MINUTES  ECUSTATRAILAILADVISORY BOARD 2.0 Wednesday, September 25, 2024- 3:30 pm City Hall Council Chambers  Members Present: Aaron Baker, Chair, Council Member  Mac Morrow, Vice Chair, Council Member Larry Chapman, Transylvania County Commissioner Dee Dee Perkins, Transylvania Development Authority John Ditillo, Friends of Ecusta Trail Sheila Carland, Transylvania Economic Alliance Doug Miller, Heart of Brevard Meredith Carli, At-Large. Appointment (Zoom) Madeline Hanley, At-Large Appointment (Zoom) Chris Bums, Henderson County RTAC Rebekah Robinson, Conserving Carolina Maureen Copelof, Mayor, Ex-Officio Wilson Hooper, City Manager Paul Ray, Planning Director Aaron Bland, Assistant Planning Director David' Todd, City Engineer Teresa Buckwalter, Christine Stout  Absent:  Staff Present:  Guests:  A. Welcome and Call to Order B. Certification of Quorum C.Approval of Agenda carried unanimously.  Committee Chair Aaron Baker welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 3:31 PM.  Quorum was certified by City Planner Katherine Buzby.  Motion to approve amended agenda by Ms. Perkins, seconded by Mr. Morrow. The motion  1    D.Approval of Minutes seconded by Mr. Chapman. E. Mileage Marker Discussion  Motion to approve. August 22, 2024 and September 5, 2024 meeting minutes by Mr. Morrow,  Mr. Hunter Marks from Watermarks Landscape Architecture (part of the design team) discussed the mile marker design and spacing. The old Rail Road (RR) markers were found not to be consistent in terms of distances between them based on old maps they discovered. The old RR has many sections where it went straight but the new trail will curve, and areas where the trail has been moved to avoid obstacles like intersections, wetlands, streams, and existing encroachments. Many of the RR mile markers were not found along the Right-of-Way (ROW) and the ones they did locate where not in good shape or visually appealing. These changes make the old mile markers inconsistent with the actual mileage of the new trail. Henderson County has suggested to have their mile markers start at zero in downtown at their depot and will count up in Yr miles as the trail user would head up the trail towards Transylvania County. A safety issue arises if the numbering oft the mile markers is not clear for emergency response. The design of the mile markers was presented (see attached) which has the posts made of composite materials (as opposed to wood for maintenance reasons) and contains a tread graphic plaque that resembles an arrow. Concern was brought up about the arrow graphic and should be used carefully as it can be confused for a trail direction arrow. The tread graphic with arrow will also accompany other verbiage, such as a sponsor or other entity decided upon by the Friends of Ecusta Trail. The mile markers will be black and white with the exemption oft the plaques, which will be molding into An motion was made by Mr. Morrow, seconded by Ms. Perkins to have the mile marker numbering system start with zero in Hendersonville at the depot and continue upward to the terminus in 1-mile increments in' Transylvania County, as well as approving the design presented. The RTAC meeting in Henderson County is in three weeks and Friends of Ecusta Trail will advise them of the motion that passed regarding' Transylvania County mile markers.  the posts.  The motion carried unanimously.  F.Possible Parking Options  Traffic Planning & Design (TPD) updated the group on the Public Engagement Event at the local library on September 10!, 2024 gave them a good amount of feedback and allowed them to TPD is now focused on access along Transylvania County section of the trail and where people will park to access the trail. They are looking at properties that may be adjacent to the trail but not in the ROW sO they can figure out what property owners to contact and what design criteria will be required including screening, amenities, and signage. They have created a table that  confer with some adjoining property owners.  2    shows what the most important functions of parking will be, first being if the property is in the ROW or adjacent to the trail for funding purposes. Next is if the proposed location isi ina Floodplain or Floodway due to restrictions. Following those, they are looking at nonresidential properties that may be not utilized or underutilized. The size was listed as under 20 parking They have identified six possible locations that might work but need further site investigation: 1. The Conserving Carolina Rail Spur offof Ecusta Rd-There are an abundance of items in this ROW section currently and will be pretty disruptive and not ideal based on the operations of the industrial businesses in the area. It is also not immediately adjacent to the trail and with the trucks that currently are there, it could create an unsafe parking situation plus the property lines show that the current business in operation would have to be relocated. Plus, access to the parcel would require cars to tur across the current 2. Pisgah Labs- Adjacent parcel (3 acres) that is owned by Pisgah Labs but not a part of their current operations. The initial plan that was done by ALTA some years ago had 3. Adjacent vacant land adjacent to a farm on Old Hendersonville Hwy- 2 acres that is not currently aj part of the farm use, adjacent to the ROW. Possibility for a very small parking area, maybe 15 parking spaçes. The parcel is very close in proximity of the Triangle Stop 4. Little River Volunteer Fire Dept- This parcel is really close to the river access but previously stored Dupont chemicals. A cleanup of the chemicals has taken place but would need further site investigation. Some tanks still exist on the property. 5. Citizens Telephone Hendersonville Hwy-Nonresidential 4-acre track with some topography challenges right adjacent to the trail that is listed as exempt on the tax records 6.S STG Solar and. Jones- Possible location ofac combination trailhead (both counties) close TPD in the next step of design will look at what opportunities are available for restrooms and then look at recommended separation distances between restrooms.. Ai recommendation to TPD was that parking areas should have restrooms. The businesses near the Swamp Rabbit Trail went with the whole "trail partner" idea that let people use their facilities in exchange for advertising on the website maps. This is one more element that can be considered but will not be available in Any property actually purchased from aj private holder will need to be done under the Rails to  spaces or 20+ parking spaces.  Estatoe trail to enter thej property which creates safety issues.  already looked at this parcel at a very high level.  on Old Hendersonville Hwy and Hwy 641 East near Penrose.  and owned by the utility company. tot the county line and has river access.  the rural areas along the trail.  Trails LLC.  3    A suggestion for parking was to put a bridge over the drainage swale behind Oskar Blues to the County Park & Recreation area so that people could park and use those facilities. TPD will add  this suggestion to the list of property owners to contact as an option.  G.Public Comments up school traffic.  Mr. Fogel suggested that angular parking could be added to the drive that goes around Pisgah Elementary. Discussion about how difficult this parking area would be due to drop off and pick Another suggestion was the County property behind the Pisgah Forest Collection Center. This  property is in the lodplain/Floodway. All suggestions are being added to the list by TPD. H. Set Date for Next Meeting October 30, 2024 at 3:30F PM. K.Adjourn  The next regular meeting oft the Ecusta Trail Advisory Board 2.0 is scheduled for Wednesday,  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:47PM.  X henkkr Aaron Balef, Chair X Katherine Buzby, City P  Minutes AppovIb302y  Attachments: TPD Presentation    10/21/2024  9125124  Bsnehsybalsnlkg  Ecusta Trail- - Brevard  WAIEEMABE  EQUINOX TADRRS  WATETAIE  Mheps/locibnMarker  MapEnlargement Pisgah Forest  EaustaTraill Map  HPSunbsyssale    10/21/2024  Trail Realignment Eample  ListofAmenities  PotngAreas Driingfountors Siotons ounlen tfom  E  Preliminary Amenity. Locations  Questions?  MABE  EQUINOX  Preliminary Amenity Locations  Ecusta Trgil Amenities  2    10/21/2024  30P6DesgnInspiration  em-belUaeN  3DaDesgninspiration  Preliminary 3aD-sgnllustation:  ET  Preliminary 30% Designs  EMYAD-AILAIeN  FR  EE  3    10/21/2024  Board 125.7024  TD  Signs  Forking Esploiaions  A25  Lrolurg  1    10/21/2024  epi  ariong  2    10/21/2024  iypes  Questions?  3