Harnett County officials endorse Greenway feasibility study, plan to add formal approval to consent agenda

Alta Planning and Design presented a feasibility study on Nov. 25 recommending phased, implementable greenway segments connecting Lillington, Campbell University and the Town of Coats.

Steve Bosmoski, the project lead for Alta, told commissioners the study focused on corridors identified in Harnett County's 2021 Greenway and Bike/Ped Plan and proposed 10'12-foot paved shared-use paths for walking, biking and other wheeled uses. He said the project team held two public open houses (about 65 attendees across both events), multiple stakeholder interviews and three steering committee meetings that included county staff, Campbell University, the towns of Lillington and Coats, and NCDOT.

Bosmoski said the study prioritized a logical first phase that would link Cape Fear Shiner Park eastward through a future Capetoun development and noted a potential roughly three-mile riverfront greenway if a private parcel can be acquired or easement secured. He also flagged typical implementation challenges including wetlands, drainage, utilities and railroad/bridge crossings and described the report's Action Plan aimed at guiding next steps: solidifying alignments, continuing interjurisdictional coordination and developing design and construction funding strategies.

Carl Davis, who introduced the project to the board, said adopting the study would "help to signify to funders that the county supports this project" and would position staff to pursue design- and construction-phase grants and to coordinate with municipal and campus partners. Davis told the board the adoption request is intended to be placed on next week's consent agenda so the county can use the document to support grant applications and coordination.

Commissioners asked for clarification on earlier rail-trail work and were told a related grant acceptance would be presented Dec. 9 to authorize use of a recent grant for converting a railroad easement to a greenway easement. The presenters emphasized that the feasibility study does not itself request county funds but is intended to enable future external funding applications.

The board agreed to add the study to the consent agenda for formal acceptance next week, a step staff said would strengthen the county's case with potential funders and inform permitting and right-of-way coordination in coming years.