[Bristol-Birds] State directs Bristol to correct Steele Creek Park encroachment

Tonight the City of Bristol Tennessee and its city manager revealed a decision 
by the State of Tennessee directing the city to correct three encroachment 
problems at Steele Creek Park.  
The park is one of the largest municipal parks in Tennesee with more than 2,000 
acres.  It is surrounded by urban sprawl.  It has 12 miles of park boundary, 
features a 50-acre lake and a regional nature center.

The city identified the three private owner encroachments in the Fox Ridge area 
where shrubs and steps, a road and a private concrete driveway had been placed 
on Steele Creek Park property.

The state directed the city to remove the asphalt from the section of Three 
Oaks Drive.  The city was further directed to remove the stone steps and all 
shrubbery and plantings encroaching upon the park boundary.

The Bristol Leisure Services Department (parks department) was encouraged to 
place a sign or kiosk at this location.

In regards to the roadway built under a power line right-of-way, the state held 
that this encroachment negatively impacts the integrity of the Steele Creek 
Park boundary and will need to be placed back into the original boundary of the 
park and returned to its natural state. The city is to  remove the roadway from 
the park property and remove the asphalt.

The state directed that these concerns were to be resolved within 90 days from 
the date of the state's letter (Feb. 5, 2005).

In regards to the homeowner's private concrete driveway, the state directed it 
could remain and that the city would have to purchase an equal or greater 
amount of nearby property with similar utility to the park and replace that 
with land bought for that purpose.

The City must provide a survey of this encroachment area 

An appraisal will be needed on this parcel- to include the driveway and all 
landscaping improvements.

A survey and an appraisal are also needed on the 0.84± acre parcel being 
conveyed to the City of Bristol as the replacement property for this conversion.

The replacement property has to be of equal or greater value of the total 
appraisal of the encroachment area. If the appraisal of the replacement parcel 
is less, the city or the developer should find replacement land that meets or 
exceeds the shortage.
The city was given 90 days by the Tennessee Department of Environment and 
Conservation, Recreation Educational Services Division, to make the corrections 
and report to the state.

The City requested approval of a water line easement in Steele Creek Park. The 
state ruled that underground utility easements are legal in such situations and 
do not have a significant impact upon the recreation utility of the park.

Upon meeting the deadlines and request for additional action noted above, a 
conversion request package with state recommendation will be forwarded to the 
National Park Service (NPS), Southeast Regional Office for their review and 
approval. NPS is involved and has final say in the review process because a 
Federal LWCF Grant was used for acquisition and/or development of the park. 
When the grant application was submitted, the City agreed to preserve in 
perpetuity (forever) the park as outlined in the LWCF grant boundary map for 
public recreation and to replace any land removed with land of equal value and 
equal utility.

This is a tremendous vicitory for park users, now and forever.

The city has learned that it cannot use lands inside the boundary of Steele 
Creek Park for such purposes.

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN




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