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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-06-2007-9aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 6, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. 6) -q SUBJECT: Site Selection: Orange County Transfer Station DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Eubanks Roads Community Information Meeting 2. Site Evaluation Summary INFORMATION CONTACT: Gayle Wilson, 968-2885 PURPOSE: To present findings pertinent to site selection for a proposed Orange County Transfer Station BACKGROUND: The existing landfill on Eubanks Road will reach capacity in 2010, at which time the County will be required to transport its municipal solid waste out-of-county for disposal through the use of a Transfer Station. At the February 8, 2005 joint work session between the County Commissioners and the Solid Waste Advisory Board, the SWAB was asked to look at where a transfer station could be located. At the March 15, 2006 BOCC work session, the SWAB presented a recommendation that a transfer station be sited on existing landfill property on Eubanks Road. Previously, in. 2001, the BOCC had chosen to not authorize the North Eubanks Road site for a future transfer station as part of the Master Plan so as to examine other options. Since the BOCC review of the SWAB recommendation in the spring of 2006, County management and Solid Waste staff have explored alternative waste transfer station options including discussions with Alamance County and the City of Durham. These discussions did not prove successful. At the October 24, 2006 BOCC work session, the Board eliminated further discussion of a City of Durham option and agreed to revisit the issue of a local transfer station location at a future meeting. It was determined that the BOCC would decide from among three options: to locate the site at Eubanks Road to direct the staff to look for another site (Hwy 70 East site, presented by owner) to direct staff to have a public meeting in the landfill neighborhood with direction from the Board as to the parameters of the presentation 2 On December 12, 2006, the Board directed staff to conduct a landfill neighborhood meeting to present issues related to the possible development of a transfer station on existing landfill property and to solicit input and answer questions from residents of the surrounding community. This meeting was held on January 18 at the Faith Tabernacle Oasis of Love International on Rogers Road. At the Board meeting on January 23, 2007, staff was directed to further evaluate the list of community concerns and to include a response, including creative solutions that might be considered. Staff was also directed to finalize the alternate transfer station site analysis. The requested reports are included as Attachment A - Community Information Meeting and 13- Transfer Station Site Evaluation Summary. For ease of reference and review, the evaluation summary for the Eubanks Road site is also depicted. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Attachment B provides an overview of projected development costs for an Orange County Transfer Station located at Highway 70E versus a facility located on Eubanks Road. Under the Inter-local Agreement, the Orange County Solid Waste Fund is responsible for financing the operation, maintenance, and development of necessary and associated landfilling facilities. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider the information provided in the attached reports and that staff solicit input on the two potential sites from the County's partners in the lnterlocal Agreement for Solid Waste Management, which would then be reported to the Board at a future meeting. 3 PROPOSED TRANSFER STATION SITE: EUBANKS ROAD COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING February 6, 2007 Introduction: The following Report summarizes the seven categories of community concern - Refuse Collection, Landfill Functions/Facilities, Traffic Control, Litter Control, Odor Control, Vermin Control, and Environmental Protection - accompanied by the County response and additional alternatives posed for consideration. Refuse Collection CommunityQuestions/Concerns • what is the number of collection truck loads that will fit into a transfer truck • will trash be compacted into the transfer trucks • will the trash dumped at the transfer station be sorted for recyclables • will all of the waste be transferred out each day or stored in transfer station or a truck County Response: Each transfer trailer will hold about 6-10 garbage trucks. The type transfer station Orange County is considering will not compact trash into the transfer trailers, but will be placed in the trailer by a front-end loader. A backhoe loader will then reposition the waste to fill voids and to ensure each load is near, but not over the legal load limit. The trash will be dumped on the floor so that it can be spread for the inspection of prohibited materials and to enforce bans. If time and space allow, some picking of recyclables may be allowed by haulers in order to avoid penalties for improper materials, however, the transfer station will not, as a routine practice be used for sortation of recyclables from the waste. It will be an operational policy that all waste will be removed from the tipping floor each day, loaded into a transfer trailer, and hauled to the landfill. Exceptions to this policy may occur in extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather emergency situations, major power outages, etc. Additional Alternatives: Orange County will strive to maintain best management practices in the management of a transfer station. Landfill Functions/Facilities CommunityQuestions/Concerns: • any other solid waste operations that will be disturbed by the transfer station other than the convenience center • will the C&D landfill and hazardous waste landfills remain open when the transfer station opens County Response: A transfer station on landfill property north of Eubanks Road will dislocate the solid waste convenience center (SWCC), the fenced equipment storage area, and the diesel fuel tank. The planned approach for these dislocated operations will be as follows: • SWCC - proposed to be moved across Eubanks Road near the existing hazardous household waste facility; to be improved by placing on hard asphalt/concrete surface, utilizing a new entrance aligned with an existing landfill perimeter road, eliminating open top front loading dumpsters and employing enclosed waste compactors, and expanding the use of higher capacity roll-off containers. • Equipment storage area- to be relocated adjacent to the existing maintenance building where the recycling collection trucks and crew building are now located; the recycling trucks and crew building are to be moved adjacent to the new solid waste operations center. • Diesel fuel tank - to be relocated to adjacent to the maintenance building. The C&D landfill located on the north side of Eubanks Road will continue until capacity is reached, in about 20 years. There is no hazardous waste landfill on Eubanks Road; only our hazardous household collection facility were materials are received, containerized, and hauled to out-of-county treatment and processing facilities. Additional Alternatives: Given severe space limitations on the north side of Eubanks Road, few other alternatives are available to receive the relocated operations. It would be possible to explore other available property in the general Eubanks Road/Millhouse Road area as alternate locations for the dislocated operations. There is no practical alternative to continuing operation of the recently opened construction and demolition (C&D) landfill. Traffic Control Community Questions/Concerns: • speed limit on Rogers and Eubanks Road • easier ID of speeding government collection vehicles by placing a big number on the sides of the trucks, two feet high, so that it is easily seen and reported • Eubanks Road needs to be 3 lanes • will driveway surface in and out of new facility be paved • is a right turn lane into the new facility being considered • lack of improvements to Eubanks Road caused by the new developments • interested in speed bumps on Rogers Road • ban trucks traveling to transfer station from using Rogers Road • initially 12-15 additional roundtrips per day impact; how many in 5 years • consider sidewalks on Rogers Road • too much traffic with recent development without bringing in more traffic County Response: Speed limits, lane expansions and speed bumps on roads adjacent to the Eubanks Road landfill are not under the authority of Orange County. 2 5 These limits are typically established by DOT, with input from the relevant local jurisdiction. An important venue for assessing the appropriateness of existing speed limits, speed bumps and examining the need for roadway improvement is conceivably within the recently formed, inter jurisdictional Rogers Road Small Area Plan Task Force, appointed by the Chapel Hill Town Council. The Task Force has been charged with reviewing the Land Use Plan, determining desirable land uses, service areas for water and sewer extension, and roadway/transit/bicycle/pedestrian networks needed to support development. Study activities and proposals will likely intersect with NCDOT and OWASA responsibilities. County staff has shared the Eubanks Road Community Information Report with the Town planning staff to facilitate common interests. A copy of Rogers Road Small Area Plan Task Force Draft Rules of Procedure and upcoming Proposed Meeting Agenda are attached to this Report as background. BOCC Chair Moses Carey and SWAB member Bonnie Norwood both serve on the Rogers Road Small Area Plan Task Force. The notion of trucks visiting the landfill exceeding the speed limits is a matter that has previously, and will soon again be discussed with the Manager and Sheriff's office. Periodic patrol by law enforcement could help reduce speed limit violations. Local government collection vehicles can reinforce importance of adhering to speed limits at all times, with closer oversight and consequences for those employees who speed. Most Solid Waste collection trucks currently maintain large truck numbers for ease of identification. All county waste collection vehicles will be examined for easy to see identification. The driveway surfaces at all areas of landfill property currently anticipated to be impacted by a transfer station will be asphalt or concrete. A right turn lane is being planned for the entrance to a potential new transfer station. DOT is involved in the review of all new proposed developments for the Eubanks Road area and determines resultant necessary road improvements. It is our understanding that DOT has and will have continuing involvement in roadway improvement decisions. The Town's of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, as well as Orange County's waste/recyclable collection vehicles have historically, as a matter of policy, been instructed not to use Rogers Road as a haul route to the landfill unless they are actually collecting Rogers Road neighborhoods. It is our observation that this policy is substantially complied with and any jurisdiction violating this policy should be contacted immediately upon observation. Private collection companies cannot be required to avoid traveling Rogers Road. County staff can contact known private companies to reiterate the wishes of the Rogers Road neighborhood request them to voluntarily avoid Rogers Road. 3 Estimating the extent to which the expected initial 12-15 transfer truck roundtrips per day will be increased over time is difficult. Based on our past experience, waste volumes have stayed level over the past 4-5 years based in part on waste reduction and recycling successes. Given that additional waste reduction success is likely, we anticipate that volumes will rise very slowly over the next few years. Additional Alternatives: Speeding - coordination of the control of speeding could also include the Solid Waste Management Department jointly funding additional enforcement personnel. Solid Waste Management staff is presently evaluating on-board GPS tracking and truck operation data interface systems that can track location, speed, etc. of the collection vehicle. If local governments, as a result of an ongoing solid waste management planning process, assumed some increased level of control (through franchising, direct provision of services, etc.) of all private collection operations, an absolute prohibition of travel on Rogers Road could be implemented. Staff will raise this issue with the Solid Waste Planning Work Group at a future meeting. Litter Control Community Questions/Concerns: • trucks pulling over down the road and putting tarp on just before entering transfer station • who will monitor uncovered trucks • will sheriff or state patrol be responsible for uncovered trucks • litter from uncovered trucks • what is law on covering hauled loads County Response: The County will examine opportunities for increased enforcement of load covering, littering as well as speeding. Included in discussions with the Sheriff's Department is identifying options for dealing with trucks tarping loads on the side of the, or enhance if necessary, roadway litter pickup schedules. Additional Alternatives: The Solid Waste Management Department will coordinate with the Public Works Department regarding load covering policies in effect at the SWCC. The County may also evaluate additional enforcement responsibilities for the Solid Waste Management Department enforcement staff. Odor Control Community Questions/Concerns: • odor bad for your health • neighbors don't deserve the odor. pungent odor out there is awful how long will the landfill smell after it closes 4 I County Response: The transfer station's enclosed design should significantly reduce the generation of odors. Design criteria will include ventilation and indoor air flow control to minimize odors from leaving the building. The shift of the SWCC to the south side of Eubanks Road will provide opportunity to modernize it both in appearance and operation, replacing open and occasionally leaking dumpsters with enclosed compactors. Current odors are caused primarily by the existing landfill and when closed and capped in 2010-2011, will eliminate most odors associated with the landfill. Existing research on the issue of health impacts from landfill odors have found no verifiable evidence of threats to public health. Additional Alternatives: The Solid Waste Management Department has recently altered their mulch turning procedure to that there is less potential for producing odors while turning. Additionally, the County will be soon placing for bid a sewer line extension from an existing manhole on Millhouse Road to the leachate pond located beside the existing landfill. Leachate can cause odors, particularly in warmer weather. Vermin Control Community Questions/Concerns: • how will rodents be controlled County Response: Most rodents observed at the landfill actually enter on the collection vehicles that empty dumpsters that contain them among the waste. The Solid Waste Management Department contracts with a pest control service that treats each departmental building and structure on a regular basis. It is anticipated that such a contractor will also be retained to regularly treat the transfer station. Maintaining a clean transfer facility that doesn't store waste overnight will also minimize vermin. The facility will also employ best management practices for managing all pests, including bees, flies, mice, ants, etc. Developing an enclosed facility will also deter nuisance birds such as gulls, buzzards, etc. Additional Alternatives: If above practices are ineffective in controlling vermin, departmental staff will explore any and all measures to provide adequate controls. Environmental Protection Community Questions/Concerns: • water contamination • if trash is dumped on concrete, how do you control substances getting into the water • can EPA do an environmental impact study • leaking trucks when they're outside of the facility County Response: Orange County has a long history of compliance with environmental rules and regulations, without a single notice of violation in its 35 year 6 existence. Orange County is alleged to have been the first municipal waste landfill in North Carolina to install groundwater monitoring wells in the 1070's. Groundwater Contamination - Approximately 15 groundwater monitoring wells form an early warning network for the detection of contamination before it reaches the property boundaries. These well are sampled for a wide range of organic and inorganic constituents twice annually. There have been some instances of exceedence of groundwater standards (which are more stringent that drinking water standards) in two of the monitoring wells. Our laboratory and hydro-geologist consulting firm maintains that these exceedences are typical of most landfills, that the degree of exceedence is marginal and not triggering any mitigation actions, and that they are either stabilized or in diminishing in concentrations. There has been no indication that any impacted groundwater has moved to or beyond property boundaries. Contingency plans exist should it appear there is movement of any impacted groundwater toward property lines. Concrete -The transfer station will have all floor areas constructed of a special resistant concrete with drains and water separators designed to intercept all liquids. These liquids will be filtered and diverted into the sanitary sewer. Impact Study - The EPA seldom becomes involved in local waste management siting decisions or evaluations and relies on state level regulations and enforcement to provide this oversight. State environmental regulations are required to meet EPA standards. Waste management facilities in North Carolina are highly regulated with rules for locating and permitting disposal facilities being extremely stringent and frequently exceeding more conventional environmental impact assessments. Given that the transfer station is proposed to be located on property containing both closed and operating permitted landfills, environmental monitoring and assessment will be greater due to the established monitoring system, the long history of landfill operation and associated monitoring, and the existing hydro-geologic knowledge and experience in the area will likely make this location preferable to most green (undeveloped) sites. Additional Alternatives: The County could modify its waste hauling licensing requirements to include a requirement to maintain all factory installed collection vehicle, body plugs and seals in an operable condition to avoid leaking. These requirements could include periodic inspections and would apply to municipal, county and private waste hauling vehicles. Standards for leaking bulk containers (dumpsters) could also be established to reduce leaking. Conclusion: Many of the questions and concerns raised by the Eubanks Road community can be addressed by Orange County, either alone or in cooperation with inter jurisdictional partners and other public entities. A timely opportunity to mutually address a large number of issues and associated community interests is the Rogers Road Small Area Task Force, comprised of local government officials and residents of the community. Orange County, by its membership on this Chapel Hill planning task force, can help 6 9 ensure concerns surrounding land uses, infrastructure, and services are well represented throughout the process. The Task Force's first meeting was held February 1, 2007. AGEND Rogers Road Small Area Plan Task Force Faith Tabernacle Oasis of Love 8005 Rogers Road, Chapel Hill Thursday February 1, 2007 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 7:00 1. Call Meeting to Order. Co-chairs Chapel Hill Mayor Pro Tem Bill Strom and Chapel Hill Council Member Mark Kleinschmidt. - Orientation/ Purpose of Committee/Charge - Distribute project binder 7:10 2. Introductions. 7:25 3. Review Charge, - Proposed Plan Process, - Map of Area to be studied, - Outline tentative schedule (attached). 7:40 4. Draft Rules of Procedure (attached). 7:55 5. Schedule Meeting Dates/ Regular Meeting Time. 8:05 6. Preliminary Identification of Issues for future discussion: - Land Uses (what uses are wanted or needed?) - Infrastructure (Roads, Water and Sewer where?) - Recreation facilities (what and where?) - Housing (what type and what mix?) - Services (what is wanted or needed?) 8:35 7. Introduction to Land Use Visioning Exercise. 8:40 8. Next Steps (Meeting Two): - Land Use Visioning Exercise - Presentation of Existing Conditions - Discussion of Open House Issues 8:45 9. Public Comment. 8:50 10.Ad'ourn. 10 Task Force Website: coming soon Project Website: http://www.townofchapelhill.org/index.asp?NID=1197 *DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION* RULES OF PROCEDURE Rogers Road Small Area Plan Task Force February 1, 2007 1. AUTHORITY AND CHARGE The Chapel Hill Town Council established the Rogers Road Small Area Plan Task Force on December 4, 2006 (2006-12-04/R-15), and subsequently made appointments to the Task Force. The Task Force acts in an advisory capacity to the Town Council. The charge of the Task Force is to take a more detailed look at the impacts of providing public services in the area, especially the extension of sanitary sewer, and the impacts of developing an affordable housing site on the Greene Tract. The Task Force should: • Review the Land Use Plan as related to the Rogers Road Study Area. • Determine desirable land use for the Rogers Road Study Area. • Determine desirable service areas for water and sewer extension. • Describe roadway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian systems needed to support the development that will occur. e Determine desirable green space and public facilities. II. MEMBERSHIP The Town Council appointed members of the Task Force on January 8, 2007. The following members were appointed: Name Group Represented Bill Strom Chapel Hill Town Council Mark Kleinschmidt Chapel Hill Town Council Joal Hall Broun Carrboro Board of Alderman Moses Carey Orange County Board of Commissioners Ruby Sinreich Chapel Hill Planning Board James Stroud Chapel Hill Planning Board Delores Bailey Empowerment Robert Dowling Orange Community Housing and Land Trust Susan Levy Habitat for Humanity Robert Campbell Citizen of the Rogers Road Neighborhood Barbara Hopkins Citizen of the Rogers Road Neighborhood Neloa Barbee Jones Citizen of the Rogers Road Neighborhood Bonnie Norwood Citizen of the Rogers Road Neighborhood Timothy Peppers Citizen of the Rogers Road Neighborhood Tom Tucker Citizen of the Rogers Road Neighborhood Laura Wenzel Carrboro New Horizons Task Force 1a Members will serve until the conclusion of the Task Force's service to the Town Council, estimated as until April 2008. Members shall notify a staff liaison if they are not able to attend a meeting. If there are three consecutive unexcused absences of any member, this will be considered notice of intent to resign. The Task Force shall notify the Town Council of such resignation. Any member may resign at any time by delivering written notice of such resignation to the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk shall notify the Town Council of such resignation and request a replacement appointment. A member may be removed by a recommendation to the Chapel Hill Town Council and a vote of the Council to remove the member. 111. OFFICERS The officers of the Task Force shall include a Chair and Vice-Chair. Each officer of the Commission shall serve for the term of the Task Force's existence (anticipated to be April 2008). The Chair shall preside at all Task Force meetings. No pronouncements made by the Chair as spokesperson or representative of the Task Force shall obligate or commit the Task Force except as provided by these rules of procedure and as specifically authorized by the Commission. The Vice-Chair shall act in the absence of the chair in the conduct of meetings. Staff shall keep records and meeting summaries and see that all notices are duly given as specified in these rules of procedure and required by law. IV. MEETINGS OF THE TASK FORCE All meetings and business of the Task Force shall comply with all requirements of the North Carolina Open Meetings Law. Notice of a meeting shall be provided at least 48 hours in advance to each member and to the press. Regular meetings of the Task Force shall be held according to a schedule approved by the Task Force, and held in a location that is a public place of business. Upon the call of the Chair, or by vote of the Task Force, the Task Force may hold special meetings with at least 48 hour written notice before such meeting to each member and the press. All notices shall be in compliance with North Carolina law. A Quorum shall be a minimum of 51 % of members (not counting vacant seats). A Quorum shall be necessary in order to hold a meeting of the Task Force and transact business. Members may speak when recognized by the Chair. The Chair shall ensure all Task Force members have an opportunity to speak who wish before recognizing any member to speak a second time. 13 All matters shall be decided by a simple majority of those present (assuming a quorum is present). Dissenting votes shall be recorded with the reasons for such votes specified. (An alternate option is to operate by consensus, with the Chair calling for votes when there is not consensus) Failure of a Task Force member to vote or leaving a meeting before a vote is taken shall be considered a vote in favor of the motion (except where a person has been excused from voting due to conflict of interest). The agenda for all meetings of the Task Force shall be prepared by the Chair. Additional agenda items may be proposed by any member of the Commission, and voted upon by the Task Force. Copies of the agenda shall be sent to members prior to the date of the meeting. All meetings shall be open to the public. The agendas of the meetings shall provide an opportunity for public comment, which may be limited to 3 minutes per speaker at the discretion of the Chair. For all other agenda items, citizens may not participate in Task Force discussions unless recognized by the Chair and the Task Force has agreed to hear them. Meeting summaries of key points and decisions shall be kept and approved by the Task Force at a regular meeting. All agenda information considered by the Task Force in a public meeting is considered a public record, and shall be available to the public for inspection. V. SUB-COMMITTEES The Task Force. may decide to conduct its business through the use of sub-committees of members. All sub-committee business shall be reported to the full Task Force at a regular Task Force meeting. Sub- Committee meetings are public meetings and shall be noticed in the same manner as full Task Force meetings. All sub-committee meetings shall be held in a location that is a public place of business. VI. ETHICS GUIDELINES Task Force members shall abide by the ethics guidelines, including conflict of interest provisions, as contained in the Town Procedures Manual (see attached). IX. AMENDMENT OF RULES OF PROCEDURE These rules may be adopted or amended by a two-thirds vote of the full Task Force (excluding vacancies). They may not be amended in a manner that would contradict State law or policy. --Drafted 1.24.07 i-+ TRANSFER STATION - SITE EVALUATION SUMMARY A - Eubanks Road B - Highway 70 East Site Description: Current Landfill Property 19.05 Acre Property North of Eubanks Road Currently For Sale Interstate Access: Excellent - I-40, Exit 266 Excellent - 185, Exit 170 1-mile 1/4-Mile Zoning Classification: Mixed Use Office & Zoned EDD in Eno Institutional 1 Economic Develop. District The BOCC has jurisdictional authority as it pertains to permitted uses within the Economic Development District. Current zoning classification may be interpreted to include a transfer station as a permitted governmental purpose. Proj. Land Acquisition Costs: None Asking $3,800,000 Proj. Construction Costs: $4,700,000 Feasibility study has not been conducted. Assume construction costs similar to Eubanks, except for any environmental comp- lications which might arise. Hauling Cost Estimates - (Represent additional cost estimates above/beyond present costs.): Chapel Hill $193,200 annually plus $395,600 in start up costs for route expansions Carrboro $142,000 annually Hillsborough Approx. ($1,500) annual savings Orange Co - PW $52,174 annually plus $227,174 start up costs for route expansions 15 University May decide to haul elsewhere; did not ask contractor to provide estimate. Solid Waste Oper. Cost Est.: No Staff/Equip. Annualized cost of $254,664 plus Staff/Equip. travel of equipment/mechanics to conduct maintenance and repairs Environmental Considerations: Community Reaction: No increase in air emissions from collection vehicles; located under existing DENR environ- environmental permit and associated monitoring; sewer available. See Jan. 18 neighborhood meeting summary. Customer Service Provides virtual one-stop Impacts: waste management services; no change in•existing waste management practices Estimated Timeline: Likely to be designed, per- mitted and constructed by summer of 2010. SWAB Recommendation: Formally recommended by SWAB Distance from centers of waste generation results in additional vehicle emissions; Due diligence may indicate property to have environmental contamin- ation and/or be in a non- compliant DENR status. Unknown. Staff has not been directed to organize and conduct a community meeting. Will create separate waste management facility for operations and fragment waste disposal delivery top customers. With need to conduct site feasibility study and environmental assessment, facility may not be available when needed. Due diligence could conceivably add 6-18 months to the timeline. SWAB has made no formal recommendation. Additional Comments: Neighborhood has req- May not allow County to ested consideration and meet 2010 deadline. accommodation of concerns. 2 i?9 NEXT STEPS: 'If "A" Authorized If "S" Authorized Address neighborhood concerns as appropriate. Initiate process for facility design and permitting. Enter into property acquisition negotiations and due diligence assessment. 3