Comprehensive Transportation Plan Amendment – Weldon Ridge Boulevard (10-CPA-02)
STAFF REPORT
Town Council, February 11, 2010
Comprehensive Transportation Plan Amendment – Weldon Ridge Boulevard (10-CPA-02) (EN10-029A)
Consideration of a public hearing for a request to amend the collector system on the existing Comprehensive Transportation Plan (Weldon Ridge Boulevard)
Speaker: Ms. Laura Cove
From: Tim Bailey, P.E. Director of Engineering
Prepared by: Tom Ellis, P.E., Senior Engineer
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Town Manager
Approved by: Michael J. Bajorek, Assistant Town Manager
Executive Summary: Staff received and evaluated a property owner request to amend the collector system on the Comprehensive Transportation Plan for a portion of the horizontal alignment on Weldon Ridge Boulevard. Following the initial public hearing, staff recommends forwarding the item to a second public hearing at the Planning and Zoning Board on March 15, 2010. Items in bold have been added since the last Staff Report.
Background: During the update of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan in the Fall of 2008, concerns about the proposed alignment of a collector roadway (Weldon Ridge Boulevard) were expressed and Council asked staff to continue to work with the community to try and resolve their concerns. Staff received a request from Ms. Carla Sadtler to amend a portion of the Weldon Ridge Boulevard alignment from Green Level West Road to Mills Road. Ms. Sadtler specifically asked staff to determine if the alignment could be shifted to the west. Staff developed and evaluated several alignments. Based on a very preliminary review and analysis, one of the alternate alignments appeared to involve less environmental impacts and less deforestation than the others. A drawing was developed that showed the alternate alignment and the approved alignment from the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP). Staff provided the drawing to Ms. Sadtler for her to present to the property owners impacted by both alignments to see if they would support the alternate alignment. During this process, e-mail correspondence was received from two of the five affected property owners supporting the current alignment. One of the other property owners, after meeting with Staff to review both alignments as well as proposed alignments for the future Black Creek Greenway project and the Green Level Interceptor Sewer project, supported the alternate alignment. No known responses were received from the other two impacted property owners. A map (Attachment A) showing the current alignment, the alternate alignment, the stream buffers and wetlands is attached.
Since overall support was not received for either alignment, Staff suggested that Ms. Sadtler prepare a formal request for the change to the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (Attachment B) for Council consideration. As part of reviewing this request, Staff also evaluated and determined the following advantages of each alignment.
A. Current Alignment
• Larger continuous developable area would exist west of alignment
• Easier accessibility from collector road to the future greenway and sewer line
• Flatter horizontal alignment and shorter length of collector road
B. Alternate Alignment
• Most of alignment is on a ridge line
• Less potential impact on stream and wetland buffers
• Less potential deforestation
Both alignments can most likely be adjusted further when detailed designs are completed to minimize impacts to properties and buffers.
On December 10, 2009, Town Council recommended moving forward with the alternate alignment as a proposed change to the existing Comprehensive Transportation Plan (EN10-029).
Advertisements for the February 11, 2010 Public Hearing have been advertised in the January 27 and February 3, 2010 Cary News. Public Hearing Notices were posted in the area on January 26, 2010. Adjacent property owner notification letters were mailed on January 26, 2010.
Fiscal Impact: None
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that following the February 11, 2010 Public Hearing, that the second public hearing be held at the March 15, 2010 Planning and Zoning Board Meeting.
