TOWN OF DUCK

MUNICIPAL PROPERTY MASTER PLAN STUDY COMMITTEE

DESIGN WORK SESSION MEETING

July 20, 2004

 

The Municipal Property Master Plan Study Committee for the Town of Duck convened at the Duck Municipal Offices at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20, 2004.

 

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

 

OTHERS PRESENT: The Design Team of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.

 

MEMBERS ABSENT: None.

 

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

MEET AT TOWN OFFICE

 

Welcome and Introductions

 

Chairman Keller asked each representative of VHB to introduce themselves.

 

Chris Frye introduced himself and stated he will assist in the areas of water and wetlands access.

 

John Stronach introduced himself and stated he is a civil engineer and specializes in transportation, site design and stormwater management.

 

John Jennings introduced himself and stated he is the director of landscape architecture.

 

Bob Ballou introduced himself and stated he is a site planner and landscape architect.

 

Chris Dewitt stated that Mr. Jennings and Mr. Ballou work on these types of projects in terms of design work sessions.  He stated they bring a lot of experience to the team.

 

Chris Dewitt stated the agenda is a rough outline of the day.  He stated everyone will visit the site and talk.  The design team will then come back and get sketches on paper before the meeting reconvenes.

 

Town Manager Layton stated he has received notification of the preliminary CAMA grant and that the Town has made the first cut.  He stated the final application is due in late August and if a consensus is made, then he will try to finalize that portion and submit the grant application.  Chairman Keller asked if the consensus should be done after everyone reconvenes.  Town Manager Layton suggested waiting till the end of the day to see how it turns out.  Charlie Pratt stated it sounded very optimistic.  Town Manager Layton stated a rough idea was submitted.

 

Brief Recap of Vision Statement

 

Chairman Keller asked Chris Dewitt for a status on the Needs Assessment.  Chris Dewitt stated they are in the process of making edits that were discussed at the last meeting and a revised draft should be available for review before it goes to Council.

 

Charlie Pratt stated he walked the property and paid special attention to the cemetery.  He stated that since the last time the Committee had walked the property, the brush has grown tremendously.  He stated the ground was extremely wet as well.  He stated he could not easily get past the Rodgers house.  He suggested that the Committee view the property near Herron’s parking lot first and walk the sidewalk from north to south and then head in near the Rodgers house. He asked that everyone pay attention to the stormwater runoff.  He stated the northern end of the property could be accessed visually by the Nags Head Hammocks parking lot.

 

Chris Dewitt stated that VHB has had previous discussions on the first site visit and is familiar with the issues.

 

Chairman Keller stated he would like the Committee to consider any other aspect of the property that they would like to see developed on all five concepts.  Ed Sowinski stated he would like to see a boardwalk or path that circulates the property.  He stated he would like a convergence point or focal point on the property. Bob Fitchett stated he would like to see a gazebo or amphitheater.  Chairman Keller stated he would like to see stormwater management via a pond or dry pond.  Town Manager Layton reminded Chairman Keller that stormwater management could be dependant on whether the Town will get Clean Water Trust funds or not. Donna Black asked if the boardwalk would encompass sound access.  Ed Sowinski stated it would be separate. 

 

Chairman Keller asked if the concepts should show one without a dock and one without kayaks.  Charlie Pratt felt soundside pedestrian access should be shown. Donna Black asked if one concept could be a “wish list” to start out.  Chris Dewitt stated a whole variety of schemes could be devised.

 

Charlie Pratt stated that the cemetery is a top priority to maintain.  He suggested the fence be upgraded.  Ed Sowinski suggested that one option should include some portion of the Rodgers house.  Chris Dewitt asked if that was an alternative for all of the options.  Mr. Sowinski stated he would like to see it in at least one of the options.  Chairman Keller asked if the house would have to stay where it is or could a portion of it be moved elsewhere on the site. Mr. Sowinski stated that the house ties in with the cemetery.  Chairman Keller asked if the Committee wished to have two options showing the Rodgers house.  Chris Dewitt stated it could be thought about as they are out on the property. 

 

Chairman Keller asked if more than one entrance to the property would be shown.  Chris Dewitt stated he wasn’t sure at this time.  Town Manager Layton stated he would like the Committee to consider the Herron’s property as well.

 

Chairman Keller stated he had asked Chris Dewitt if there could be a sixth concept, which would be to leave everything the way it is, clear out the underbrush and have minimal walkways.  Charlie Pratt asked if it would include a pedestrian walkway to the sound.  Chairman Keller stated he was correct.

 

Chris Dewitt stated he had plats of the topography for the Committee to take with them on the site walk through.

 

Chairman Keller asked who would be the site leader.  Chris Dewitt stated he would be.  He asked that everyone visit the site and reconvene afterward.  The Committee and VHB went on to discuss allowing parking at the property.

 

Ed Sowinski stated that he would like the members of VHB look at the site where a potential amphitheater could be.  He stated he is concerned about the pitch and wondered if it could be worked with or modified.  Town Manager Layton reminded the Committee and the members of VHB that the amphitheater site has been identified as the Maritime Deciduous Forest.  He asked if it could still be used while still maintaining the forest.  The Design Team members of VHB stated that they would come up with different scenarios for the amphitheater.  Donna Black stated she is concerned about the amount of greenery that will be taken away after everything is done on the site.  Charlie Pratt thought of possibly replicating the Rodgers house to be used as restrooms.  Chairman Keller stated he and Jennifer Gilbreath wish to have one of the five concepts show the Maritime Forest as being totally undisturbed except for the invasive species.

 

Chairman Keller asked for any other thoughts before adjourning for the site visit.

 

Donna Black wondered if a structure should be kept where the Rodgers house is presently located.  Jennifer Gilbreath stated that if the Committee wishes to preserve history, the Rodgers house is all they have.

 

SITE VISIT

 

The Committee and VHB adjourned to tour the site. 

 

The time was 11:00 a.m.

 

The Committee and VHB reconvened at 1:45 p.m.  VHB presented their sketches for the five concepts.  The Committee and VHB then discussed the sketches for the five concepts.

NEXT STEPS

 

Chairman Keller stated the next regularly scheduled meeting has been canceled.  The next meeting will be held on Monday, August 23, 2004 at 2:00 p.m.

 

Bob Fitchett moved to recess to reconvene.  Donna Black seconded the motion.

 

Motion carried 7-0.

 

The time was 4:00 p.m.