Subject:
Title
Town property restoration adjacent to Caboose Brewery.
Body
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
Recently as part of the Caboose Brewery, 520 Mill Street NE site development, after Town Council decided not to lease the area, the company intentionally occupied and built a patio and wooden fence on an approximately 12'-wide Town-owned access isle. See attached map.
The patio and fence are removed and area sodded. To provide a physical separation between the Brewery patio and grassed Town property, the Brewery will be installing a 48" high narrow counter on posts along the property line. See attached photos.
A portion of the sodded Town property is a designated Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area and should be left in an undeveloped, natural, vegetated state. The adjacent fenced Northside Property Yard contains a thick, towering grove of mature bamboo which is choking out the native trees. The existing Town chain link fence is bent in a few places.
As Council plans for use of the Town property, some options discussed:
1. Install a top rail on the Town fence and re-set the existing double gate near the W&OD regional trail. Mow the sodded area a few times a year to keep the bamboo at bay. Less than $1,000.
2. Install a barrier of evergreen trees. Requires BAR approval. 15 X $350 = $5,250.
3. Relocate the Town chain link to the property line, adjacent to the Brewery's narrow counter. Requires BAR approval. $7,000.
4. Install a water quality rain garden in this RPA. Remove 36" of existing soil, install amended growing medium, grade surface to retain water, plant water tolerant plant material. Bamboo will love this garden so a barrier must be included. Requires BAR approval. $15,000, water quality grant eligible.
These options may be combined and other options considered. Most Council Members are aware there is no public street across the front of the warehouses, just a parking lot. The driveway into the Northside Property Yard is by an access easement only. Therefore no path or trial from the W&OD trail across the Town property should be considered because it would not connect to public right-of-way.
Departmental Recommendation: Option 1 only. If the Brewery re-occupies Town property, then Option 3.
Finance Recommendation: Recommend approval.
Purchasing Recommendation: N/A
Town Attorney Recommendation: The Town Council may approve the proposed expenditure of funds for Town property maintenance and improvments in its discretion.
Town Manager's Recommendation: I recommend the Town Council direct me to implement Option two listed in the report.
Cost and Financing: Estimates above.
Account Number: Options 1, 2, & 3 10414-46015, Option 4 55111-47403.
Decision Needed by This date: N/A
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
"I move to direct the Town Manager to implement Option One listed in the report."
Or
Other action deemed necessary by Council.