Black Creek Greenway Realignment – Frequently Asked Questions

Background
In August of 2004, Town Council approved a citizen request to amend the Weston PDD for new residential housing on three parcels. One of those parcels is located adjacent to Lake Crabtree off Winstead Drive and Weston Parkway. This parcel was zoned O & I, or Office and Institutional. The rezoning request was for multi-family housing. The developer/property owner went through the rezoning process, which included two public hearings, two reviews of the project by the Town’s citizen Planning & Zoning Board, and a formal approval by Town Council. They also met with a number of homeowners and other groups, including the homeowner associations of Wessex and Weston Pointe. The site was approved for the development of approximately 350 apartments.

Why does the Black Creek Greenway need to be relocated as a result of the plans for the apartments?
The site where the development is to occur is adjacent to Lake Crabtree and is also where the existing Black Creek Greenway crosses over the site within an easement. The existing sewer/greenway easement is located approximately 120’ - 200’ into the site. This places the greenway right at the edge of the development. The current wooded area adjacent to the trail will be removed once construction begins. The greenway is being realigned to ensure that it has sufficient natural buffer along its edge. If the trail remained at its current location, a large retention pond and 6-10’ high retaining walls would be located along its edge for approximately 800’. The intent of the realignment is to maintain a positive greenway experience for users. In accomplishing this we must reduce water quality impacts by remaining outside of the 50’ riparian buffer of the lake and mitigate the loss of trees to the extent possible. Since the realignment is a condition of the rezoning, we also want to take this opportunity to make some improvements to the trail and its amenities.

Describe the particular aspects of the realignment?
The realigned segment is approximately 1500’ in length. From the southern end the realignment begins 1000’ north of the Weston Parkway Bridge that spans the greenway or more specifically just prior to the last foot bridge on the Black Creek Greenway. By realigning the trail at this point, it smoothes it out by removing a “dogleg” that exists just prior to the foot bridge. The remainder of the realignment is a function of the location of the buffers along the shoreline, the side slope along the eastern side of the realigned trail, and existing vegetation. The alignment was chosen to remain out of “Zone 2” (See next question for a description of the buffer zones) of the riparian buffer as well as avoid existing vegetation to the greatest extent possible. At the point of the overlook, the trail will be aligned at an elevation that is only two feet lower than the current elevation of the overlook. The overlook itself will be redesigned and more than doubled in size. Just past the overlook headed north, the trail will parallel the shoreline and link with the northern segment of the Black Creek Greenway. The realignment at this northern segment will also soften and smooth out the trail as it parallels the Lake Crabtree shoreline. Lastly, this realigned segment of greenway trail will be widened from 8' to 10' to meet current town standards.

How was the realignment of the trail chosen?
The realignment was a result of a series of meetings by Town staff and citizen members of the Greenway Committee and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board, who actually “flagged” the alignment themselves and made other suggestions which have been incorporated by the developer.

How much of the existing vegetation will be removed as a result of the realignment?
A tree survey was completed through the proposed area of the realignment, and it is estimated that 25 - 30 trees will be removed as a result of the realignment. (The total number of trees along the project area is estimated at 200 or more.) The developers will replant along the realigned corridor to replace the trees that are removed.

What is the impact to the buffers along the Lake Crabtree shoreline?
On Dec. 9, 1999, the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission adopted rules to protect 50-foot wide riparian, or waterside, buffers along waterways in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basins. Lake Crabtree is within the Neuse Basin. The main rule, referred to as the buffer protection rule, requires that up to 50 feet of riparian buffer be protected and maintained on the banks of waterways in the basin. Specifically, these buffers are divided into two zones. The first 30 feet (Zone 1) of the buffer is to remain essentially undisturbed. The next 20 feet (Zone 2) is to be vegetated but certain uses are allowed. One of these uses is greenways. Despite this allowance, the proposed realignment is outside Zones 1 & 2 of the buffers adjacent to Lake Crabtree.

How will the proposed trail be affected by flooding since it will be at a lower elevation and closer to the lake?
The Town of Cary constructs trails because we want citizens to enjoy them. We have tried to address the relocation of the trail from an overall impact point of view rather than looking at only one factor apart from the others. In looking at flooding, disturbance of existing vegetation, wetlands, a varied trail experience for the user, etc., we have arrived at what we think is the optimum location for the relocated trail. That being said, part of this analysis looked at the probabilities of flooding for both the existing trail and the relocated trail. Two things are certain: One, the relocated trail will flood less than the existing trail located just north and south of this site; and two, the relocated trail will flood more frequently than the existing trail within the site because it is at a lower elevation. The impact of flooding will not render the trail unusable any more often than it is currently since the area to the north and the south flood first. We have undertaken a more detailed analysis to put these two points into perspective by looking at the 2, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500-year storm events. The trail section just north of the relocation floods during a 2-year event (this means every year there is a 50% likelihood of flooding) and during any storm greater than this. The trail section just south of the relocation floods during a 10-year event (each year there is a 10% likelihood of flooding) and during any storm event greater than this. Other than the point where the relocated trail ties into the existing trail to the south, the proposed trail section does not flood until you reach a 50-year storm event (with a 2% likelihood during any one year). Raising the trail one more foot in elevation will reduce the likelihood of flooding from 2% to 1% during any given year but takes out more existing trees along the trails edge. We determined this additional impact outweighed the benefit.

Will the developer replant the existing greenway corridor after it has been removed?
Yes and no. Since the Town requires sewer easements must remain cleared, the developer cannot replant in any area of the existing trail where the trail was located within the sewer easement. However, the developer will plant along the walls of development and along any remaining pockets outside of the existing sewer easement to re-naturalize this area to the extent possible and limit views of the development from the newly aligned trail.

What is the proposed time frame for the project?
The goal is to construct the trail prior to construction of the development so that there will not be a gap in the trail that prevents access into and from Lake Crabtree Park. Staff will gather the public input and make a realignment recommendation for Council consideration at their April 20 Planning and Development Committee. The P&D Committee recommendation will be forwarded to the April 28 Town Council meeting. It is anticipated that construction of the trail would occur late spring of 2005 and construction of the development would begin this summer.

Will the existing trail be closed for construction?
No. The new trail will be constructed prior to taking the old trail off line so as to prevent any impact to current trail use. The greenway trail will remain open to the public at all times.

What is the trail realignment costing the taxpayers?
None. The developer will pay all costs to design and build the relocated trail and overlook, including the improvements.

Will the proposed development be visible from the relocated trail?
Probably, somewhat. However, the existing trees and vegetation plus the difference in elevation and the new plantings will minimize any views of the proposed development from the relocated trail.

What will be the impact to the overlook?
The overlook will be redesigned to be a signature feature of the greenway. It will be at least double in size. The overlook will be relocated approximately 20 feet closer to the shoreline but will have a “finished floor elevation” which is only 2’ lower than its current elevation.

Is the tight turn adjacent to the lake being addressed at the north end of the property?
The tight turn will be addressed as part of a “Phase 2” of the project. A permit from the state will be required to move the trail further away from the lake. This turn will be addressed and the relocation will meet the requirements that the state has for relocating the trail further away from the lake.

Are there health issues for people or pets related to relocating the trail due to PCBs?
No, not according to the official information available thus far. Health risks have been noted for some fish in the lake and for those who consume those fish under certain circumstances.

In mid-May 2004 fish consumption advisory was put into effect for Lake Crabtree County Park. This information can be found on their website at http://www.wakegov.com/county/parks/lakecrabtree/Fishing.htm. It states that “Catch/Release, boating and contact with the water pose no health risks and are not affected by the advisory.” We are confirming this with State health officials. The Town of Cary is committed to protecting the environment and ensuring public health and safety.