March 11, 2009

Hayes, James and Associates, Inc. hosted a public meeting at Lawrenceville City Hall on March 10^th at 6:00 pm.  The purpose of the meeting was to gather public input regarding the proposed route and design of Heritage Trail Phase II. 

Background:

The City of Lawrenceville was awarded a Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation in 2008.  TE projects have very strict criteria for how funds are spent.  This project must address the connectivity of people and places by way of pedestrian facilities.  More specifically, the trail must provide for pedestrian and bicycling traffic linking residential areas, city and county government, businesses and schools to parks and scenic areas.  This trail also makes a connection to another TE trail project currently underway that will begin at the Veterans Memorial at Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center and end at Rhodes Jordan Park.

Issues that were brought up at the meeting are enumerated below.  While we cannot address every scenario that may occur as a result of the trail, every effort will be made to find ways to mitigate any perceived inconveniences when determining the trail route.

Written comments:

• Need privacy fence 10’ tall in all places where the backyard privacy is in jeopardy.  Consider the alternate route through the Boys and Girls Club and down the hill on Stone Mountain Street.

• Just interested in where the trail would go.  We figured it was around the sewer line.  Thanks for the great map.  I hope you will send a little map to the property owners or just put in the Gwinnett Post.

• Yes

• The trail is a crucial feature for the City and should develop into a network of more trails, changing peoples’ lifestyles, enabling local school system children to condition for different sports and generally making people happy.

• The suggestion of changing the route to go through the soccer fields and Boys Club property sounds good but federal money was used for that project in the 1970s and there are long term restrictions on the property.  Even if the terrain works, would need to go through several state and federal agencies to request permission.

• Please put in lights.

Voiced questions and comments:

• Who will maintain the trail? (The City of Lawrenceville)

• Will it increase theft?

• Will my property/home Insurance go up? (There were two real estate and insurance people present that answered this question)

• Privacy concerns/ fencing and screening with vegetation? Gates on fences?

• Suggestion to see how other communities are handling their trail systems, what works, what doesn’t.

• Who will be responsible for clean-up? (The City of Lawrenceville)

• Where will people park?

• Can you close the trail? What will the hours be?

• Why use taxpayers’ money at a time when the economy is so bad? (Project will be primarily funded by GDOT)

• Would it be available for schools to use?

• Stripe the trail to delineate bike lane.

• How wide will it be? Will you increase the size of existing sidewalks?

• How will it be policed? Skateboarders, bikes, ATVs.

• Will we do anything to make less of a floodplain? (No)

• Will you be changing the topography? (No)

• Most cities need and want walkable trails.  

• Should assess each parcel that is affected.

• Creek rises 2’ sometimes.

• Can the trail name be changed? (Yes, one suggestion was made, Black Knight Trail)