Agenda No. 6.
CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM
| City Council Meeting: | May 21, 2024 |
| Department: | Parks, Recreation & Community Servic |
| Subject: | Resolution 24-R-54 - Authorizing a trail easement agreement with Riata Land Association of Homeowners Inc for a segment of the Great Northern Trail. (S.Gonzalez/L.Shrum) |
BACKGROUND
The Great Northern Trail is a trail project that is planned to follow the high-line utility easement along Wiederstein Road and stretches approximately 8 miles from Schertz Parkway to the Cypress Point neighborhood in northern Schertz. The first and second section of this trail already exists in Forest Ridge Park and as part of the Schertz Pedestrian Routes & Bike Lanes Project that connects Schertz Parkway to Wiederstein to Forest Ridge Park. The next section of trail city staff is focusing on is the connection from the existing trails in the Belmont neighborhood to FM 1103 (near Cibolo Valley Baptist Church.) A trail easement agreement was completed with Cibolo Valley Baptist Church and the section on their property was completed in 2022. Staff is now working with the Riata Homeowner's Association to build a new section of the Great Northern Trail on HOA property. The HOA built a 3-foot wide asphalt loop several years ago and the asphalt has degraded significantly. The plans call for a new 10 foot-wide concrete path that is multi-use (hike, bike, run, roll) and that is ADA accessible. The new design takes into consideration proper drainage and maintains connections to the neighborhood streets, but also redesigns the access from the midpoint of the Fairlawn Avenue circle to the existing crosswalk at Winding Trail and the driveway of Sippel Elementary. Design is completed on this section and staff has prepared the easement agreement (attached.) Once the easement agreement is executed, construction could begin later this summer.
GOAL
The goal is to secure this trail easement agreement with the Riata Homeowner's Association in order to construct a segment of the Great Northern Trail across the easement.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT
The community will benefit by this trail easement agreement as it is a missing piece to the connectivity needed for the Great Northern Trail. Without this easement agreement there would be a significant gap in the trail system and further disconnect our northern residents.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve Resolution 24-R-54.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to this easement agreement. Construction of the trail will have a fiscal impact and that will be brought to council in a separate item. Trail funding is set aside for this project in the Bond Funds designated for Parks & Trail Projects in 2021 as well as dedicated Trail funds in the General Fund ($250,000 per year.)
RECOMMENDATION
Approve Resolution 24-R-54.