Council gives staff go-ahead to pursue Chestnut Park roadway design

Town staff told the Indian Trail Town Council they will begin design work on a proposed new roadway at Chestnut Park and seek to use existing capital funds for design fees while the council completes a separate community center site analysis.

Todd Hunsinger and public works staff reviewed the park’s current buildout and the remaining CIP balance: a $7.5 million capital project with about $4.2 million available after prior expenditures. Staff described a concept that would build a new access road, reduce reliance on the existing Shady Bluff drive, and reconfigure parking and restroom placement. Staff recommended starting roadway design now to avoid delays and to be able to package construction bids timely, rather than waiting for the community center site decision.

Council members asked about potential loss of existing parking, traffic impacts on Indian Trail Road and timing relative to other park projects. Staff said the intent is to keep Shady Bluff open while the park build-out progresses and that the roadway could be constructed as a separate, standalone project if necessary. The manager and public works director asked for a head nod of support to pursue design work; the council gave general consensus and staff said they will return with the design contract and any budget amendments when costs are finalized.

Staff noted funding for the road design would come from the existing CIP line for the park and that additional budget amendments would be presented before actual construction. Council did not take a formal roll-call vote on construction at the meeting; staff described the step as design authorization and later indicated they would bring formal contract approvals back to the council.