TOWN OF DUCK

MUNICIPAL PROPERTY MASTER PLAN STUDY COMMITTEE

REGULAR MEETING

September 13, 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, September 13, 2004.

 

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

 

MEMBERS ABSENT: Avery Harrison and Jennifer Gilbreath.

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Deputy Town Clerk Lori Kopec.

 

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 August 23, 2004 meeting for changes.  Charlie Pratt moved to approve the minutes as presented.  Donna Black seconded the motion.

 

Motion approved 5-0.

 

ISSUES RELATED TO MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT

 

Review and Discussion of Draft Concept Plans

 

Chris Dewitt presented five revised draft concept plans to the Committee.  He stated they are essentially the same – two (2) park options and two (2) Town Hall options.  He stated he would like to review the changes with the Committee.  He pointed out the boardwalk is now out near the water on each concept.  He stated the trail system in the options were not what he had voiced to his design team.  Chairman Keller asked the Committee what their thoughts were on the different trail systems.  He felt it would be good to provide different options.

 

Bob Fitchett stated he was fine with the trails as they were presented in the concepts.  Donna Black agreed with Mr. Fitchett.  Charlie Pratt asked if it would be made clear to both the general public and the Council about the options.  Mr. Dewitt stated it will be done.  He suggested to the Committee that they could select one plan but use the trails from another plan.  He stated it could be a mix and match.  Mr. Pratt stated he was in favor of mixing the plans.  Ed Sowinski stated he did not wish to see the option with the trail coming to an end at the Nags Head Hammocks store.  He suggested it be looped back into the park.

 

Chris Dewitt went on to review each plan individually with the Committee.

 

Charlie Pratt suggested having parking under the Town Hall on the two (2) Town Hall options.  Ed Sowinski felt it should be explored.  Town Manager Layton suggested that parking not be under Town Hall.

 

Donna Black asked if there has been any feedback regarding the original draft concepts to date.  Town Manager Layton stated there hasn’t been any feedback. 

 

Donna Black asked how large Town Hall would be.  Chris Dewitt stated it would be approximately 5,000 square feet.  Chairman Keller asked if the building would be two (2) stories.  Mr. Dewitt stated he wasn’t sure.  Bob Fitchett thought it would be.

 

Bob Fitchett wished that Jennifer Gilbreath and Avery Harrison were present to comment on the playground area on Town Hall Option 2.  He wondered if they would be concerned about the playground being so close to NC 12.  Chris Dewitt stated that if it does become a concern, the playground area could be moved.

 

Town Manager Layton asked if the storm water management will need to be shown on the concepts.  Chris Dewitt stated it will need to be shown visually.  He passed around a rough sketch of the storm water management plan to the Committee.  Chairman Keller asked if the wetlands mitigation site could be shown on the concept plans.  Town Manager Layton stated that visually there would not be much of a disruption.  Mr. Dewitt stated that there may be additional landscaping shown.

 

Donna Black asked if all of the invasive species will be removed from the property.  Ed Sowinski stated that invasive species are repetitive in nature and that an ongoing program would have to be implemented.  Charlie Pratt stated that if the invasive species are cleared out, it would need to be replaced with something else.  Chairman Keller felt that whatever is done, it should be done gently.  Town Manager Layton stated that the invasive species destroy the native species.  He stated that the native vegetation needs to be saved.

 

Ed Sowinski asked what the cost was on the Currituck Estuary Preserve boardwalk.  Chris Dewitt thought it was approximately $200,000.

 

George Keefe of North Beach Outfitters and the Duck Community and Business Alliance was recognized to speak.  Mr. Keefe stated the DCBA felt the two (2) park options as well as the option that shows no development were acceptable.  He stated that they strongly object to any options showing a Town Hall.  He stated they are concerned about Town Hall Option 2, because there is concern that the shielding would not be complete.  He stated that if the structure is put on pilings, it would accelerate their concern.  He stated the DCBA is concerned that Town Hall Option 1 is an insidious threat and could adversely affect the park site.  He suggested that the Town Hall structure be labeled “Town Hall Structure One” as there is concern of building additional structures on the property in the future.

 

Chairman Keller stated that he and the Committee are very pleased with the concepts.

 

Chairman Keller asked if the presentation to the Town Council should be discussed.  Town Manager Layton suggested discussing it under Other Issues.

 

Discussion of October Public Meeting

 

Town Manager Layton suggested that Saturday, October 9, 2004 could be the date for the public meeting.  He stated that on that date there will be a lot of traffic with the subdivision meetings that will be held at the Duck Volunteer Fire Department.  He felt that that would be a good time to capture those people as well as any others that would come.  He stated the public meeting will need to be held in the bay of the fire department but felt it would work.  He stated that he and Chairman Keller had spoken of having two (2) sessions, one from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and another from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  He envisioned having the concepts available, a revised questionnaire, a bulleted chart for each concept and the Committee available to answer any questions.

 

Ed Sowinski felt it was a good date for the meeting.  Town Manager Layton stated it would be advertised in the newspapers, flyers would be given out and letters would be sent to the homeowners’ associations.   Ed Sowinski asked what time the meeting would be held.  Town Manager Layton stated a morning and an afternoon session would work. 

 

Donna Black pointed out that a couple of the Committee members will not be available on that date.

 

Chairman Keller stated that if the homeowners’ associations could be contacted, that would be an important plus. Charlie Pratt thought that multiple presentations would be more effective.

 

Donna Black suggested an evening alternative for the meeting for those that could not make it during the day.  Ed Sowinski stated he wasn’t sure an evening meeting would work.  He stated he liked the 2 meetings.  He suggested if there is an evening meeting, that it be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the same date as the daytime meeting.  Ms. Black suggested 2 meetings, one from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and the other from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Mr. Sowinski felt that 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. would work with the option of another from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 

George Keefe stated that having the meeting from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. would accommodate 90 percent of the people in Town that weekend.  He stated that it is nice of the Committee to consider an evening meeting, but didn’t feel it was necessary.

 

Chairman Keller asked the Committee what time they would want the meeting held.  Ed Sowinski stated that the 2 meetings would be good, but if needed, an evening meeting should be held. Chairman Keller agreed.

 

Town Manager Layton suggested the meeting be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

 

George Keefe asked if there would be a formal presentation or more one-on-one.  Town Manager Layton stated it would be informal with people coming and going at any time without missing anything.

 

It was consensus of the Committee to hold the public meeting on Saturday, October 9, 2004 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

Charlie Pratt asked if the presentation to Town Council should be discussed.  Chairman Keller stated it would be addressed under Other Issues.

 

Discussion of Rodgers House Recommendation

 

Town Manager Layton stated there was a move on the Committee’s part for a final recommendation on the Rodgers house.  He stated it was fine to have the recommendation but that he didn’t want it separated from the overall concepts.  He stated he wanted the recommendation to be a part of what is presented to Council as the final recommendation.  He stated it was unnecessary to separate it from the entire plan for the park.

 

Chairman Keller asked Chris Dewitt if he would be identifying which parts of the Rodgers house should be saved.  Chris Dewitt stated it was already done and that a memorandum had been given to the Committee previously.  Chairman Keller asked that it be given to the Committee at their next meeting.  Town Manager Layton stated that Deputy Town Clerk Kopec would send each member a copy of the memorandum.

 

OTHER ISSUES

 

Chairman Keller stated that Town Manager Layton and he had spoken in regard to a presentation to Town Council.  He stated they had agreed that it wouldn’t make sense to present the concepts at Council’s mid-month meeting.  He stated the concepts will be presented at their October meeting.  Town Manager Layton stated he envisions an overview of the concepts for Council.  He stated there would be no decision needed from Council; the concepts would be presented to them before the public meeting.  He stated the next thing to present to Council would be to take the information from the public meeting and give them the preferred alternatives.

 

Chairman Keller asked if the Committee would be presenting to Council the same information that will be at the public meeting.  Town Manager Layton stated that he was correct. 

 

Charlie Pratt asked Chairman Keller if he would make the presentation to Council.  Chairman Keller stated he would.

 

Donna Black asked what Council will do with the information after they receive it.  Charlie Pratt hoped that they would ask questions.  Town Manager Layton stated that Council will ask questions. 

 

Ed Sowinski asked if the presentation would be after the public input meeting.  Town Manager Layton stated it would be before the meeting.  Mr. Sowinski felt that it might have been better to present the concepts to Council after the public meeting.  Town Manager Layton stated it would be better to have it before.  Chairman Keller agreed.  Mr. Sowinski asked when the Council meeting will be in October.  Town Manager Layton stated it will be held on Wednesday, October 6, 2004.

 

Chairman Keller asked if the concepts will be in large format or not.  Town Manager Layton stated he hoped that they would be in a smaller format so that they could be put in Council’s agenda packets.  Town Manager Layton suggested even having a Power Point presentation of the concepts.  Chairman Keller felt that would be a good idea.  Town Manager Layton stated that he will also have the revised questionnaire available for Council as well.

 

Ed Sowinski asked if the Committee could encourage Council to come to the public meeting.  Chairman Keller stated he would do that.

 

Donna Black asked if the October meeting date has been changed due to the Columbus Day holiday.  Chairman Keller stated that it needs to be done.  He asked the Committee for a date for their next meeting.  Chris Dewitt stated they need to take into consideration the time allowed for VHB to get the questionnaires in.  He stated it could be done on Monday, October 18, 2004 or Monday, October 25, 2004.  Ed Sowinski asked if people could be encouraged to fill out the questionnaire while they are at the meeting.  Mr. Dewitt stated that that would be the best way.  Donna Black stated she liked the October 18, 2004 date.  Chairman Keller asked if the meeting should be held on Monday, October 18, 2004 at 2:00 p.m.

 

Donna Black moved to change the October meeting from Monday, October 11, 2004 to Monday, October 18, 2004 at 2:00 p.m.  Charlie Pratt seconded the motion.

 

Motion carried 5-0.

 

Ed Sowinski asked what time the Council meets.  Charlie Pratt stated it is at 7:00 p.m. 

 

Chairman Keller asked if the change of the meeting date would need to be advertised.  Town Manager Layton stated he would advertise it.

 

Chairman Keller asked for any other thoughts before recessing. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further discussion, Chairman Keller asked for a motion to recess to reconvene.  Donna Black moved to recess to reconvene on Monday, October 18, 2004.  Charlie Pratt seconded the motion.

 

Motion carried 5-0.

 

The time was 3:20 p.m.