Horseshoe Farm I: After All, A Nature Park

Horseshoe Farm Park

One issue the ‘07 Council elections absolutely decided: The future of Horseshoe Farm Park. It will be, as supporters of newly elected District B Councilor Rodger Koopman wanted, a “nature” park. Not an “active” park, fitted up with a community center, tennis courts and a lot of parking, as the city’s Parks & Recreation Department wanted — and ousted District B member Jessie Taliaferro did too. Taliaferro out, Koopman in, the issue was settled election night.

Still, when the end came today — at a meeting of the Council’s public works committee — some members of the Friends of Horseshoe Farm Park had tears in their eyes … tears of relief that their three-year struggle was over. For others, the emotion came out as smiles and laughter. Taliaferro used to chair public works. Now, Russ Stephenson does. Could there be a clearer sign that the Council’s under new management? -more below-

So today, public works voted 3-0 to recommend to the full Council that it adopt, with minor changes friendly to the nature-park concept, the Horseshoe Farm Park master plan as drawn up in 2005-06 by the HFP master plan committee. Not, in other words, the master plan as amended by the Parks & Rec Advisory Board at the behest of the Parks & Rec Department. Koopman made the motion; seconded by Mary-Ann Baldwin; the third vote was Stephenson’s. Council adoption of the committee’s recommendation will come in January, but it’s a formality. The fight is over. For the first time ever today, department officials started to kick around with Stephenson, Koopman and Baldwin the question of where else in District B a community center might go. More on that later.

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Here, for the record, is Koopman’s motion, plus a resolution he tacked on about the Council’s intentions:

I. Motion - Horseshoe Farm Park

I move that Council adopt the Horseshoe Farm Draft Master Plan as unanimously recommended by the Horseshoe Farm Master Plan Committee with the following adjustments, in keeping with the environmentally sensitive and sustainable theme of the park:

1. Do not allow any clearing or paving in the Significant Natural Heritage Area (SNHA) for the canoe launch or trails, as recommended by the NC Natural Heritage Program. Clearing in the SNHA is allowed for the specific case where it supports the implementation of environmentally sensitive Raleigh Greenway connectivity. Allow only a gravel road to the canoe drop off area outside of SNHA and investigate alternate sites for a more robust, hardened canoe launch facility (for example, across the river off Highway 401 close to the Neuse River Bridge area).

2. Move the parking lots from the middle of the park to a location closer to the existing gate (but not in the “fenced horse pasture”) in order to maintain the natural vistas of the park.

3. Incorporate the environmental stewardship recommendations–currently located in the master plan committee’s cover letter–into the draft Master Plan under the section titled “Environmental Stewardship.”

4. After improvements to the access road have been addressed, trails, wildlife habitat enhancements, picnic facilities, and restrooms should have the highest priority for development.

II. Resolution to Clarify City Council’s Intent Regarding the Future of Horseshoe Farm Park

Whereas, there is a need to clarify City Council’s intent regarding the Horseshoe Farm Park Master Plan; and

Whereas, Horseshoe Farm Park is a Regionally Significant Natural Heritage Area (SNHA) as identified by the NC Natural Heritage Program; and

Whereas, there is considerable public support for Horseshoe Farm to be a nature park; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, the Raleigh City Council intends the following for Horseshoe Farm Park:

1. That it be a natural resource-based recreation and education park, appropriate for passive recreation only;

2. That the planning classification for the park be changed to “Special Park” to be consistent with the characteristics of the park and Council’s intent for the park;

3. That it be a showcase for innovative, sustainable, environmentally sensitive park management and development;

4. That staff coordinate and communicate with all stakeholders to ensure water and sewer services reflect the best possible compromise between fiscal responsibility, engineering practicability, and a demonstrable commitment to using innovative “best of breed” and environmentally sustainable practices.

5. That any conflict between the Horseshoe Farm master plan adopted on this date and the environmental stewardship goals of this resolution shall be resolved in favor of the stewardship goals.

This entry was posted from Bob Geary on Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 at 1:26 pm and is filed under City Hall, Around Raleigh. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.