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Council hears plan to vacate easements and create pedestrian/drainage connection at Cross Hollow Road
Summary
Watson Engineering described proposed easement vacations and a combined drainage/pedestrian easement to shorten a box culvert, open the channel to daylight, and connect trails to a city pond; staff said improvements would be part of a city project and funding remains to be identified.
At a public hearing June 18, Watson Engineering described requested vacations and replacements of multiple easements at approximately 789 Cross Hollow Road to create a combined pedestrian and drainage easement that would connect Cross Hollow Road to the nearby pond and existing trail system.
Tim Watson, representing Watson Engineering, summarized the proposal: vacate an existing pedestrian easement and a separate drainage easement, replat a slightly narrower temporary construction easement (from 50 to 40 feet where only 40 feet are needed) and create a new combined drainage/pedestrian easement over the box culvert and into the pond area. Watson said the design shortens the existing long box culvert and replaces it with a concrete box culvert without a top (an open‑topped, U‑shaped channel with sidewalls) to provide "open air access from the top" instead of a long dark tunnel.
City staff said leisure/parks staff had been consulted and supported the changes because the design improves safety and connectivity. Watson and staff said the plan would also enable a future at‑grade pedestrian crossing where a major intersection is constructed farther up Cross Hollow to tie the trail networks together.
During the public hearing, residents asked whether the walkway would be made safe and accessible. A resident asked if the current grate would be removed; engineers confirmed it would and that the culvert would be reworked and opened as part of the trail project. A question about flash floods prompted discussion of maintenance, emergency egress and ladder points; staff noted the design is still conceptual and those safety details would be addressed as part of construction planning. One speaker noted a past pedestrian fatality in the area when arguing for a safe crossing.
Property ownership along the proposed easement was discussed; applicants said affected property owners had signed the deed of easement included in the council packet. After public comment the council approved placing the item on the agenda for formal action next week.
