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In June the town council authorized an $8.5 million Parks & Recreation Bond Referendum which will be placed on the November 2012 election ballot. The bond question will allow for the construction of two large community parks. In
November residents will have the opportunity to vote and approve the funds for construction of these two parks. The intent of the town council is not to raise taxes to pay for the construction of these two parks; instead the town council has established a Capital Reserve Fund which will cover construction and bond expenses. If voters approve this ballot measure, the bond funds would be paid back with current funds within the town’s budget.
A message from your Town Manager
Sharing Indian Trail’s Vision Since 1907August 2012
Volume 4, Issue 1
In This Issue
Future Community Parks Bond Referendum
Live, Work, Play, Learn Indian Trail, NC
While meeting regularly with residents, businesses, and visitors over the past several years, traffic congestion, local job recruitment and
retention, better planning, parks and recreation, walking and biking trails, and community safety have been mentioned most frequently for discussion. The Town of Indian Trail has experienced unparalleled growth since 1990; we’ve grown from around 1,600 residents to well over 35,000 residents. The Town of Indian Trail is approximately the 22nd largest community in North Carolina and we could continue to grow to over 50,000 residents within the next 15 years. We can debate whether this growth is a positive or a negative but the real question is, “how are we going to address the important issues created by this growth?”
‘Pathways 2 Progress’: Improving Infrastructure
Solid Waste Improvements . . . Page 3
Committee Opportunities . . . . . Page 4
Key Contact Information . . . . Page 4
Citizen e-notification . . . . Page 4
Public Works Department. . . . . . Page 3
Crossing Paths Park . . . . . . Page 2
Let’s Go To The Movies!Sun Valley 14 Theatre is Open For Business
Sun Valley Commons is home to the new Sun Valley 14 Cinemas, which opened in July. Located at the corner of Old Monroe Road and Wesley
Chapel Stouts Road, Sun Valley Commons offers prime real estate for restaurant and retail locations. Two new businesses joining the development are Sweet Frog Yogurt and Moe’s Southwest Grill with more retailers and restaurants coming soon!
Sun Valley 14 Cinemas, a proj-ect with Stone Theatres and The Moser Group, includes more than 2,800 stadium seats and 14 fully-expanded wall-to-wall screens. In addition to their Movie Awards customer loyalty program Sun Valley 14 offers great promotions like $1 summer movies for kids and great concessions including pizza by Pizzeria Uno, gourmet pretzels, hot dogs, nachos, and Coca-Cola products. For more information visit www.stonetheatres.com or www.facebook.com/stonetheatres.
The 55,000 square foot theatre is expected to draw an attendance in excess of 600,000 people per year from Indian Trail and surrounding areas, create over 500 jobs, and most importantly improve the quality of life for Indian Trail residents.
Pictured above: Sun Valley 14 Cinemas. Pictured below: A rendering of the completed Sun Valley 14 Cinemas.
Poplin Rd Sidewalk Project . . . . . Page 3
The first large community park, located near Indian Trail Road and US-74, will span 51 acres. The park would likely contain Carolina Courts, a large playground, pavilions, a dog park, disc golf, sand volleyball, athletic fields, and a large network of walking trails. Residents would be able to use Carolina Courts at no charge during specified times for volleyball and basketball programs.
The second large community park is located near Sardis Elementary School and Unionville-Indian Trail Road and is approximately 140 acres. This large community park would likely contain a softball and baseball complex, multiple playgrounds and pavilions, over five miles of running, walking, and biking trails, a dog park, potential water feature, and multi-use fields for soccer, lacrosse, and football. Depending on park design there may be turf fields for year-round use.
The town council has given direction to staff to use our past plans, which were developed with community input, to identify a strategic direction for the town which will encompass all of the topics I mentioned above and ad-dress future economic development and growth planning. Town staff has developed a draft plan called ‘Pathways 2 Progress’ for the community and council’s consideration. This initiative outlines a plan and provides strategic direction which will help us begin to resolve our current and future issues.
The ‘Pathways 2 Progress’ Initiative calls for the construction of a loop throughout Indian Trail on both sides of US-74 known as the ‘Indian Trail Pathway Loop’. A 3-4 lane parkway, the loop will allow for significantly bet-ter traffic flow in all directions around town and will include three initial phases.
The first phase includes widening Old Monroe Road to four lanes and, in the future connecting it to I-485. The second phase is the construction of the Chestnut Parkway, a new road that will link US-74 and Old Monroe Road. This parallel road will connect with Chestnut Lane.
Continued on page 2
Indian Trail Town Council is interested in community input on the design of these future parks and has already incorporated residents’ ideas in current drafts of park designs. If your civic group, Home Owner’s Association, church, or business would like more information on these parks or park designs or if you have any questions please contact Rebecca Carter or Kelly Barnhardt at 704-821-5401.
Pictured above from left to right: Proposed 51 acre park. Pro-posed 140 acre park. ‘Sardis Park’ and ‘Chestnut Park’ names are not official and are used for reference purposes only. Park names will be determined at a later date.
the factor
Message from Town Manager Continued...
Page 2Volume 4, Issue 1 the factor
Live, Work, Play, Learn Indian Trail, NC
The third phase will improve Sardis Road from US-74 to Unionville-Indian Trail Road. The town also plans to build gateways at the entrances of Indian Trail on Old Monroe and US-74. All initial phases of this project will be funded by the two Road Bond Referendums passed by residents in Novem-ber 2011.
The next element of ‘Pathways 2 Progress’ is to build and construct multiple community parks. The intent of the town council is not to raise taxes to pay for the construction of these parks, but to fund them through the Parks & Recreation Bond Referendum (on the ballot in November 2012.) If voters ap-prove this ballot measure, bond funds would be paid back with current funds in the town budget with no additional cost to residents. Starting in October the town will also begin the process of planning and constructing a greenway system which will connect Indian Trail Porter Ridge High School, In-dian Trail Sun Valley High School, Colonel Beatty Park and hopefully Mecklenburg County’s greenway system. The in-tention is for the majority of Indian Trail neighborhoods to have close access to 10 miles of greenway.
Finally, the ‘Pathways 2 Progress’ Initiative is also dedicated to continuing our economic development program by propos-ing to create and facilitate the continued development of Sun Valley business district with the expansion of Old Monroe Road to create more investment and local jobs. In addition the initiative will provide an opportunity to identify an area to develop a technology business park, a commercial business park, and an industrial/distribution business park.
The town council is aware these projects and improvements will not happen overnight, but they believe it is important to begin the proactive process of discussing these improve-ments with the community. Over the next several months, town officials will be hosting a number of community input sessions on the ‘Pathways 2 Progress’ Initiative. If your civic group, Home Owner’s Association, church, or business would like more information on the ‘Pathways 2 Progress’ Initiative please contact Rebecca Carter at 704-821-5401.
Joe Fivas, Town Manager
Lt. Chase Coble Indian Trail Division, Union County Sherriff ’s Office
Upcoming Events
Where is Crossing Paths Park Anyway?
Crossing Paths Park is located on Blythe Drive off Indian Trail Road (across the railroad tracks from Indian Trail Town Hall and beside Indian Trail
Administrative Building, shown on the map below.)
In July 2010 the town council unanimously approved the design of the first municipal park in the Indian Trail naming it ‘Crossing Paths Park’. The facility opened in May 2011 and is open to residents daily from dawn till dusk. The park, which includes an amphitheater, children’s play area and BBQ area, is used throughout the year for events including the Sunset Series (movies and music in the park), Piedmont Folk Life Festival and other community festivals, recreation, and good old park fun!
If you would like to hold an event in Crossing Paths Park or reserve the BBQ area for your next party please contact Rebecca Carter, Events Coordinator at 704-821-5401 or [email protected].
Sasse is a 19 month old Malinois dog who lives, works, and plays
in Indian Trail! Sasse works in In-dian Trail as a K-9 for the Union County Sheriff ’s Office. Some of Sasse‘s daily duties include sniffing out narcotics in town and tracking people. Deputy Kenny Sossamon is tasked with being Sasse’s handler. Deputy Sossamon has 14 and a half years of experience as a law enforcement K-9 handler. “Having a K-9 as-signed to Indian Trail has been of great benefit to the citizens,” said Lt. Chase Coble, “ because she is readily available in town. Having a quick K-9 response is valuable!”
Not long after hitting the streets of Indian Trail, Sasse was already proving her value by tracking down a man who ran away from an automobile crash that he caused and by discovering a significant quantity of marijuana on a traffic stop. “Sheriff Cathey is committed to ensuring that our K-9 program offers our deputies the tools needed to provide quality service to our citizens”, Lt. Coble said. Sasse is one of eight K-9’s that work for the Union County Sheriff ’s Office. For more information please visit the Sheriff ’s website at www.ucso.us or contact the Sheriff ’s Office directly at 704-283-3789.
There’s A New Sheriff in Town
Meet Sasse the K-9
Deputy Keith Sossamon and K-9 Sasse.
Live, Work, Play, Learn Indian Trail, NC
Community SpotlightUnion West Library Reading Room Dedicated in Honor
Lane Vickery
Union West Regional Library in Indi-an Trail dedicated its reading room
in honor of Lane Vickery.
Vickery was heavily involved in getting the library started and in creating the design. Even after the library became a reality, Vickery continued being an advo-cate for it and encouraged others to visit when they got the chance.
Vickery attended the event along with various elected officials, current and past library staff, and community members.
Mayor Michael Alvarez, Larry Helms, former mayor of Indian Trail and Todd Johnson, the vice chairman of the Union County Board of Commissioners, spoke at the event just before the dedication of the library’s reading room to Vickery.
HWY 74
Indi
an T
rail
Rd
Blythe Drive
Town Hall
Lilly Auction
Matthews-Indian Trail Rd.
*Note map is NOT drawn to scale.
Crossing Paths Park
Photos from left to right: Waste Pro employees at Indian Trail Arbor Day, Earth Day; Waste Pro truck in the annual Indian Trail July 4th Parade; Waste Pro employees unloading household waste at Trash and Recycling Drop-off Day; Waste Pro employees assisting residents dispose of yard waste at Indian Trail Trash and Recycling Drop-off Day; Waste Pro truck with Indian Trail logo.
2012 Sunset Seriesat
Crossing Path Park
Friday, Sept. 7(about 8:30pm)
featuringDusk
Deputy Keith Sossamon and K-9 Sasse.
Page 3Volume 4, Issue 1 the factor
Live, Work, Play, Learn Indian Trail, NC
We Make Sure Everything is Just Right in Indian Trail!
Introducing IT’s Public Works Department
The town’s first Public Works Department was formed last year, in 2011. Cur-rently the department consists of four full-time staff members and functions
as an extension of the Engineering Department. The Public Works staff has a diverse background including experience in project management, landscaping, construction, and business management.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities of the Public Works Department:
- General facility maintenance of town owned buildings and structures, ve-hicles and equipment, and property landscaping- Maintenance of Crossing Paths Park- Repairs and improvements to sidewalks, stormwater drains, and over 54 miles of town owned roads- Set-up and breakdown of events equipment
In addition to installing over 80 linear feet of sidewalk in Indian Trail already this year, the Public Works staff is currently working on a project in the Beacon Hills community, removing failed stormwater dains and replacing them in pre-peration for road paving.
Indian Trail Public Works Department prides itself on building relationships with residents. If you see these IT staff members in your community please feel free to introduce yourself, ask questions, and take the opportunity to learn more about Indian Trail.
For Public Works questions or requests please contact the Indian Trail Engi-neering Department at 704-821-5401 or [email protected].
Indian Trail Public Works Staff
New Solid Waste Services, Reduced CostResidential recycling and garbage collection in Indian Trail is even better!
At their regularly scheduled meeting on July 10 Indian Trail Town Council members approved a new solid waste and recycling agreement with Waste Pro of North Carolina. The new agreement
will provide a number of new residential services beginning September 2012. These new services include:
- New recycling and solid waste carts (delivered in August)
- bi-weekly single stream recycling with new closable 96 gallon carts
- bi-weekly free curb-side yard waste and leaf pick-up
- free curbside bulk waste pick-up (3 times per year)
- free curb-side electronic waste pick-up (3 times per year)
“Residents will receive further information at their homes during the next 45 days on the transition to these services. The Town was fortunate to be able to offer these new services, while significantly reducing our overall costs for solid waste and recycling. We believe people will be pleased with the new level of service,” said Town Manager Joe Fivas.
Please call Indian Trail administrative offices with any questions regarding new services at 704-821-5401.
WASTE PRO Caring For Our Communities
®®
Photos from left to right: Waste Pro employees at Indian Trail Arbor Day, Earth Day; Waste Pro truck in the annual Indian Trail July 4th Parade; Waste Pro employees unloading household waste at Trash and Recycling Drop-off Day; Waste Pro employees assisting residents dispose of yard waste at Indian Trail Trash and Recycling Drop-off Day; Waste Pro truck with Indian Trail logo.
Construction To Begin On Poplin Road SidewalkOn July 10th, town council approved a construction contract for a section of sidewalk that will connect Fieldstone Farm
neighborhood, Annandale neighborhood, and parts of the Bonterra neighborhood with Poplin Elementary School. This construction will begin in the next few weeks and be completed before school begins in August.
“We’ve had a significant number of concerns about the safety of walking and driving to school in this Poplin Road area. We are confident that these safety improvements will enhance these areas,” said Indian Trail Mayor Michael Alvarez.
This project and future sidewalk construction projects on Chestnut Road, Unionville-Indian Trail Rd, Sardis Road, and Rog-ers Road are part of the new Pathways 2 Progress (P2P) Initiative, introduced by Indian Trail Town Manager Joe Fivas at the same meeting. In addition to the sidewalk projects, P2P will include road improvements, and the construction of two new
parks.
For more information on sidwalk construction projects or the Pathways 2 Progress Initia-tive please call Indian Trail administrative offices at 704-821-5401.
PO B
ox 2430Indian Trail, N
C 28079
ww
w.indiantrail.org
Community Service Opportunities
Indian Trail Board & Committee Membership
The Town needs your help! Indian Trail has various opportunities for residents to serve on advisory boards and committees. These boards and
committees play a vital role in the future development of our community each with a specialized focus area.
• Board of Adjustment - Quasi-judicial Board considers and decides on Zoning Appeals, Special Use Permits, and Variances from the Unified Development Ordinance.
• Planning Board - Recommending Body to the Town Council on Zoning Petitions, Land Use Plans, and Town Zoning Regulations.
• Transportation Advisory Committee - Provides recommendations to the Town Council on transportation related issues.
• Stormwater Advisory Committee - Provides recommendations to the Town Council on Town’s mandated Stormwater program.
• Parks, Tree, and Greenway Committee - Serves as the Tree Board and provides recommendations to Town Council on Parks, Tree, and Greenway related issues.
• Public Safety Advisory Committee- Assists staff with issues brought forth from the fire, police, health and neighborhood services departments.
Page 4Volume 4, Issue 1 the factor
We want to hear from you!
IT Administrative Services: 704-821-5401 - Town Clerk: [email protected] - Tax Department: [email protected] - IT Planning Department: [email protected] - IT Engineering: [email protected] - Public Works: [email protected] - Stormwater Department: [email protected] - Town Manager: [email protected] - Economic Development: [email protected] - Events Coordinator: [email protected] - Public Information: [email protected] - Events and Park Information: [email protected] County Sewer and Water Services: 704-296-4210Union County Public Schools: 704-296-9898Union County Sheriff ’s Office (IT Division): 704-684-6390Fire Departments: - Hemby Bridge Fire Department: 704-882-2100 - Baker’s Fire Department: 704-289-2741 - Stallings Fire Department: 704-821-7100
Key Contacts
Each membership is an appointed position by the Town Council, requires a commitment to meet once a month at a regularly scheduled meeting time, and serve for a period of 3 years. For more information or an application to serve, please visit www.indiantrail.org.
What’s happening in IT ?Sign-up for Citizen e-Notifications!
Are you interested in what’s going on in Indian Trail? As a resident you have a right to know what is happening in your community! Keep up with new
businesses, upcoming events, council and committee meetings, publications and other town happenings by signing up to receive Citizen e-Notifications!
The e-Notification is a FREE subscrip-tion based email - your information remains confidential, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Sign-up NOW!! Here’s how:
- Go to www.indiantrail.org- Click on the “Citizen e-Notification” tab on the left side of the homepage- Click on “Click here to subscribe”- Enter your information
Click here to sign up!
ALDI Is Open For Business!
Wednesday, July 11, ALDI celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting
ceremony that included customer samplings and store tours. ALDI is located at the corner of Sardis Church Road and Highway 74,
across from the Lowe’s Home Improvement and QuikTrip.
“ALDI has delivered a fabulous store that brings beautification to this corner of our market, brings local jobs to our economy and will serve a great deal of residents in and around Indian Trail.” said Director of Community & Economic Development, Kelly Barnhardt.
