By Mark Wineka
Salisbury Post
The Salisbury Greenway Committee hopes it can complete construction of a new trail segment this year that will link the Crescent and Meadowbrook neighborhoods.
Easement agreements for the three-fourths-mile greenway segment are being worked out with Catawba College and Fisher-Harriss, developers of the Crescent.
The new greenway will extend from Hogan’s Valley Way in the Crescent to the end of Forestdale Drive in Medowbrook.
It will parallel Grants Creek for much of the distance.
Completion of this greenway segment is one of the 2008-2009 goals of the Greenway Committee, represented by Carole Massey Tuesday in a presentation to Salisbury City Council.
Other greenway goals:
– Support the Land Management and Development Department’s proposal for a Fit Community grant to pay for new sidewalks that will help make a connection between the Forest Hills greenway and the City Park area, including West Miller Street.
– Acquire easements for Phase 3 greenway development from Meadowbrook to Kelsey-Scott Park.
– Partner with Horizons Unlimited to conduct a bluebird survey.
– Continue annual programs and events such as a supervised walking program, Earth Day celebration, 5K Run/Walk for the Greenway and an annual tree decoration event with the LandTrust for Central North Carolina.
The 2007 Run/Walk for the Greenway attracted 169 participants. Over 10 years, the event has raised some $30,000 for the greenway.
Statewide Title, Summersett Funeral Home and Rowan Regional Medical Center also have contributed some $30,000 toward sponsorships of various segments of the greenway.
The Salisbury Planning Board, represented by Chairman Mark Beymer, also listed its goals for 2008-2009 Tuesday.
The board hopes to convene a committee in March to begin development of a U.S. 70/Statesville Boulevard Corridor Plan. In May, the board wants to begin a “Subarea” study of the U.S. 29 and I-85 Corrridor.
In July, the board will begin a Smalll Area Plan for the Faith Road, Jake Alexander Boulevard, Stokes Ferry Road area.A Comprehensive Bicycle Plan already is under way and has included the hiring of a consultant, three steering committee meetings and a public workshop. A draft plan is ready for delivery to the steering committee this month.
In other business Tuesday, City Council approved several text corrections to the Land Development Ordinance. It also approved adding an Airport Zoning overlay as an appendix to the ordinance.
An Airport Zoning Overlay (regulating the height of structures near the airport) had been in effect under the old zoning ordinance. When the new Land Development Ordinance had been adopted, the Airport Zoning Overlay had mistakenly been left out.
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263, or mwineka@salisburypost.com.