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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOUTBoard minutes 101613Approved 12/18/13 1 MINUTES 2 ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD 3 OCTOBER 16, 2013 4 5 MEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Guthrie, At -Large Chapel Hill Township; Amy Cole, Transit Advocate; Sam Lasris, Cedar 6 Grove Township Representative; Alex Castro, Bingham Township Representative; Gary Saunders, Commission for 7 the Environment Representative; Brantley Wells, Hillsborough Township Representative; 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 MEMBERS ABSENT: Jeff Charles, Bicycle Advocate; Andrea Rohrbacher, Planning Board Representative; Jeff Miles, Pedestrian Advocate; Ted Triebel, Little River Township Representative; Vacant- Cheeks Township Representative; Vacant — Eno Township Representative; Vacant — Economic Development Representative STAFF PRESENT: Abigaile Pittman, Transportation /Land Use Planner; OTHERS PRESENT: Lisa Burley, Orange County Department on Aging AGENDA ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL AGENDA ITEM II: APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR AUGUST 21, 2013 The September 18, 2013 OUTBoard minutes were approved with changes by consensus. AGENDA ITEM III: CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA AGENDA ITEM IV: REGULAR AGENDA DRAFT ENO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN. The Draft Access Management Plan is available on the Orange County Planning Department Website at: http: / /orangecountync,gov /planning /SpecialProiects,asp OUTBoard Action: This plan has been referred to the OUTBoard by the BOCC for review, with a request that a recommendation be returned to the BOCC in time for its November 19, 2013 regular meeting. Abigaile Pittman advised the members that the Eno Economic Development District Access Management Plan was heard at the September 91h Quarterly Public Hearing. The Commissioners referred it to the Planning Board and OUTBoard for recommendation, and the Planning Board reviewed it and recommended the plan on October 2nd. Abigaile Pittman reviewed the Access Management Plan. Alex Castro asked if the Durham side of the Eno area was an economic development zone. Abigaile Pittman responded that it is not but the area is Durham's future jurisdiction and they are planning for extension of their urban services into the area, so they have amended their land use plan to be consistent with the Orange County land use plan. She noted that Orange County has a utility service agreement with Durham. Abigaile continued review of the item. Sam Lasris asked Abigaile to explain the internal connectivity. Approved 12/18/13 Abigaile Pittman responded that the dash lines on the map represent frontage roads and then further into areas future development would also use access roads. Basically future road networks would be off US 70. Entering US 70 would occur at identified safe access points. Paul Guthrie raised a question about the proposed transit stop which was just a place where one could possibly be in the area. He added that the long range plan for the NC Railroad for potential commuter rail between Goldsboro and Greensboro is a long term strategy. There is the likelihood that the junction of the Chapel Hill /Carrboro spur of the railroad will be in our area where there might be a switching station for passengers from a long term future north /south Orange County transit system. While working on the Hillsborough rail station committee one thing discussed was that they could only locate Amtrak stations so often and if they put a station where they have here, and then they have the Durham station, they will have a problem of either in the future putting a stop at the junction or they would not interested in having Hillsborough as a stop because of the overabundance of stations. It would be relatively easy to have a station at the Chapel Hill /Carrboro spur junction with the necessary parking. One thing most people don't understand, including some of the people who building along the railroad, is that it's a 360 -foot right -of- way. It is a large right -of -way and it's owned by the NC Railroad Company which was created by the state of North Carolina. Even in downtown Durham, that 360 -foot right- of -way is not always honored so that's an issue. He continued that in the foreseeable future, within 10 years, the railroad track will be double tracked from where it ends its double track in the first third of the eastern part of the map and all those tussles that are now too low will have to be expanded which means they would be rebuilt. The third issue is that is now a residential neighborhood and to put a railroad commuter station in the middle of a neighborhood like that is not very good far sighted planning. A broader issue which is not on our agenda is that some of that residential housing in the middle of this area is all single family units that are not going to disappear in ten years, so the question is how you deal with that area in terms of transportation access. Most of the other transportation suggestions are very well done and thought out. Paul informed the Board that in the area of NC 10 there are only two discernible business enterprises; it is basically modest homes. Sam Lasris noted that the question is what it will be in 2030 or 2070. Paul Guthrie answered that it depends on how the transportation planning takes place and what kind of structure you put on Old NC 10. Sam Lasris added that he thinks most of the action is really centering on US 70 and 1 -85 and not Old NC 10 and he thinks that in 2070 it will be like 15 -501 between Durham and Chapel Hill and basically NC 10 and the areas beyond that will remain pretty much unscathed because it's not where the action really is. Paul Guthrie added that how the County handles the development of Old NC 10 may determine that outcome. Abigaile Pittman noted that the Plan contains criteria that there be no access by non - residential development through the 10 year transition area until it commences a transition with urban densities/ intensities. Sam Lasris moved that the OUTBoard approve the recommendation. Paul Guthrie asked that a member amend the motion to include a request that the Planning Board keep the OUTBoard informed of progress on this issue. Alex Castro made that motion and Sam Lasris seconded it. Amy Cole noted that she thinks there are a lot of people that unfortunately are too late in having their voices heard. Abigaile Pittman responded that the staff proposes to review protections measures for Old NC 10. Amy Cole continued that she acknowledges the protection considerations but there are a lot of low income homes. Abigaile Pittman responded that they are not in a position to undo the land use plan and zoning approvals that the BOCC has already done. She added that they are in a position moving forward to offer options for protection. Approved 12/18/13 Amy Cole added that she is in agreement but in general the whole plan doesn't sit well with her but at this point the concept is already approved and now it is the best situation going forward. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. AGENDA ITEM V: STAFF UPDATES a. Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recommendations for new projects in the DCHC MPO and TARPO planning areas for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) b. Clarification regarding bicycle project in the STIP c. Safe Routes to School Plan adoption schedule d. OUTBoard Appointments e. OUTBoard items of discussion for Chuck Edwards, NCDOT District Engineer OUTBoard Action: Receive updates Abigaile Pittman provided an update that the BOCC is reviewed the list of BG MPO projects recommended by the OUTBoard, and on the 191h will review the remainder of the projects in the DCHC MPO and TARPO area for the STIP. Also, Triangle Transit is working with Orange County for the list of bus projects for implementation of the Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan (BRIP) and a report should be out by the end of the year. Alex Castro requested that the OUTBoard be given access to the presentation of the DCHC MPO coordinated public transportation plan workshop. He noted that this request was made to the consultants but they never followed up on it. He thinks they do their thing in the MPO and the OUTBoard hears about it secondarily and he thinks the Board should know what is going on as it happens as opposed to after it has been completed. Abigaile Pittman stated that she would follow up and get back with Alex Castro about this report. Abigaile Pittman clarified information from last month's meeting about bike projects that are over 1 million dollars having to be classified as highway projects. She stated that NCDOT has reversed that decision and determined they will continue to be bike projects no matter the costs. Local governments will have to come up with 20% and administer the projects. Abigaile Pittman advised that the Safe Routes to School Plan adoption schedule was approved by the BOCC and the OUTBoard will be reviewing it at its December 181h meeting. Abigaile Pittman advised that the OUTBoard will be also be working on the annual work plan to be submitted to the BOCC in December. Abigaile Pittman let the OUTBoard know that there may not be a need to meet in November and that she would follow up to confirm. Paul Guthrie requested to have the Safe Routes to School material several weeks in advance of the December meeting in order to have ample time for review. Alex Castro suggested working on the annual report by email prior to the December meeting. Abigaile Pittman advised the Board of the two newly appointed OUTBoard members, Brantley Wells representing Hillsborough Township and Donald Wollum representing Eno Township. Abigaile Pittman advised the members that Chuck Edwards, NCDOT wants an agenda before coming to a meeting due to time constraints and asked the members to send her topics for an agenda. Paul Guthrie suggested that Chuck Edwards give the OUTBoard a candid appraisal of what he thinks the new system is going to do with regard to the allocation of different kinds of projects in Orange County. Approved 12/18/13 164 165 Abigaile Pittman requested that members email her with anything they would like to discuss with or learn about from 166 Chuck Edwards. 167 168 169 AGENDA ITEM VI: UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS OF INTEREST ON OTHER REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION RELATED 170 BOARD AGENDAS 171 OUTBoard Action: Receive information as a handout 172 173 174 AGENDA ITEM VII: BOARD COMMENTS 175 OUTBoard Action: Receive comments 176 177 Gary Saunders advised that on the Commission for the Environment they are working on the latest version of the 178 State of the Environment report. 179 180 181 AGENDA ITEM VII: MEETING SCHEDULE- THE OUTBoard's next scheduled meeting is November 20, 2013, but 182 this meeting may not be held due to lack of an agenda. 183 184 185 AGENDA ITEM IX: ADJOURNMENT 186 187 The meeting was adjourned by consensus. 188 Paul Guthrie, Chair