Hinesburg Trails Committee
Meeting Minutes
November 17, 2010
Present: Stewart Pierson, Cathy Ryan, Greg LeRoy, Colin McNaull, Jane Sheldon, Jason Reed, Michelle Fisher, Lenore Budd
1) October Minutes were approved.
2) Meade Sidewalk Project: Cathy reported that the Select Board agreed to put the $30,000 the Town will receive (for bonus density points) from the proposed Lantman’s expansion toward the expense of constructing the sidewalk and other pedestrian improvements on the Meade property on Rte. 116. The Select Board will include the additional $12,000 needed for the project in the budget to be voted on at Town Meeting in March. This week the DRB approved the Lantman’s expansion.
3) Trailhead Signs: Greg and Jason met with Rocky. The HART logo will be included in the LHTF trailhead kiosk. Construction of the kiosk and improvements to the Gilman Road parking area will be paid for from funds from the original conservation project. The search is on for a high-resolution version of the HART logo.
4) High Rock Trail: Greg and Stewart acquired signed permission from all affected landowners except one. Stewart and neighbors will meet with this landowner in the next few weeks. We agreed that simple white blazes should be sufficient for the trail but wooden signs with the trail name are needed at both ends.
5) Trail Pamphlet Draft: Michelle shared sample pamphlets from other trail systems, her own thoughts on the project, and some preliminary drafts. Committee members will forward comments and suggestions to Michelle. Cathy pointed out that on the Town website the trail description and trail map for each trail need to be combined into one PDF so the user can download all the information for a trail in one PDF.
6) LaPlatte Headwaters TF North/South Connector: Colin and Lenore have scouted two possible routes to connect the north and south portions of the LHTF. One route involved cutting new trails but stays completely within the LHTF. The other route takes advantage of existing trails but requires permission from adjacent landowners. Both routes utilize the same crossing of a stream/wetland. Colin is setting up dates to meet with the adjacent landowners. Stewart and Lenore will do a site visit of the stream crossing with a representative from the State next week.
7) 911 Access Progress: Cathy has not heard anything more from the Fire Dept. Given all that we’re working on, we’ll wait to hear from them before doing more on this issue.
8) Geprags Trail Marking: Jason has designed a prototype trail marking system for Geprags that relies on numbered intersections on the ground corresponding to numbered intersections on the trail map. Intersection numbers should be on a cheap, mass produced material (house/street numbers?). Trail names should be on wooden signs. Michelle will check with CVU to see if there is interest in helping with signs. Lenore will check with the woodworkers at Wake Robin. Stewart will touch base with the Conservation Commission about using our trail marking scheme at Geprags, otherwise we could launch this new system on the Russell Trails.
9) Bedard Connector To Sleepy Hollow: After walking the Bedard property during the DRB site visit, Jason and Lenore concluded that this development did not offer a viable trail connection between the Old Town Forest and the trail network at Sleepy Hollow. Lenore reported that the Fellowship of the Wheel’s Hayden Hollow Trail does provide a great connection (for mountain biking, walking, and snowshoeing) and that Brooke is happy to have us share the trail. Next steps are to meet again with Eli Enman of Sleepy Hollow and the other affected landowners. Jason and Lenore had an extended discussion with Brooke about the benefits of greater cooperation between FOTW and the Trails Committee – bringing their trail construction expertise and relationships with landowners together with our ability to acquire easements on behalf of the Town, promote the economic and recreational values of trails with Hinesburg residents, and apply for grants. The Committee endorsed this greater cooperation.
10) Eagle Trail Marking: Stewart and Julie completed marking the Eagle Trail with red/white blazes and arrows.
11) Trail Permissions: Stewart reported that signed landowner permission forms will reside in the Town vault.
12) Economou Road Neighbor: Jason reported that the Town of Hinesburg is not going to pay for any road improvements in Huntington. The Town Forest Committee is collecting data on trail usage, including trail users’ town of origin. We will need to help FOTW respond to concerns of Old Town Forest neighbors.
13) Charlene Wallace Of Local Motion: There is nothing to follow up on at this point.
14) Raven Ridge: Lenore attended an organizing meeting of volunteer stewards of the new Raven Ridge preserve. The primary topic of conversation was concern about hunting being permitted on the property. Trails are being created, marked, and mapped but some portions of the property will not have trails. Dogs will not be allowed. The trailhead may be moved from the Todo Institute driveway to another location on Rotax Road.
Next Meeting: December 15
Respectfully submitted,
Lenore Budd