HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-11-2008- Transfer StationORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF CONIlVIISSIONERS
AGENDA
BOCC Transfer Station Siting Work Session
February 11, 2008
Meeting - 7:45 p.m. (or immediately upon adjournment of the
7:30 p.m. Reconvened Regular Meeting)
Southern Human Services Center
Chapel Hill, NC
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the meeting will be to present a resolution, drafted by County
management, for adoption stating the Board's desire to ensure a fair, open, and
fundamentally sound siting process and to emphasize the Board's commitment to
public participation throughout. A revised transfer station siting process flow
schematic and schedule reflecting public meetings as currently established by the
BOCC will also be presented for adoption.
In addition information regarding the selection of exclusionary criteria, technical
criteria and proposed public participation elements will be presented for
discussion, feedback, direction and public comment.
AGENDA (ORDER OF BUSINESS):
1) Recommend Adoption of Public Participation Resolution (Exhibit 1)
2) Recommend Adoption of Transfer Station Siting Process Flow Schematic
and Schedule (Exhibits 2 and 3)
3) Discussion, Feedback, and Direction on Public Participation Program
(Reference -Exhibit 2)
4) Discussion, Feedback, and Direction on Exclusionary Criteria (Exhibit 4 -
Resources -Exhibits 5 and 6)
5) Discussion, Feedback, and Direction on Technical Criteria (Exhibit 7)
6) Public Comment Period (15 Minutes)
7) Further Comment, Direction, and Feedback as desired by the Board to Olver,
Incand/or County Management
ATTACHMENTS FOR RESOURCEIREFERENCE:
Exhibit 1-Orange County Transfer Station Siting Process Resolution: Commitment to
Public Participation
Exhibit 2 -Revised Transfer Station Siting -Process Flow Schematic
Exhibit 3 -Revised Transfer Station Siting Schedule
Exhibit 4 -Preliminary Exclusionary Siting Criteria
Exhibit 5 -Orange County Watershed Map
Exhibit 6 -Major Transportation Arterials
Exhibit 7 -Technical Siting Criteria
Orange County Transfer Station Siting Process Resolution
Commitment to Public Participation
WI-IEREAS, the Board of Commissioners authorized County management to
begin planning a solid waste transfer station for the Eubanks Road site in March 2007;
and
WI~REAS, the Board agreed in November 2007 to activate a thorough process
for identifying and evaluating sites for locating a solid waste transfer station; and
WI-IEREAS, the services of Olver, Inc., an independent engineering consulting
firm, were engaged in December 2007 to guide and assist the Board serving as a
"committee of the whole"through the technical phases of a search process -from
defming site criteria to the ranking of candidate sites - leading ultimately to a site
selection; and
WHEREAS, the Board is aware of, and appreciates, the sense of urgency and
magnitude of effort required by this undertaking given that the existing landfill is
projected to be at capacity by 2011; and
WI~REAS, the Board is committed to conducting a process that provides for a
high level of public information and abundant opportunity for meaningful public
participation throughout; and
WI~REAS, the Board charged Olver, Inc. -- with advice and assistance from
County management -- to propose a schedule of special, public meetings that include
aggressive timelines for deliberations and decision-making on siting criteria and site
options, along with outreach and notification, information/feedback sessions, and special
presentations within and among impacted neighborhoods and the community at large;
and
WI~REAS, the Board on February 5, 2008 amended its regular meeting schedule
to incorporate additional dates consistent with the philosophy of public education and
engagement, and provided that such meetings be televised;
NOW, 'TI~REFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners has set forth these actions and this, statement as strong indicators of the
Board's desire to ensure a fair, open, and fundamentally sound siting process for a
transfer station;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board invites and encourages local
media, municipalities, civic organizations, and residents from everywhere in Orange
County to engage and participate fiully in this siting process, as all are stewards of the
environment, physical and political, of Orange County;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board will reserve for public
comment the last fifteen (15) minutes of each session that is part of the Board's schedule
of meetings committed to identifying and evaluating alternative sites for locating a solid
waste transfer station. This Resolution takes effect immediately.
Upon motion of Commissioner , seconded by Commissioner
,the foregoing resolution was adopted this the day of ,
2008.
I, Donna S. Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of
Orange, North Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so
much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held'on as
relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded
in the Minute Book of the Board.
WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this day of
2008.
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
MEETING TIMELINE
Information: Decision: Public Comment: Information:
^ Process ^ Resolutions ^ Exclusionary ^ Technical
^ Schedule ^ Siting Process Criteria Criteria &
^ Exclusionary Weighting
Criteria Information: Information: Factors
^ Exclusionary ^ Technical ^ Community
Criteria Criteria Specific
^ Public ^ Community Criteria &
Participation Specific Weighting
^ Technical Criteria Factors
Criteria ^ Public Meeting Decision:
Dates ^ Exclusionary
Criteria
PUBLIC INPUT PUBLIC INPUT PUBLIC INPUT
Public
Comment
Meetings
r , , , .:~
Information: Decision: Information: Decision:
^ Technical ^ Technical ^ Candidate Site ^ Final
Criteria & Criteria & Selection Candidate
Weighting Weighting ^ Public Meeting Sites
Factors Factors Dates
^ Community ^ Community
Specific Specific
Criteria & Criteria &
Weighting Weighting
Factors Factors
Information:
^ Potential Sites
PUBLIC INPUT PUBLIC INPUT PUBLIC INPUT PUBLIC INPUT
PUBLIC INPUT I I PUBLIC INPUT
Information:
^ Final Ranking
of Candidate
Sites
Decision:
Public ^ Final Site
Comment Selection
Meeting
PUBLIC INPUT
FL0~1 SCHEMATIC
Develop Finalize ti~~ Develop ( Finalize 3118
Siting Process Siting .~ Exclusionary Exclusionary
& Schedule Process ~ Criteria ~ ( Criteria
Revise
Exclusionary
Criteria
>10
Identify
Potential ~F
Sites
Technical Ranking of I Selection of
Evaluation of Potential Final Candida
Potential Sites ( Sites ~ Sites
(a ei3o
5120 I
Develop Establish
Introduction of Preliminary preliminary Public Finalize Technical Public
Siting Process Technical Inputl Screening Criteria & Inputl
Concepts Screening Weighting Participation Weighting Factors Participatior
Criteria Factors
Develop Establish Finalize
Preliminary Public 512o Community-
Preliminary In ut! Community-Specific ~ Specific
Community- Weighting Parti P ation Screening Criteria Evaluation of
Specific Factors p & Weighting Factors Candidate Sites'
Criteria ...................._.................. _........_................,............_._.............._...............
Ranking Public Final BOCC 11118
of Candidate In ut/ Ranking
'~ p i ~ of Candidate Selection
Sites Participation, Sites of Site
Exhibit 2
,~ BOCCApprovallDecision Transfer Station Siting Process -Flow Schematic & Timeline
02/1112008 Revision
Information: Information:
^ Evaluation of ^ Preliminary
Candidate Ranking of
Sites Candidate
^ Public Meeting Sites
Public Dates
Comment
Meetings
TRANSFER STATION SITING SCHEDULE u,e
,o.
r
ID
1 Task Name
DEVELOP SIHNG PROCESS Start
Wed 11161081 Finish
Tue yty08 2008
12130
1
1M3 1fM 2110 7114 y9 323 416 420 514 5h8
-
6!1 6!15 6129 7/13
727 BMD 824 9R 921 1013 10119 112 11116 1113D
,
2 BOCCSpedalMeedng•PreserdaUonofPrelimfnarySlUngAppmachlProrzss Wed1116N8! Wed1f16N6 I 1116
3 Develop Preliminary Siting Process ~ Wed 1!161081 Fri 125N8 j wl .,rrc~ 1
4 Develop Preliminary Siting Process ShcedWe Wed 111FJ06 f Fri 1125108 _ ___ €
3
5 BOCC WorkSessicn Tue 129N8?
i Tue 1129!08 120 °
i
6 Flnal¢e Siting Process Process & Schedule
-
-
--- j Wed 1f301D8 j
i I Mon y11106 ~
I _t;,g~;,.
7 BOCCWorkSession -^
~-
----
-~ " Mony111Dg~ Mon7%11N8 !!
!! ~y11
8 Adopt5ltingProcessBSchedula ( Tuey17lOBi Tueyty06 i
!III
9 DEVELDPMENTOFEXCLUSIONARYCRiTERIA Wed1116(DB TueL181gg
_~_ _
10 Review aFEbsting !.and Use and Zoning Restrictions 1 Wed 1/16N8 Thu y14Ne - ~ r_;;;ti_:-:r--~~,, _
11 DevelcpPrefiminaryFxdusianaryCriteria Wed1/1fi108i Thu 2114/08 -my^r'°,-,,,,,_;:-~°~~_• ~-~
12 ROCC-Work Session I Tuey19N8 Tueyi9108 yig
13
Pinatas Exdusionary Criteria
Tue y19N8I
I
Thu 3113108 -~-
.a;ii:~ ..:~s_ 'iI ~,
_..:-_.:.. _..
14 BOCC•WorkSessien Tue3118N8i Tue 3118108 ~ ~,gryg
~
I
15 AdoptExdus'wnaryCrileria
_
..
..
.
-
_
-
- Tue3r18N8 Tue 3118108 A
y
G!
16 SITE ItlENTIFICAiION
µ~.
-. F
-y-.-.-~
y-
~.-
~..
m--~-.
~ .-..~ - Wed 3119108 'fhu 5/15fD8 E
17
18
19 IdentifyPofentialTransterStaticnSites
flNALG'ETECHNICALANDCOMMUNITYSPECIRCCRITERNB:WEIOHIINGFACTORS
-Develop Pre~im(riary Technical Saeen(ng Cdteria ~------_-_ ~---~--
--~ ~ Wed3f19<OB
! Wed 116108
Wed 2/6108 Thu5/15lDB
Tue 5120106
'Rw y14lOB
~J -
20 BOCCWorkSessicn
-.__.
.--'--......._.
_
_--- ' Tuey19N61 Tuey19108 ~ y19
I
21 -_
.
.
-
ReviewTecfuucaiScreeningCrileda I Wed22W08! Thu3/13!OB
m.....-,~..
_ _- ~~
22
23 Establish PrefanlnaryTechn(cal Critara Weighting Fadors
-~~ BOCCWorkSession Wed?IZa081
1
Tue3118N6)
I Thu 3113108
Tue3/18106 ~ .) ~
'~ f~15-~EEa-~.._iill-
! 18
24 PuWicPartidpa5on8CommentPeriod Wedy19108 Tue4/8108 t
25
26 BOCCWorkSession
Finaf¢eTechnlcalScreeningCdteriaB.WeightingFadors Tue 4115108 Tue4115r06
I
Wed4l16108I Thu5115f08 ~ 15
i -r-r~,,,~,,,,,n ~..,. ~yT,_ i, ~.
27 BOCCWorkSession Tue520Po8€ Tue 520108 ~ 2D
28 Adopt Flnal Technid Screening Criteria & Weighting Fadors Tue 520A8I Tue 5201D6 ~ [•~
29 DevelcpPrefiminaryCommunity5pedficSrreeningCriteria Wedy6106 Thuy14N8 ;W:_u!;.
~
~
30 BOCCWorkSession 1 Tuey18108~ Tuayl9fOB =
y1g
9
31 Review Community Spedfic Screening Criteria Wed 22WD8 ~ Thu 3!13!08
r. ~
[ _
32 EstabfishPmfiminaryCemmuniySpecificCrileriaWeightingFadws
~ Wed22NOB Thu 3113+08 ~ ~~
~ ~:':'
..m .---...
33 DDCCWorkSession
~ LL ~ ~- ~ ~ ~ Tue3118N8 Tue3/1fl'OB -
- t8
34 Public Partidpa6on d Comment Period Wed 3119108 i Tue 4/BN6
35 BOCCWorkSession
- Tue4/15m6
~ Tue 4/15'08 ~ 15
36
Fnaf¢eCommunity5pedficSaeeningCdleriaBWeigfltingFadors
_..
Wed4118108
.-,
ThuS/151g8 _rT^
r i '~::
37 BOCCWarkSesslon ' Tue52DN8i Tue520rD8 ~ 20
38 Adapt Fnal Community Specfic Screening Criteria 8 WeighBng Factors Tue 520N8 Tue 520N8 I
39 TECHNICALEVALIlATiON ~ Wed5121818I Mon8111N8 ~
40 TechNcalEvaluatianafPatentialSites ~ Wed 521/08 MonBr8/06
~~
! ~~.
41 PreliminaryRankngotPdential58es 1 Tuefi11N081 Wed6h8r08 ( ~~,ti,
42
43 BDCC-WorkSesslon
'-FnalRankingafCaod!daleSDes ~--,_..-_,-• ~
-~ Tue624N8)
•~~~Tue&/14N61- Tue624lOB
~ Thu 628106 ~ ~
44 BOCC•SpeclalMeeDng
...._.- Man6t301g8, Mon630N6 ~ 6I3U
~ Selection of Flrol Candidate Slles ----°----~ ---- --~ -Mon 8f30N81 Mon 6130108
48 PuMicPartidpation&CemmerdPeriod ~ Tue711NBI Mon8111r98
47 COMMUNITYSPECIFlCEVALUATiON Tue811yD6 Tue10p108
48 ReviewofPu6ticCommenfs Tue 8/17108 Thu 9111106 --
49 BOCC•WorkSession I Tue9f16NBi Tue9/16N8 ' ~ 9116
50
CommundySpedtic Evaluation of Finai Canddate Saes
~
Tue 9/161061
Thu 102108 '
s;;,,~ _,,:
51 BOCC•SpedalMeeting
- - ~ Tue1017N8j
! Tue10.R/08 ~ ,s ,~
~};
52 Prelinimary Ranking of Flnal Candidate Saes ---~--~--~ Tue 1D()NB i . ---
Tue 107108
53 FlNALSR'ESEIECTION ~ Wed 10181081 Tue11F18N6
54 Citizens ~mup end Community information Meetings - Wed 1018!08 Thu ttli3lDB ~ _ ~.
r
F
55 BDCC • Spedal Meeting ~ Tue 11/18N8 ~ Tue 11/18!08 ~ ~ 11118
56 Flnai Ranking of Candidate Sites ( Tue 11/16108 j
I Tue 71/16x08
EdIib83 Oy11I2008Revision
Transfer 6L3tion Siting Process - Pmjed Schedule
IlChetlotlnNdaNmjedsl0r.nae Caunty1t0151WOWERPN71T55d6An5rk5wamiiOaB Obfl.MaetnplEdxLd7.TmWarSle projedTask _ BOCCMeeting ® Summary Dedsion® Pub6cParDdpatial
Page 1
EXHIBIT 4
PRELIMINARY EXCLUSIONARY SITING CRITERIA
^ Wetlands and floodplains.
^ Endangered and protected flora and fauna habitats,
^ Protected sites of historical, archeological, or cultural significance.
^ Parks and preserves.
^ Sites must be greater than 25 acres.
^ Site must be located within County jurisdiction.
^ Site must be located within 3 miles of a major transportation arterial (i.e., US 15-501, NC 54, NC
86, US 70, NC 57, I-40, or I-85).
EXHIBIT 7
TECHNICAL. SITING CRITERIA
The second category of criteria to develop includes technical parameters that help define the best potential
facility sites. These criteria provide guidance on specific engineering, operation, and transportation
conditions that should be considered to ensure that potential sites are feasible from technical,
environmental, and economic perspectives. These criteria address the following issues:
^ Central location to collection routes - To maximize waste collection efficiency, transfer
stations should be located centrally to waste collection routes. As a rule of thumb in urban and
suburban areas, transfer stations should be no more than 10 miles away from the end of all
collection routes. Beyond that distance, collection routes might need to be altered to enable
refuse to be collected and deposited at the transfer station within one operating shift.
^ Access to major transportation routes -The transfer station should have direct and
convenient access to truck routes, major arterials, and highways (or rail or barge access, if
appropriate). For large metropolitan areas, direct access to rail lines or barges will significantly
reduce the number of large transfer trailers leaving the station and traveling area roads. It is
preferable to avoid routing traffic through residential areas because traffic generated by transfer
stations contributes to congestion; increased risk to pedestrians; increased air emissions, noise,
and wear on roads; and might contribute to litter problems.
^ Site size requirements -The area required for specific transfer stations varies significantly,
depending on the volume of waste to be transferred, rates at which waste will be delivered, the
functions to be carried out at the site, and the types of customers the facility is intended to serve.
Locating a site of sufficient size is critical to operating efficiencies and minimizing impacts on
the surrounding community. Engineering input can establish preliminary size criteria based on a
conceptual design.
^ Sufficient space for on-site roadways, queuing, and parking -Transfer stations typically have
on-site roadways to move vehicles around various parts of the transfer site. Waste collection trucks
can be up to 40 feet long. Transfer trailers that move waste to a disposal facility are typically 50 to
70 feet long. These vehicles need wide roadways with gradual slopes and curves to maneuver
efficiently and safely. Also, the site will need space for parking transfer vehicles and to allow
incoming and outgoing traffic to form Lines without backing up onto public roads.
^ Truck and traffic compatibility -Transfer stations often receive surges of traffic when
collection vehicles have finished their routes. Transfer station traffic varies locally but tends to
peak twice a day. The first peak is often near the middle of the day or shift, and the second at the
end of the day or shift. Therefore, the best sites for transfer stations are located away from areas
that have midday traffic peaks and/or school bus and pedestrian traffic.
~ Waste Transfer Station: A Manual for Decision-Making, EPA.
•~~
~~~
OLVER
1
^ Ability for expansion -When selecting a site, consider the potential for subsequent increase in
the daily tonnage of waste that the facility will be required to manage, or added processing
capabilities for recycling and diversion, It is frequently less expensive to expand an existing
transfer station than to develop a new site due to the ability to use existing operations staff, utility
connection, traffic control systems, office space, and buildings.
^ Space for recycling, composting, and public education - A transfer station could be sited in
areas also conducive to recycling or composting activities. Many transfer stations are designed to
enable residents and businesses to drop off recyclables and yard waste in addition to trash. Some
transfer stations incorporate education centers or interpretive trails focusing on waste prevention.
These types of facilities offer increased utility to the community.
^ Buffer space - To mitigate impact on the surrounding community, a transfer station should be
located in an area that provides separation from sensitive adjoining land uses as residences.
Buffers can be natural or constructed and can take many forms, including open spaces, fences,
sound walls, trees, berms, and landscaping.
^ Gently sloping topography -Transfer stations often are multilevel buildings that need to have
vehicle access at several levels. Completely flat sites need ramps or bridges constructed to allow
vehicle access to upper levels (or areas excavated to allow access to lower levels). Sites with
moderately sloping terrain can use topography to their advantage, allowing access to the upper
levels from the higher parts of the natural terrain and access to lower levels from the lower parts.
Sites with steep slopes might require extra costs associated with earthmoving and retaining walls.
^ Access to utilities -Transfer stations generally require electricity to operate equipment, such as
balers and compactors; lighting; water for facility cleaning, restrooms, and drinking; and sanitary
sewer systems for wastewater disposal. Some smaller transfer stations use wells for water supply,
and some, especially in more rural settings, use septic systems or truck their wastewater for off-
sitetreatment.
^ Zoning designations and requirements -Zoning ordinances frequently classify transfer
stations as industrial uses, which limits their siting to areas zoned for industry usually in
conjunction with a special use permit. Exclusive use of predetermined land use criteria, however,
might result in locating transfer stations in areas already overburdened with industries or
clustering of these types of facilities in areas adjacent to poor and minority communities. If local
zoning ordinances are so restrictive that they disallow facility siting outside pre-established
industrial zones, substantial engineering and architectural design must be incorporated into the
facility to minimize impacts on the surrounding community.
^ Carbon footprint -Carbon emissions output of waste hauling and transfer operations
referenced to the centroid of waste generation?
z Criteria Modified for Orange County, North Carolina.
iiaw 2
OLVER
,~