HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-15-2013 - 5iORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 15, 2013
Action Agenda
Item No. 5 -i
SUBJECT: Safe Routes to School Action Plan Update and Authorization of Next Steps
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Amendment Outline Form
1
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abigaile Pittman, Transportation /Land Use
Planner, 245 -2567
Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning
Supervisor, 245 -2579
Craig Benedict, 245 -2592
PURPOSE: To update the BOCC on Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Action Plan pre- adoption
steps, and receive authorization of next steps according to the Amendment form for the SRTS
Action Plan (Attachment 1).
BACKGROUND: The NC SRTS Program works with schools, local governments and agencies,
advocacy and non - profit organizations, and public health professionals at a grassroots level to
identify improvements that can help make bicycling and walking to and from school a safe and
healthy transportation alternative. Orange County received a Safe Routes to School (SRST)
Action Plan Service Award in July 2008 for planning assistance to prepare an Action Plan for
Grady A. Brown Elementary School, Cameron Park Elementary School and C.W. Stanford
Middle School.
In 2009 NCDOT contracted Greenways, Incorporated and Greene Transportation Solutions to
work with County staff, local agency representatives, School Team leaders and principals of the
three schools to identify non - motorized infrastructure improvements that enhance safety for
walking and bicycling. The draft Plan was reviewed by the North Carolina Department of
Transportation ( NCDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Division, and a final draft was completed and
returned to the Planning Staff in December 2012.
April 9, 2013 BOCC Meeting
At a meeting in April the BOCC approved the Amendment Form authorizing staff to proceed
with initial adoption steps that included:
• Joint staff planning meetings with Orange County Schools and the Town of Hillsborough;
• Meetings with the Orange County School Board and the Town of Hillsborough Town
Board to provide information and receive endorsement to proceed, and
• The completion of updates to the draft SRTS Action Plan pertaining to the review of local
planning document resources, federal and state funding sources, depicted school district
boundaries, and general corrections such as the spelling of some road names, etc.
1
Update
• On April 30 County Planning staff met with staff from the Town of Hillsborough, Orange
County Schools, Orange County Health Department, and representatives from the state
Community Transformation Grant program (a related program and possible funding
source). Additional conversations and meetings occurred in May, June and July to
discuss the progress of pre- adoption steps,
• On May 28 County Planning staff presented an overview of the SRTS Action Plan and
proposed pre- adoption steps to the Orange County School Board and received their
endorsement,
• On June 10 County Planning staff presented an overview of the SRTS Action Plan and
proposed pre- adoption steps to the Town of Hillsborough Board of Commissioners and
received its endorsement; and
• Updates to the draft SRTS Action Plan were completed through August pertaining to the
review of local planning document resources, federal and state funding sources and
recent changes, revisions to depicted school district boundaries, and general corrections
such as the spelling of some road names, etc. No revisions were made to project
recommendations developed by the Plan steering committee.
Through this item, staff is seeking BOCC authorization to proceed with next steps to include
review and adoption by Orange County Schools, the Town of Hillsborough, and Orange County.
Attachment 1 is a revised Amendment form reflecting the adoption process.
For Additional Information:
Information about the SRTS Action Plan previously submitted to the Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC) on April 9, 2013 can be found at the below link:
htta: / /server3.co.oranae.nc.us: 8088 /WebLink8 /DocView.asax ?id= 28037 &dbid =0
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Other than staff time, there is no financial impact associated with
receiving, considering and authorizing the staff to proceed with adoption steps for the SRTS
Action Plan. This work will be completed by existing Planning staff in the Department's
Comprehensive Planning Division. Following adoption, Plan implementation will also require
assistance from the NCDOT SRTS program, the Orange County Schools staff, and the Town of
Hillsborough staff.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends the Board:
1. Receive the SRTS Update; and
2. Authorize Staff to proceed with the adoption process.
3
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN /FUTURE LAND USE MAP
AND
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE (UDO)
AMENDMENTOUTLINE
A. AMENDMENT TYPE
Map Amendments
❑ Land Use Element Map:
From: - --
To: ---
El Zoning Map:
From-
To: ---
El Other:
Text Amendments
❑ Comprehensive Plan Text:
❑ UDO Text:
❑UDO General Text Changes
❑UDO Development Standards
❑UDO Development Approval Processes
® Other: Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Action Plan - request to proceed with
adoption steps.
B. RATIONALE
1. Purpose /Mission
The purpose of the SRTS program is to:
• Enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and
bicycle to school,
• Make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation
alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age,
and
• Facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and
activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air
pollution in the vicinity of schools.
n
2. Analysis
The required analysis will be part of the subsequent evaluation and approval of
project implementation actions.
3. Comprehensive Plan Linkage (i.e. Principles, Goals and Objectives)
Chapter 9: Transportation Element Goals 1, 2, 3 and 4 and their supporting
objectives address a multi -modal transportation system, promotion of public health
and safety, and transportation planning that serves development. Several objectives
specifically speak to the provision of bikeways and walkways.
4. New Statutes and Rules
N/A
C. PROCESS L A&
1. TIMEFRAME /MILESTONES /DEADLINES
a. BOCC Authorization to Proceed with Initial Adoption Steps
April 9, 2013
b. Joint Staff Meeting with Orange County Schools and the Town of Hillsborough
April 2013
c. Meet with Orange County School Board and the Town Board of Hillsborough to
Brief and Receive Approval for Initial SRTS Adoption Steps
May 28, 2013 — Orange County School Board Meeting
June 10, 2013 — Town of Hillsborough Town Board Meeting
d. BOCC Authorization to Proceed with Adoption Steps
October 15, 2013
e. BOCC Public Hearing
November 19, 2013 (OUTBoard members encouraged to attend)
f. Orange County Schools Adoption Consideration
January 13, 2014
g. Town of Hillsborough Adoption Consideration
February 10, 2014
h. BOCC Adoption Consideration
February 2014
2. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM
The Plan development process included a public workshop completed in April 2008
that sought input from residents, including parents, teachers, principals, children,
Town of Hillsborough staff, and Orange County staff.
2
GW
a. Advisory Boards:
Planning Board — N/A
OUTBoard — December 18, 2013
b. Local Government Review:
Town of Hillsborough, as noted in
Section C.1. above
c. Notice Requirements
Not required for these adoption steps
d. Outreach:
❑ General Public: The Plan development process included a public workshop
completed in April 2008 that sought input from residents,
including parents, teachers, principals, children, Town of
Hillsborough staff, and Orange County staff.
❑ Small Area Plan Workgroup: N/A
® Other: Joint staff meetings with Orange County Schools and the Town of
Hillsborough; and meetings with the Orange County School Board
and the Town Board of Hillsborough.
FISCAL IMPACT
Other than staff time, there is no financial impact associated with receiving,
considering and authorizing the staff to proceed with adoption steps for the SRTS
Action Plan.
D. AMENDMENT IMPLICATIONS
N/A
E. SPECIFIC AMENDMENT LANGUAGE
N/A
Primary Staff Contact:
Abigaile Pittman
Planning Department
(919) 245 -2567
abpittman @orangecountync.gov
3