TOWN OF DUCK

MUNICIPAL PROPERTY MASTER PLAN STUDY COMMITTEE

REGULAR MEETING

July 12, 2004

 

The Municipal Property Master Plan Study Committee for the Town of Duck convened at the Duck Municipal Offices at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 12, 2004.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Chairman Paul Keller, Avery Harrison, Bob Fitchett, Jennifer Gilbreath,  Charlie Pratt, Town Manager and Town Clerk Christopher Layton and VHB Consultant Chris Dewitt.

 

MEMBERS ABSENT: Donna Black and Ed Sowinski.

 

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Chairman Keller asked the Committee to review the minutes of the June 14, 2004 meeting for changes.  Charlie Pratt moved to approve the minutes as presented.  Bob Fitchett seconded the motion.

 

Motion approved 5-0.

 

ISSUES RELATED TO MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT

 

Report on Presentation to Town Council

 

Chairman Keller stated the presentation went well.  He stated that the Willow Swamp and Maritime Deciduous Forest were the highlights of the presentation.  He stated a new set of dates have been laid out and that he would discuss them with the Committee.

 

Bob Fitchett commended Chairman Keller on the fine job of his presentation.  Charlie Pratt agreed.  Mr. Fitchett stated that people were genuinely interested. 

 

Chairman Keller reviewed the new set of dates with the Committee.  He stated the Needs Assessment and Vision Statement would be discussed in depth later in the meeting.  He proposed that a revised Needs Assessment and Vision Statement be available for the next Council meeting.  Town Manager Layton agreed. Chairman Keller suggested that the initial conceptual drawings be available for the September Council meeting.

 

Chairman Keller asked Town Manager Layton to review the action items for the month of June.  Town Manager Layton stated that all the items have been taken care of with the exception of Item 1.  Chairman Keller reminded the Committee to continue to give Deputy Town Clerk Kopec their volunteer hours.

 

Charlie Pratt asked Bob Fitchett is he is still mowing the lawn at the property.  Mr. Fitchett stated the new Duck Trail contractor is taking care of the grass now.  Chairman Keller praised Coinjock Farms on the work they have been doing on the Duck Trail.

 

Discussion of Draft Needs Assessment and Vision Statement

 

Chairman Keller thanked Chris Dewitt for providing the Committee with the draft Needs Assessment and Vision Statement.  He stated it will help the public see what the goals are for the property.   Town Manager Layton suggested to the Committee that they review the document section by section, having Chris Dewitt explain each section.  He encouraged the Committee to ask questions as well.

 

Chris Dewitt went on to review the draft Needs Assessment and Vision Statement with the Committee, starting with the initial questionnaire.

 

Chairman Keller asked if the responses are just questionnaire responses and not ad hoc items that have come in outside of the questionnaire.  Mr. Dewitt stated he would check into it.  Chairman Keller stated he would hope that Mr. Dewitt had included emails and comments from meetings.  Mr. Dewitt stated he would check on it.  Bob Fitchett stated he had accounted for 172 questionnaires.  He stated it includes letters as well as other correspondence that has come in.

 

Charlie Pratt asked if the suggested uses are in order of the most popular suggestions.  Mr. Dewitt stated they weren’t.  Chairman Keller suggested it be stated that the uses are not in order of importance.  Mr. Dewitt suggested it state that the suggested uses are not in any particular order.  The Committee agreed.  Town Manager Layton suggested an appendix with all of the suggested uses.  Chairman Keller agreed. 

 

Avery Harrison asked if “light refreshment stands” meant actual vendors or vending machines.  Chris Dewitt stated it could be either one.

 

Chairman Keller suggested taking “boat” out and leaving it as “launching facilities for canoeing and kayaking”.  Town Manager Layton pointed out that people have asked to have a boat launch on the property. 

 

Jennifer Gilbreath suggested putting in an outline in the appendix of the raw data.  Avery Harrison asked if all of the suggestions should be included in the appendix.  Town Manager Layton felt it should, but that it could be broken down by the most popular uses.  Charlie Pratt suggested striking the short list of uses.  Chairman Keller felt the short list should remain.  Bob Fitchett asked why some of the suggested uses need to be included at all at this point. 

 

Chris Dewitt stated he would go through the list and see what all of the uses are.  He stated that if the list seems cumbersome, it would be best to put the uses in an appendix.  Chairman Keller stated that an executive summary needs to be in the document as well.  Charlie Pratt suggested having a condensed list based on percentages, but also stating what the percentage each use had.  Town Manager Layton suggested a complete list in the appendix in addition to the condensed list in the document.

 

Bob Fitchett asked if anyone had counted the total different ideas for the property.  Chris Dewitt stated that VHB has it tallied and it will be in the appendix.

 

Chris Dewitt reviewed the revised questionnaire with the Committee.

 

Town Manager Layton suggested that boating access be clarified.  He stated it should be clarified as canoeing, kayaking or motorized.  He suggested it state 70% liked a boating access with a percentage of people liking canoeing, kayaking or motorized boating.

 

Chairman Keller asked if the historical/natural interpretation percentage has increased.  Chris Dewitt stated it has.

 

Charlie Pratt asked if the revised questionnaire was the one handed out at the fire department.  Chris Dewitt stated it was.

 

Chairman Keller asked if the percentage breakdown for potential uses would be different from the earlier breakdown.  Chris Dewitt stated he was correct.

 

Jennifer Gilbreath asked if most of the fishing access is directly related to a pier.  Chris Dewitt stated it was a generalization.

 

Chris Dewitt reviewed Public Facilities with the Committee.

 

Chairman Keller suggested that since the response was so low that he just put in the actual number of responses for the public facilities.  Chris Dewitt stated he would.

 

Town Manager Layton suggested doing the same for Amenities and Support Facilities to make the document consistent.  Chris Dewitt agreed.

 

Chris Dewitt reviewed the Summary with the Committee. 

 

Chairman Keller asked how the summary could be broken out to show that people had answered both questionnaires.  Chris Dewitt stated he wasn’t sure.

 

Charlie Pratt stated he is troubled by the fact that there is a precise percentage breakdown on the second questionnaire but no precise breakdown for the first questionnaire.  Chris Dewitt stated he would incorporate percentages into the first list and make it clear that the follow up percentages are for the second questionnaire.

 

Chris Dewitt reviewed the Vision Statement with the Committee.

 

Chairman Keller suggested a paragraph on the protection of the two unique vegetative features on the property.  The Committee agreed.

 

Chairman Keller asked if more than one vision statement should be available for the public to choose.  Charlie Pratt stated that if Council wanted it, it should be done.

 

Chris Dewitt stated he had put in a bullet that referenced a town hall, but took it out.  Town Manager Layton stated that the resolution called for a town hall as one of the examples, but that the Committee didn’t have to put it in the vision statement.  He suggested the Committee develop their vision statement based on the responses from the public, but they should include an acknowledgement that the town hall may be one of the options.

 

Charlie Pratt thought that Town Manager Layton and Chris Dewitt were attempting to phrase the vision statement to include the town hall.  Town Manager Layton stated they weren’t.  He stated it’s the Committee’s vision statement.  He suggested they develop their own vision statement.  He stated the Committee has to come up with four concepts that are variations of the vision statement and one will be a variation that includes a municipal building.

 

Chairman Keller asked Chris Dewitt to review the goals with the Committee.  Charlie Pratt asked if the goals were listed in any particular order.  Chris Dewitt stated they weren’t.  Chairman Keller suggested the Committee rank the order of the goals.

 

Town Manager Layton asked if the objective of having mile markers along the trail should be kept in the vision statement.  It was consensus of the Committee to take the mile marker objective out.

 

Jennifer Gilbreath asked if any of the trails will be handicap accessible.  Chris Dewitt stated that would be a good idea.

 

Chairman Keller asked if the southern portion of the property would be feasible for an amphitheater if it’s delineated.  Chris Dewitt stated he couldn’t answer the question at this time but would research it.  It was consensus of the Committee to remove the objective referencing 4^th of July picnics from the amphitheater goal and make it as its own goal with objectives.

 

Chairman Keller suggested asking Council for guidance on the use of the property for weddings or family reunions.  Town Manager Layton stated that weddings are allowed on the beaches in Duck, but a family cannot block off an area of the beach for the wedding.  He stated that the same rules would apply for the property if weddings are permitted.

 

Bob Fitchett asked how the Committee members felt about allowing weddings on the property.  Jennifer Gilbreath stated that even though a family cannot block off an area for a wedding, the area does end up being blocked.  Charlie Pratt stated he was against having weddings on the property.  Ms. Gilbreath stated she would like to take a wait and see approach in regard to weddings.  Mr. Fitchett stated if it would bring in revenue for the Town, he would not be against it.  Avery Harrison suggested that weddings only be held during certain hours.  Mr. Fitchett suggested charging a fee for private weddings and family reunions and using the funds to pay for a public event, such as having a band play for an evening.

 

Chairman Keller asked if “car-top access” was necessary for the goal regarding kayaks and canoes.  Chris Dewitt stated it probably wasn’t.

 

Jennifer Gilbreath asked if any parking should be on the property.  Chris Dewitt thought that if one of the goals was to provide access for kayaks and canoes, it should include parking.

 

Chairman Keller suggested limiting the number of parking spaces for kayakers and canoes.  Bob Fitchett stated he wasn’t sure how many spaces would be needed.  Chris Dewitt stated the problem could be solved as part of the design process.  He stated the parking is a goal but not a definite plan. Chairman Keller asked if a clause should be listed under the goal. Mr. Dewitt stated that a clause would not be needed but the goals and objectives may need to be clarified.  The Committee agreed.

 

Town Manager Layton reminded the Committee that if informational brochures are provided, it could mean a lot of clean up.  Jennifer Gilbreath felt that the interpretational signs would provide enough information to visitors.  Chris Dewitt asked if the objective of providing informational brochures under the historical and natural interpretation goal should be stricken.  It was consensus of the Committee to strike the objective.

 

Town Manager Layton stated he would like to see the objective regarding stormwater runoff as its own goal.  Chairman Keller agreed.

 

Chairman Keller asked the Committee if there were any other goals they wished to add.  He asked how the goals would be utilized at the work session on July 20, 2004.  He stated that order of implementation of the goals should be a priority.  Chris Dewitt stated it would be done as part of the implementation plan.

 

Charlie Pratt asked what the current situation is on the Rodgers house.  Chairman Keller stated it is just sitting there.  He stated it was originally decided that certain pieces of the house would be maintained for future use.  Town Manager Layton agreed, but stated that at the work session, one of the options could be whether or not to save the house.

 

Chairman Keller suggested to the Committee to think about the Rodgers house in terms of including or not including it as an option.  Town Manager Layton suggested bringing the shipwreck remains over to the property as well. 

 

Discussion of Design Work Session to be Held on July 20, 2004

 

Town Manager Layton stated that everyone would come to the work session with blank pieces of paper at 9:00 a.m. and start working.  Chairman Keller stated that everyone should dress appropriately since the Committee would be walking the site.  Town Manager Layton stated he will have lunch provided for the Committee and members of VHB.  Avery Harrison asked if the meeting would still be held if it’s raining.  Town Manager Layton stated she was correct.  He stated if it is raining, the schedule would be adjusted.

 

Chris Dewitt stated he would be attending with a landscape architect, a site designer and two others from his company.  He stated it will be an intense design work session but should go well.  He stated he will be needing comments from the Committee as the group is sketching.  Chairman Keller asked if five options would be worked on at once or would it be done one at a time.  Mr. Dewitt stated they would do one at a time.

 

Chairman Keller asked if topographic maps would be available at the work session.  Town Manager Layton stated there would be.  Mr. Dewitt stated there would be photographs as well as topographic maps available.

 

Avery Harrison asked if the work session would last all day.  Town Manager Layton stated it would.  Charlie Pratt asked if there would be models available.  Town Manager Layton stated there would not be any models at the work session.  Mr. Dewitt stated VHB could show on the maps what could go on the property.

 

OTHER ISSUES

 

Report on Great Dismal Swamp Corridor Study Needs Assessment and Vision Statement

 

Town Manager Layton stated that each Committee member should have received a copy of it.  He stated it was to be used as an example of what a needs assessment and vision statement looks like.  Chris Dewitt stated he has received input from the public and it has been well received.

 

Discussion of Mid-County Park in Williamsburg, Virginia

 

Chairman Keller asked Chris Dewitt for his update on the Mid-County Park.  Mr. Dewitt stated that he was to provide photographs but did not have them.

 

Chairman Keller stated he had spoken to Ed Sowinski about the park and Mr. Sowinski stated the park is so large that it would not relate to the Town’s situation.  Chris Dewitt stated he will get photographs for the Committee.  Town Manager Layton stated that the playground photographs are the only ones needed for the Committee to look at.  Mr. Dewitt stated he would bring them to the work session as well as photographs of Currituck.

 

Chairman Keller asked for any other thoughts before adjourning. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further discussion, Chairman Keller asked for a motion to adjourn.  Jennifer Gilbreath moved to adjourn the meeting.  Charlie Pratt seconded the motion.

 

Motion carried 5-0.

 

The time was 3:45 p.m.