Going back to September 17, 2015, Town Council adopted a Resolution on to continue the Community Trail up to Phase III, which included Peach Street south, and portions of the entrance to Central Park. Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) reallocated $248K from other projects for projected Phase 2 shortfall in April 2016 and approved an additional $817K for FY 2017 in June 2016. The cost estimate for 60% design of Phase III is $731k.
Design has progressed to 60% stage, including 10’ trail on east side, 8’ on west side, 11 parallel parking spaces, parking median with pervious pavers; 18 diagonal spaces, standard trail light poles; 3 on each side and 4 on parking median, crape myrtles for each side and median, trees on both ends of median illuminated with low intensity up lights, connect to south side of Mason by rebuilding driveway apron and adding handicap access to existing sidewalk, improve south park entrance with pervious paver turn around and turf pave rea for vendor and user parking.
Below are the 60% progress plans:
As was mentioned, citizens pushed back on the initial design. Below are the comments collected by the town:
Dunnagan, 402 Randolph – Would like to have a narrow driveway from Peach to side yard for golf cart
access. Included in 60% design.
Grace, SW corner of Peach and Mason – Does not want a driveway from Peach to the undeveloped lot. Provided permission to use the lot as a construction staging area. Included in 60% design.
Harvey, 340 Randolph – Asked about the type of pervious surface in the parking median; suggested a higher ratio of grass vs. concrete. Impractical for a high use parking area. Requested an additional Crape Myrtle in the center of the parking median and another one near his driveway. First included in 60% design. Second to be included in 90% design. Requested a strip of grass between the parallel parking spaces and sidewalk on the west side. As a related matter, requested considering reducing the width (8’) of sidewalk on the west side. This can’t be accommodated due to the minimum sidewalk width required by the grant regulations, space required for sidewalks, parallel parking, and parking medians, as well as alignment with the median to the north.
Lajoie, 127 Peach – Expressed concerns about the width of the parallel parking spaces in comparison to north Peach. Those in the north Peach residential area are 7’ wide, the minimum VDOT standard. Those on south Peach will be 8’ wide to better serve the traffic expected in the commercial area.
Holloway, 403 Tazewell – Asked about the number and style of street lights. The 60% design plan includes 3 on each side of Peach, and 4 on each end of the parking median. They will be the same style as utilized in Phases 1 & 2 of the project. Provided the appropriate pages of the 60% design plan. Subsequently, clarified that 2 on each end of the parking median are intended to be low intensity up lights to illuminate the underside of the tree canopy. This was not specified on the 60% plans. Requested that the hollies to be planted in the middle of the parking median be replaced with benches. There are both advantages and disadvantages of that. Design consultant advises that it can be accommodated with appropriate concrete foundations and pedestrian access. Would result in more impervious surface and most likely result loss of two parking spaces. ROM cost of at least $10K. Will continue with current design. Requested that improvements be made to the east entrance (Plum St.) of the alley to the north of Tazewell, as planned improvements to the south entrance to Central Park will make it difficult to enter from that direction. Will propose capital project during FY 2019 budget development.
Sabo, via Parham, 402 Mason – Inquired about reconciling the width
Davis, 112 Peach – Expressed concern that a walk-through was not conducted for the residents. Explained that was associated with design options for the 100 and 200 blocks, which were subsequently removed from the project by the Town Council. Expressed concern about an additional public meeting. Explained that a Council Work Session is scheduled for May 3, 2018.
Expressed concern about the need to use pervious surface in the parking areas. Explained that pervious surface is necessary to help achieve compliance with storm water management regulations. Expressed concern about the number and style of lights planned. Explained that the number will be refined to provide adequate parking area illumination as the design progresses and that they will be dark sky compliant. Explained that the style matches Phases 1 and 2 of the trail project instead of the old ones on Mason Avenue, and that these would be replaced to match in the future. Subsequently, clarified that 2 on each end of the parking median are intended to be low intensity up lights to illuminate the underside of the tree canopy. This was not specified on the 60% plans.
Suppa, 112 Peach – Inquired whether the plans were available electronically. Provided the link to the page on the Town’s website, as well as the Gazette article of February 12, 2018. Expressed concern about an additional public meeting. Explained that a Council Work Session is scheduled for May 3, 2018. Expressed concern about the number of lights planned. Explained that the number will be refined to provide adequate parking area illumination as the design progresses and that they will be dark sky compliant. Subsequently, clarified that 2 on each end of the parking median are intended to be low intensity up lights to illuminate the underside of the tree canopy. This was not specified on the 60% plans. Will continue with current design.
Fehrer, 114 Peach – Expressed concern about the number of lights planned, but agreed that it was acceptable due to the commercial nature of the area. Explained that 2 on each end of the parking median are intended to be low intensity up lights to illuminate the underside of the tree canopy. This was not specified on the 60% plans. Expressed concern that the trees to be planted be of sufficient caliper. Provided information from the Plant Schedule, Sheet L-502, that they are specified as 2.5” caliper, 6-8” high. Expressed concern that turf grass not be used in the parking median. Provided information from the Plant Schedule, Sheet L-502, that a combination of fountain grass, liriope and hollies are specified. No turf grass will be used on the median.
Recommended that pervious concrete be used for the sidewalks. Indicated that was discussed with the designer, but there are concerns about ongoing maintenance requirements. Designer confirmed that pervious concrete requires periodic cleaning. Will continue with current design. Expressed concern that construction be completed in a timely manner.
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Hear we go again Building a Trail around Cape Charles ,When there is so much more urgent projects to be considered IE Toilets at the north end of the Beach Providing changing facilities for Mothers with Babies to change Diapers ETC also an Alarm System at the Toilet in Central park connected to the Police Station Plus a Beach patrol.
Hear we go again Building a Trail around Cape Charles ,When there is so much more urgent projects to be considered IE Toilets at the north end of the Beach Providing changing facilities for Mothers with Babies to change Diapers ETC also an Alarm System at the Toilet in Central park connected to the Police Station Plus a Beach patrol stop wasting Tax money on things that will never be used. .