HomeMy WebLinkAboutS Eno Drive in Orange Co. Concerns and Recomendations ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
P.O. Box 8181
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.
27278
Moses Carey,Jr. 732-8181
Alice M. Gordon 968-4501
Stephen H. H* Ch 26, 19 9 2 688-7331
Verla C. Insko 227-2031
Don Willhoit 644-3004 (Fax)
N.C. Department of Transportation
Durham Northwest and Northeast
Loop Corridor Study
P.O. Box 30923
Raleigh, N.C. 27622
SUBJECT: CONCERNS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING PROPOSED
CORRIDORS FOR ENO DRIVE IN ORANGE COUNTY
To the Corridor Study Steering Committee:
The announcement for the upcoming citizens informational
workshop contains a map which depicts two possible corridors
for Eno Drive in Orange County. We understand that a goal of
the workshop is narrowing down the list of potential
corridors to determine which ones should receive further
study. Toward this goal, the County Commissioners offer the
following comments concerning the two proposed corridors in
Orange County.
First Corridor (farther north and west)
The first corridor crosses the Orange County line at
Cole Mill Road. It then proceeds in a southwesterly
direction to the edge of, if not beyond, the boundaries of
the study area. Then it angles back to the southeast across
the Eno River and intersects with I-85 just west of the
Durham/Orange County Line. This alignment appears to cross
portions of the Eno River State Park and could pose serious
threats to the integrity of the park. Another area of
significant public interest, the Rhodes Creek Wildlife
Corridor, as identified in the recently adopted New Hope
Creek Open Space Master Plan lies immediately west of the
corridor. We have serious concerns about this proposed
corridor for Eno Drive and request that it be removed from
further consideration.
Two other points making this corridor a poor candidate
are the necessity of crossing the Eno River and extensive
areas of steep topography (exceeding 15% slope) . The Orange
County Planning Department has detailed thematic mapping of
the area and Mr. Gene Bell, Planner III, is available to
assist with any requests you may have concerning the maps.
Likewise, Ms. Emily Cameron, Planner II, is available to
answer any questions you may have regarding the New Hope
Creek Open Space Master Plan.
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YOU COUNT IN ORANGE COUNTY !
Second Corridor (farther south and east)
The second corridor enters Orange County approximately
one mile north of I-85. It runs in a southerly direction
roughly parallel to the county line and intersects I-85 in
the same location as the first corridor. It passes through
areas of steep slope, but does not appear to cross any
portion of the Eno River State Park and is away from the
Rhodes Creek Wildlife Corridor. This second corridor is also
consistent with the alignment of Eno Drive as depicted on the
Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area Thoroughfare Plan.
The thoroughfare plan alignment was also used as the basis
for another recommendation in the adopted New Hope Creek
Plan, a bike and pedestrian way adjacent to Eno Drive.
Recommendation
While we have concerns about any highway proposed for
Orange County, we recognize that the second corridor is most
consistent with adopted regional plans, whereas the first
corridor clearly is not. We, therefore, recommend that the
second corridor be considered for additional detailed study
and that the first corridor be removed from further
consideration.
Thank you for this opportunity to comment on this most
important project. We shall look forward to receiving a
detailed presentation on the Corridor Study when the
consultant and DOT staff meet with us on April 21, 1992 .
Sincere y,
Moses Carey, Jr. , Chair
Orange County Board of ommissioners
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