Important Update from Vic -Please read

On 7/28/08, I spoke with Vic Lebsock, Raleigh’s greenway planner, for additional details on the City of Raleigh’s attempt to work with NC Parks for improved access to Umstead. He stated that he had a second meeting with Don Reuter ofNC Parks and Recreation and several individuals in operations from Umstead. (He did not get the names of all in attendance, but thought one was Scott and another Kevin. I assume this was Scott Letchworth, but do not know.) While he initially thought there were potential solutions for Reedy Creek/Crabtree Creek after the first meeting, at the second meeting he was told that the Umstead Park Advisory Committee and Umstead Coalition were not in support of parking lots at the edge of park property. Their formal position is for the park to have interior parking with activities to radiate outward to allow the limited staff maximal control. They asked the city to look at putting in sidewalks and pedestrian paths along Ebenezer Church Road to allow people to get into the park easier. Mr Lebsock stated that Graylyn appears to be out of the question—partly because of the PAC’s stance and due to its designation as a State Nature and Historic Preserve requiring legislative intervention and that a solution forReedy Creek now involved NCSU. He does plan to see if potential sites can be located that are not immediately adjacent to the park. He seemed frustrated by the NC Parks refusal to look at alternatives and to examine their current policies for a solution--and thought only continued public pressure (on NC Parks) might help.

New district superintendent

We note in checking the NC Parks news releases that Erik Nygaard has just been named as the new North District Superintendent for State Parks (www.ncparks.gov/News/releases/release.php?id=111). If you see our post from 6/1/08, the new Umstead General Management Plan will be one of the first issues he addresses. While we are still lobbying for the active community, it will be critical to have your active support. We will provide information as we know about it. If you have information that would be helpful or we need to know, please share it.

VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE-PLEASE READ !!

Once upon a time there was easy neighborhood access via Graylyn to Umstead State Park. And then there was none. The Access Umstead Committee has finally obtained minutes from the PAC meeting held right after the "no parking" signs were posted on Graylyn and believe it is important for the public to know the discussions that took place by the PAC. You'll see that there was a plan for a parking lot off Graylyn and that it is no longer under consideration by PAC.

The most important information is in section 8 of the minutes, but, you should read the whole thing to draw your own conclusions.

Present:

WILLIAM B. UMSTEAD STATE PARK

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES

November 14, 2007

Committee

Nixon Alexander

Sammy Greenway

John Kramer

Joe Lugiano

JeffMann

Richard Moore

Bob Morris

Kris Smith

Jean Spooner

Scott Letchworth

Others

Billy Totten

I. Call to Order:

7:09 PM

2. Sign-in:

All members present signed in

3.

Approval of the Minutes:

October meeting minutes were approved as written.

4. Communications:

There were no communications.

5. Report of Chairman:

There was no report from the chairman.

6. Special Reports: Watch Dog

Trenton Road /1-40 -Trenton Point

Jean passed around a map of the Beazer Home site plan with 27 homes on 18.5 acres. There will be a 50' conservation easement at the rear of the property. There will be a 25' conservation easement along the sides of the property. Jean informed the PAC that the first draft didn't have the protective measures, but they are in the current plan.

Raleigh 20/30 Comprehensive Plan

Jean has reviewed the plan and there are no direct changes to the park.

Drinking Fountain

Jean reminded the P AC that there would be a water tap fee for the park to install the fountain. A suggestion at the Umstead Coalition meeting was to put the fountain along the greenway and have the city pay for it, but this was turned down since no other fountains are along the greenway.

The Mayor has asked the Umstead Coalition to go to the City Council

and ask them to waive the tap fee and install it in the park so it is accessible to all users.

Mr. Totten commented that there are issues with water fountains and their maintenance which would be the responsibility of the park staff. Superintendent Letchworth stated he would look into the installation and funding and get back to the PAC Stories in Stone.

Jean passed around a sample of the book for the PAC to see. She informed the PAC that the book will not be available for Christmas because a few changes still need to be made. There will be 2 versions of the fInished 300 page book. One version will have a spiral binding and the other will be a coffee table version with a sewn binding.

7. Staff Reports:

Superintendent Letchworth attended the Superintendents conference

Maintenance mechanics went to training

Ranger Kelley went to BLET

Maintenance mechanic position should be moving forward

Maintenance II position will be coming vacant soon

Walk for Hope -staff directed traffic

Arrested hunter in the park near industrial drive

Staff has completed equipment requests and major maintenance requests.

There is a possibility to provide staff extra salary increases to Rangers depending on where

they are in their salary grade.

8. Old Business:

Sammy informed the PAC that two weeks ago DOT placed no parking signs on Graylyn Drive. The following day DOT crews showed up and started to grade the road for paving. Sammy talked with Donald King and he stated that if we get some rain and it stays warm the road will be paved this fall, but more then likely it will be done this spring. The neighborhood is happy about with this turn of events, but the park users that parked along Graylyn are not. People are now parking at the graveyard and at the church and walking down Graylyn to use the park. The church is still towing cars that are parked in their parking lot. Over the weekend cars were illegally parked on Graylyn, and somebody on the street started calling and complaining to the Wake County Sheriff s department. Sammy talked to the officer that reported to the scene and stated that the enforcement will be important during this transition period.

Jean stated that many e-mails were sent addressing this new development and that they will be pushing elected officials to provide parking. She then asked if the PAC was still willing to put in a parking lot and pave Graylyn at the same time. Sammy responded that he was not willing to add the parking lot and stated that "DOT has taken a biting dog and made it lay down and we should keep that dog lying down."

Jean stated that for 17-20 years people have been parking along Graylyn drive and asked the PAC if they have a right to continue parking there as a neighborhood access. Mr. Totten informed the PAC that he defines a neighborhood access as an access site that is used by only the neighbors with housing units near it. Graylyn started that way but then became a vehicular parking access for people outside of the immediate neighborhood. He also informed the PAC that Betty has been receiving calls from people complaining about the parking issue and while talking with them they have told her that they did not know there was another trail head within the park that they could use.

Sammy commented that people are getting mad because they no longer have access to use the park during "off hours." Superintendent Letchworth agreed.

Jean stated that the need for additional parking maybe an opportunity to get a bigger lot for horse riders at the Sycamore day camp, and that the PAC may be able to use this situation to educate people on where they could park. She also commented that the neighborhood people are parking at the Graylyn gate because they cannot walk to the gate from their homes because of the lack of shoulders, heavy trucks, and speeding vehicles on Ebenezer Church Road. She continued by saying that we should encourage these people to actively get safe access along the roads to this neighborhood access. She also pointed out that since Graylyn will be paved they will need to use a LARGE sign at the curve of Ebenezer Church Road to keep cars from driving down the dead end road.

As discussions drifted off topic Jeff regrouped the PAC members and stated that we should think about what we should do for the park. He asked the PAC members to think about what would be in the best interest for the park and not just for the neighborhood. He also stated that if we do not have enforcement of the no parking areas then it will not be sustainable. Sammy agreed with Jeff and stated that enforcement is critical for the fIrst couple of months until the attitudes of the users have been changed. He also stated that a plan must be developed to consolidate enforcement will all parties (Wake County~ highway patrol, city of Raleigh, etc.) Jeff responded that the P AC will need to watch the enforcement of the no parking and then make a decision about the future parking options along Graylyn. Therefore, if the P AC knows that there is enforcement that we will do nothing, but if there is no enforcement the P A C will need to reconsider the parking lot. He also stated that visible presence is not enforcement and that the presence of officers will go away when there is a greater need for that officer .

Mr. Totten stated that the PACs decision to build a parking lot was premature and the idea was only in draft form. He stated that nothing definitive was decided during the past P AC meetings about the parking situation. It was a proposal for the parking issue and it was included in the General Management Plan (GMP). He informed the P AC that the GMP is only in draft form until it has been approved by the Director, the PAC, and the Secretary. Therefore the idea of the parking lot was only a recommendation and can be removed during the drafting process.

Joe stated that the entrances play a role in why people park and use the Graylyn gate: US- 70 entrance is not safe and this inhibits people from using this entrance. The I -40 entrance is easy to access but not very convenient for people on the North side of the park. Superintendent Letchworth responded that he is looking into adding a traffic light at the US- 70 entrance. Jean informed Superintendent Letchworth that Ed Johnson could address the traffic light option, but he is also looking at expanding US- 70, and that they would want a wide road with no lights on it. Therefore they may not be interested in adding a traffic light at our entrance. Jeff again refocused the P AC to the parking issue at hand, and asked if we should keep the parking issue in draft form. He asked the PAC if we should keep the parking option in draft form or if the P AC should pull it off the table for further discussions.

Superintendent Letchworth stated that it is a big issue to have satellite parking lots around the park and it causes staffing issues. As Raleigh grows, access to neighborhood access sites will also grow and additional parking will be demanded for each access point if the p AC sets this precedent. Superintendent Letchworth asked if the p AC thought the parking lot should be gated, and stated that if it was people that wanted to gain access to the park early would then park in the road.

Jeff asked Superintendent Letchworth to meet with the park staff and create a thoughtfully prepared staff report on the parking issues. Superintendent Letchworth responded that he has already met with the staff and they have created a list of concerns ranging from staffing issues, safety , and security. Richard asked if there was a need for additional parking lots or if the current lots were adequate. Superintendent Letchworth stated that the parking lots are not completely filled during the weekends; however the visitor center parking lot may fill up on high use days.

Jean reminded the PAC that in 1991 at the last GMP meeting lOOs of people came out and opposed a parking lot at Graylyn Drive. Joe responded that the neighborhood dynamics and characteristics have changed since then.

Mr. Totten had sent Martha Woods an e-mail asking her opinion on the parking at Graylyn. She responded that there is more than adequate parking in the other areas of the park. She also stated that the p AC thought about providing a parking lot at Graylyn because if the park prohibited all parking there then the public would cause such uproar. Therefore, the only internal solution was to create the parking lot and appease them. However, when the p AC was Jeff responded that the park, with assistance from the PAC members, will need to keep watch on this issue and see how the neighborhood responds. He asked Mr. Totten if there was any harm in keeping the parking lot, in draft form, in the GMP. Sammy immediately responded that there would be harm in leaving it in there. He stated that the sooner we remove the parking lot option from the GMP the safer the park will be. He then suggested that the park creates a map indicating how people would get from Graylyn to the existing parking locations.

Jean stated that since DOT has placed the no parking signs along Graylyn Drive she has changed her opinion and her original thinking and now believes that the PAC should not support the parking lot.

Superintendent Letchworth informed the PAC that the parking lot would fall under the major maintenance budget and there are currently numerous projects on that list. Mr. Totten stated that any project under $100,000 will not qualify as a CI project. If the parking lot was listed as a CI project and it is referenced in the current GMP then it would be scored and ranked among all CI projects. This ranking would then determine how soon it would be addressed. Jean asked Mr. Totten if the improvements at the Sycamore parking lot would compete with the Graylyn project if we proceeded with it, and if so would the PAC need to choose between the two projects. Mr. Totten responded that they may not specifically compete but they would compete for funding against all other major maintenance projects statewide. Jean then commented that the GMP should state proactively one way or the other on the Graylyn parking lot, and it could be dangerous if it was not addressed at all in the GMP. Jean then asked if the PAC should stay with this original recommendation or should it be changed. Jeff stated that the PAC rushed into a judgment several months ago when we made a decision to about the parking lot and we should not rush into a judgment again. He continued by saying that we should wait to make a decision and see if the law enforcement works, if visitation goes down, and see if the road is actua1ly paved.

Superintendent Letchworth responded that due to the volatility of the issue the PAC should make a motion one way or another on this project.

ACTION ITEMS

Jeff immediately made a motion to pull his previous recommendation on proceeding with the Graylyn Drive parking lot and bring it back for reconsideration. Bob Morris seconded the motion; 6 in favor, none opposed.

Jeff then made a motion to table the recommendation until the issue is given further review and all concerns have been examined. Joe Lugiano seconded the motion; 6 in favor, none opposed.

9. New Business

Jean stated that she has been asked questions about the park possibly opening earlier since it is daylight at times when the park is closed. Superintendent Letchworth commented that there have been proposals at meetings to adjust the times to match daylight savings time. However,staffing is still a concern and staff burnout is an issue. Jean immediately responded that Umstead State Park needs additional staff and then they could then be used to open the park during daylight hours. Mr. Totten commented that realistically requesting a new position would take 5 years to happen. He continued that the PAC should see some changes during the next year with operating hours at the park.

10. Questions, Comments, etc.:

Next meeting is on Wednesday, January 9,2008 at 7:00 pm.

II. Adjournment

9:42 pm

Minutes prepared by Kristopher Smith

We have additional information to share with you about the Graylyn issue. We apologize that we do not have it posted yet but we are a committee of folks in the active community that have time limitations due to work responsibilities or family responsibilities like yourselves. We have the meeting minutes from one of the Umstead Park Advisory Committee meetings in 11/07, after the closing of Graylyn Road. This information makes it clear why we are not being heard.

who to contact

If you need contact information on who to contact about your opinions on the elimination of safe and convenient access to Graylyn, here is a list of e-mails and phone numbers. Please know that we have already attempted contact to each of the individuals on this list earlier this year. If you will check our other posts, you will see that Represenative Weiss has actively helped by setting up a meeting with NCParks and NC DOT, and that Representative Ross and Weiss both generated discussion with these agencies. Representative Harrell has expressed interest but we have not yet made actual contact with him as yet.

-NC Parks and Recreation:
Don Reuter, Assistant Director Planning and Administration State Parks and Recreation
don.reuter@ncmail.net
715-7582

Scott Letchworth, Superintendent William Umstead State Park
scott.letchworth@ncmail.net
571-4171

-NCDOT
Wally Bowman, Division Engineer
WBowman@ncdot.gov
220-4600

Joey Hopkins, Deputy Division Engineer
jhopkins@ncdot.gov
220-4600

-NC Representatives Wake County Delegates:
Marilyn Avila
Marilyna@ncleg.net
733-5530

Dan Blue
Danb@ncleg.net
733-5530

Linda Coleman
Lindac@ncleg.net
733-5974

Nelson Dollar
Nelsond@ncleg.net
715-0795

Ty Harrell
Tyh@ncleg.net
733-5602

Grier Martin
Grierm@ncleg.net
733-5758

Deborah Ross
Deborahr@ncleg.net
733-5773

Paul Stam
Pauls@ncleg.net
733-2962


Jennifer Weiss
Jenniferw@ncleg.net
715-3010

petition

We wanted to inform you that while the petition is formally closed, we are still very much active and working on the cause. (We tried to take steps to keep it open but were unsuccessful. We believe we have enough signatures but still need actions.) We want to make it very clear that we are not simply trying to complain about any specific person or any specific agency on this blog. We are trying very hard to constructively resolve this problem and firmly believe that the active community needs to come together to help.

We personally know so very many of you--and we see with our own eyes how the park is teeming with activity on the trails at various times of the day. There is so much more activity on the trails than at the "official entrances." Sadly, because we are not registered on the widget traffic counter at the park's main entrance on Hwy 70 nor necessarily seen at the Harrison Ave parking area, the park staff is not always aware that we are there. They are understaffed and very busy with educational programs and the day users. However, it is critical that they know what we want and make sure we are counted. We have shared the petition with the Umstead Park Advisory Committee, the park superintendant (Scott Letchworth) and the assistant director of NC Parks and Recreation (Don Reuter) but do not believe that we are being heard.

We continue to need your support and assistance. You can help on one level by letting others in the active community know about our efforts. You can help on another level by letting NCDOT; Scott Letchworth and Don Reuter of NC Parks and Recreation; and your local elected officials your opinions about this issue. If you would like to be added to our e-mail, please let us know at access_umstead@yahoo.com and please keep checking the blog!

Graylyn

We spoke briefly with Vic Lebsock on 7/10/08. He stated that in his meeting with Don Reuter, assistant director of Planning and Administration with NC Parks and Recreation, a possible solution was discussed at the Reedy Creek and Crabtree Creek area but there were issues to work through. A solution for Graylyn is not in the near future. Mr Lebsock stated he would have more details in a week or so.