URGENT ACTION NEEDED

USE THE SAMPLE EMAIL BELOW & LISTED CONTACT INFORMATION TO CONTACT CITY COUNCIL BEFORE THE NOVEMBER 30th MEETING

BE PREPARED TO SPEAK AND/OR ATTEND THE NOV 30th MEETING

The City of Austin is currently proposing the establishment of a public hiking trail that would traverse privately-owned residential properties in our neighborhood and adjacent areas along Slaughter Creek, and within the Village of San Leanna. This proposal is slated for discussion and voting at the upcoming November 30th council meeting.

The potential implications for our neighborhood are significant:

1. Property Value Concerns: Implementing a trail through our backyards or in close proximity could adversely affect the value of our properties. This might have long-term financial repercussions for homeowners in the affected areas.

2. Safety and Public Nuisance: The proposed trail could potentially pose safety risks and become a public nuisance. It might provide easier access for unauthorized individuals to trespass into our yards, potentially putting our families at risk.

3. Eminent Domain: While it is not explicitly clear if the City intends to use eminent domain for the trail, it is a legal option. Pursuing such a course of action could lead to legal disputes within our neighborhood, which would not be in the best interest of either the City of Austin or the trail program.

4. Lack of Direct Communication: The City has not directly engaged with us or approached our neighborhood or the surrounding affected neighborhoods to discuss the proposed trail. Effective communication with the community is vital for a project of this nature.

5. Alternative Routes: There are viable options for the Urban Trail route that can be achieved through public lands in Mary Moore Searight Park and public right-of-way. The appropriation of private land appears unnecessary and could be seen as an overreach of government authority.

6. Tier II Status: Currently, the trail is categorized as Tier II, indicating a lower priority. However, these plans can be amended to Tier I, making it more likely for the trail to proceed. It is crucial to take action before the plan is adopted by the council.

**Action Required:**

We urgently need residents to write letters and make phone calls to Council Member Alters and other Council Members. We also encourage residents to request meetings before November 30th. Most importantly, we need community members to attend the November 30th council meeting and sign up to speak. It will have the most significant impact if we first, get meetings with the council members prior to the meeting, and secondly, address our concerns when the agenda item related to the trail is being discussed, rather than at the beginning of the meeting.

Our Objective

We advocate for the rerouting of Slaughter Creek seg 27-29 (please refer to the plan map) through Mary Moore Searight Park and other City of Austin public lands. We firmly oppose the trail being routed through private land.

Your support and involvement in this matter are crucial. Let's work together to ensure the best outcome for our community and protect our property rights.

More updates to follow...

Slaughter Creek Trail

Background

City of Austin Urban Trail Plan - https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=419283

Step 4: Tier Assignments 

After all projects are scored, they are ranked from highest to lowest and assigned to three tiers. Tier I is the highest priority projects, which should be implemented in the near term. Tier II and Tier III include urban trail projects that are important to creating Austin’s world class urban trail system, but will be approached more opportunistically over time. 

For example, a Tier II project may be implemented before a Tier I project if there is an opportunity to partner with other agencies and leverage funds. The tier of a project may also shift if feasibility changes. For example, some Tier II projects include short trail connections located entirely on private property. If that property is redeveloped, the trail may become more feasible to construct, making it a higher priority than previously. On the other hand, preliminary engineering for a Tier I trail may find that environmental obstacles or other challenges make it cost prohibitive for construction and it may move to a Tier II. 

Figure 10. Field Work Segments 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Slaughter Creek Segment 27 is located largely within the Village of San Leanna and portions of the area are outside of City of Austin limits. The segment goes from the Canterbury Trails neighborhood park to the Knolls at Slaughter Creek. This segment would require several private property easements and some parts of the trail may not be feasible adjacent to the creek due to a lack of right-of-way space between private property and the creek. Further investigation may be needed for alternative trail alignments for Segment 27. 

Slaughter Creek Segments 28 and 29 follow mostly along an existing unpaved trail in the Knolls at Slaughter Creek neighborhood greenbelt (private neighborhood). The project team entered the greenbelt at a water quality facility at Racetrack Drive and walked along the existing hiking/mountain biking trail that is along a bluff south of Slaughter Creek. Due to time constraints, the project team did not explore the existing park trails in the Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park north of Slaughter Creek, but these may be a good alternative to stay within City of Austin property for portions of these segments. 

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

We have noted the following regarding our concerns, but please feel free to discuss your own concerns with your council member, HOA, and neighbors. 

RECENT LETTER SENT TO COUNCIL & STAFF ; 

Good afternoon Council Member ${Leads.Last Name},

As president of the Texas Oaks South Neighborhood Association, and in collaboration with Knolls at Slaughter Creek, neighbors within the City of San Leanna, property owners near Slaughter Creek and within Shady Hollow, We are writing in regard to Item 84 relating to the Urban Trail Plan segments 27-29.

Today we received the following email from Alters office, we want to ensure that all Council Members are in favor of this amendment. 

________
FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTERS OFFICE

Thank you for reaching out about the Urban Trails Plan. I share your concerns, which is why I have worked with Transportation and Public Works staff and prepared an amendment to the Urban Trails Plan that removes the Slaughter Creek segments (27,28,29) from the plan and directs staff to come up with alternative routes for those areas.

I will be on parental leave during this Thursday’s meeting, so I am working with my colleagues to offer the amendment in my stead.

The Urban Trails Plan will still move forward, but after conversations with staff it is our understanding that they are not intending to develop the trail through private property. Regardless, Thursday’s amendment assures that this will not be the case moving forward. Thank you for your engagement on this issue, and please continue to reach out to the District 5 office should you have additional concerns or questions.

Best,

District 5 | Council Member Ryan Alter

______________________

Please reply to let us know that you are in favor of Council Member Alters proposed amendment, or if not, we’d love an opportunity to have a productive discussion.

Our collective concern centers on the proposed trail along Slaughter Creek, specifically concerning segments 27-29, which involve public easements or eminent domain through private property. We advocate for the removal of these segments from the Urban Trails Plan due to significant concerns about property values and safety, supported by empirical research.

Recent studies have highlighted the complex relationship between trails and property values:

- The 2019 study from the University of Colorado, "Impact of Greenways on Property Values and Public Safety: Evidence from the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail," found that properties adjacent to public trails can experience a reduction in value. This is often attributed to concerns over privacy and safety – a critical consideration for our community.

- In "The Effect of Greenways on Property Values and Public Safety" by Moore, Graefe, Gitelson, and Porter (1992), it was shown that while some greenways can boost property values, they can also have the opposite effect in situations where they are perceived negatively by the local community, are in disrepair, have low lighting, or are farther away from the general population ( trail ends, or sections near private homes ).

- The University of Cincinnati’s 2011 study on the Little Miami Scenic Trail provided evidence that the impact of trails on property values is not universally positive and varies greatly depending on local context and the specific characteristics of the trail.

Safety issues associated with trails are a significant concern:

Safety concerns related to trails passing through residential areas are valid. A study published in "Crime & Delinquency" in 2000 found that trails can attract criminal activities such as drug use and vandalism, potentially impacting nearby neighborhoods. [Reference: "The Impact of a Greenway on Nearby Property Values and Crime" - Crime & Delinquency, 2000]

- The National Park Service’s 1992 report, "The Impact of Rail-Trails," highlighted that trails could induce a range of safety concerns among nearby property owners, from increased crime risks to privacy intrusions.

- Sarah Jo Peterson’s 2004 study, "The Effect of Greenways on Property Values and Public Safety in Denver, Colorado," reported that greenways, while generally safe, could raise security concerns, particularly in residential areas due to increased foot traffic and the influx of non-residents.

Proposed Alternatives:

We propose enhancing existing public land trails, such as those in Mary Moore Searight Park, which require maintenance and improvement. This is in line with:

- The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s 2004 report "Paths to Prosperity," emphasizing the importance of investing in existing trail infrastructure.

- The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s findings that upgrading existing trails can yield positive usage and community satisfaction, as detailed in "Trails and Residential Property Values: Findings from Research and Practice."

Given these concerns and the evidence supporting them, we urge the Council to either postpone the adoption of the Urban Trails Plan to allow for a thorough review of these issues or to amend the plan to exclude segments 27-29. This approach would mitigate conflicts with private landowners, optimize the use of public funds, and enhance the quality of existing public trails.

 Your attention and support of the amendment Council Member Alter has proposed to these significant issues is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Michelle Adams 

President

Texas Oaks South Neighborhood Association

michelle@airpropertygroup.com

512-574-2969