Consider Trail Connection between Bowers Drive and Riverstone South

Purpose:
Consider construction of a public trail connecting Bowers Drive to the Riverstone South development as part of the 2024 Bowers Drive pavement overlay project.
 
Background:
The City’s 2024 to 2033 Capital Improvement Plan includes project #21-STR-012, 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlays, which proposes pavement overlay improvements to various street segments in several neighborhoods including Bowers Drive.  Attached is the CIP project sheet for reference.
 
During project development Staff recalled previous City Council direction from their regular meeting on September 8, 2020, when they reviewed the sketch plan for Riverstone South.  During this meeting there was consensus among Council that the City should not pursue a paved connection between Bowers Drive and Riverstone South during the development process, but that the City maintain ownership of the outlots required to make a connection and should reconsider a paved connection when an opportunity presents itself to do so.  Considering that a paving contractor will be on site in 2024, Staff wanted to take this opportunity to ask the Public Works Committee for direction on this subject.  Attached is a copy of City Council case #11229, an attachment to that case showing the responses received from Bowers Drive residents to a survey asking whether they supported a public road connection (not a trail), and the approved meeting minutes.
 
If a trail is to be constructed, Staff recommends a 10-foot wide bituminous trail able to support all necessary maintenance equipment.  The length of the trail is estimated to be 760 feet, which would be constructed through two outlots and would connect Bowers Drive to the trail along the south side of Snowy Owl Street in Riverstone South. 
 
Attached is a copy of the Riverstone South plat, which shows Outlot F where the north half of the trail would be constructed.   
 
Also attached is a copy of the Pearson Place plat, which shows Outlot C where the south half of the trail would be constructed. 

N/A

Timeframe:
Staff anticipates up to 30 minutes will be required to present and discuss this case and respond to questions. 
 
Observations:
Vegetation in the outlots where a paved trail can be constructed have not been proactively maintained by the City to date.  The longer these outlots remain unimproved, the more costly it will become to construct improvements due to the increased costs required to clear volunteer trees and other vegetation that become established within these outlots.   
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1:
Motion to recommend further discussion of this topic with the full City Council at the next available work session.
 
Alternative #2:
Motion to recommend adding this trail connection to the plans for Improvement Project #24-07, 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements.

Alternative #3:
Do nothing.  Leave the Outlots unimproved and unmaintained.
 
Alternative #4:
Motion of other. 

Staff estimates the project costs to construct a 760-foot long by 10-foot wide bituminous trail at $60,000.  If gates or posts were to be installed to deter motorized vehicle access, project costs could increase by up to $10,000.
 
Staff recommends using Park Trust Funds to fund these improvements.  

Staff recommends constructing trail improvements between Bowers Drive and Riverstone South to allow Bowers Drive residents to more easily and safely access “The Hollow” park in Riverstone South, as well as the trails along Riverdale Drive and the Mississippi River Trail south of Highway 10.  Staff have received comments from several Bowers Drive residents that they would now appreciate a trail connection to the neighborhood park in Riverstone South, the trails along Riverdale Drive, and the Mississippi River Trail.   

Based on discussion.