If there is desire for a linear park in the future, land dedicated now and in the future by developments in this area could provide most of the linear park. If not acquired now, land for a linear park along McGowan Creek could be a very expensive (and difficult) purchase for a future board. • Concerns about future trails and crime /safety could be addressed through fencing of the linear park/wildlife corridor in areas of close proximity to private homes. (Our research to date does not support serious crime /safety problems along linear parks /public trails). • Dedication of the land for active recreation/passive recreation and open space is to address the recreation and open space needs of current and future residents. Future residents of a much - larger Efland may desire a linear park in the future.