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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOUTBoard minutes 011707Approved February 21, 2007 T:\Advisory Boards\Orange Unified Transportation Board\Minutes\2007\OUTBoard minutes 011707.doc 1 Orange Unified Transportation Board Meeting Summary January 17, 2007 Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill Members Present: Nancy Cole Baker; Jan Grossman; Sam Lasris; Randy Marshall; Robert Peterson, James Ray, Bryn Smith. Members Absent: Elisabeth Lake (resigned), Pascale Mittendorf, Sandra Quinn, Al Terry, Eric Tillman. Staff Present: Karen Lincoln, Transportation Planner, Debra Graham, Administrative Assistant. Visitors: Pat Strong, Triangle J Council of Governments I. Call to order and roll call Chair Robert Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. II. Consideration of additions to the agenda III. Board Comments Chair Peterson said he would like for the County Commissioner liaisons to let the OUTBoard know if it can do anything to move House Bill 2631 forward, with respect to Orange County’s legislative initiatives, and noted that the County Commissioner liaisons may be able to discuss that issue at the next meeting. Lincoln distributed handouts that included copies of a PowerPoint presentation to be presented by Nancy Baker, the 13 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element principles previously approved by the Board of County Commissioners, Definitions and Hierarchy of Planning Aspects, Orange, Durham and Chatham County socio- economic data for base year 2005 with projections for 2035 for development of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Regional Long Range Transportation Plan, and an article on The Future of Highway and Transit Finance. IV. Approval of minutes of November 15, 2006 Motion by Grossman to approve the minutes. Seconded by Baker. Vote: Unanimous. V. Framework for developing goals and objectives: Pedestrian issues Nancy Baker presented her views as a pedestrian regarding needs and deficiencies in providing adequate facilities for safe pedestrian access throughout the county. Her PowerPoint presentation gave an overview of existing facilities and programs/funding available for pedestrian facilities, pointing out differences in ability of municipalities and counties to provide pedestrian facilities. She discussed challenges to providing connectivity of pedestrian facilities between town, town- county transition areas, and rural areas of the county. She then presented a vision Approved February 21, 2007 T:\Advisory Boards\Orange Unified Transportation Board\Minutes\2007\OUTBoard minutes 011707.doc 2 for the future where Orange County residents will have a choice/option of walking, bicycling or driving to anywhere they wish to go in the County. She described the Rural Ways system in the United Kingdom that provides a network for pedestrian access through rural areas. She pointed out subdivision access roads and open space where connections could be made to other developments, utility easements and/or greenways to form a pedestrian network connecting rural areas to parks, schools, recreation facilities and urban areas. She challenged the board to think about how those connections can be made and noted that property rights and expectation of privacy must be respected. She noted that conservation easement programs such as Orange County’s Land Legacy Program, subdivision requirements, and utility easements were major means to provide the future pedestrian network Strong stated that watershed protection regulations such as the Neuse River buffer requirements may be one way to provide connectivity through the County. The board agreed that a map of the County that showed subdivisions with street and open space trails, easements (utility and conservation), greenways and parks would be beneficial in determining possible connections for a pedestrian network. The group discussed how subdivision regulations could require connectivity. Marshall stated that the board needs to determine: 1. What is desired for a pedestrian network; 2. What has been done and is being done already in the subdivision process; 3. What can be required for future new development, such as asking those providing conservation easements or open space if public trails can be allowed. Ray noted that there are issues such as who will be liable (for trail maintenance and safety) that would have to be worked out. Peterson stated that the board must separate the two things: the vision and the means to get there. He added that the board’s task at this point is to adopt principles and goals. Baker stated that the principle would be that in 50 years, people can have the choice/option to walk or bike where they wanted to in Orange County. She then suggested three goals: 1. Increase off road sidewalks and bike paths/multipurpose trails in the County; 2. Increase connectivity using existing greenways, parks and other open space, easements, etc. 3. Work with the NCDOT, the municipalities (Hillsborough, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Mebane), the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Triangle Rural Planning Organization to connect and provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities and also work with conservation groups to get public access on easements along greenways. Peterson asked Baker if she would prepare a draft vision and goals for pedestrian access for the board to adopt at its next meeting. Baker agreed. Approved February 21, 2007 T:\Advisory Boards\Orange Unified Transportation Board\Minutes\2007\OUTBoard minutes 011707.doc 3 VI. Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan Lincoln handed out a document, Definition and Hierarchy of Planning Aspects, which defined each aspect of a plan and gave examples of each. The board had questions about the January 16, 2007, meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Update Joint Advisory Board meeting. Lasris explained that the Planning Board will develop a template for all elements of the plan that each responsible agency will use in developing its particular element, and each agency/board will develop goals and objectives for its element. The template has not yet been developed, but will ensure that all elements will contain the same format. He said that at its next meeting, the OUTBoard should choose liaisons to any of the other lead advisory board’s that it wishes to participate in with regard to the development of the Comp Plan. VII. Future Agenda Items Grossman handed out a document he had prepared giving a bicyclist’s views. The group agreed that for its meeting in February, Jan would present bicycle issues toward developing a framework for goals and objectives. Lincoln noted the handout of the socio-economic data for the DCHC MPO 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan that the Transportation Advisory Committee was released for public comment on January 10, 2007. She stated that the draft data contains population and employment figures for base year 2005 and projected population and employment for 2035, summarized for Census traffic analysis zones. Staff from each jurisdiction is still reviewing the data and there will be changes. The Lead Planning Agency will hold two workshops in Orange County to answer questions regarding the data, how it was assembled and how the projections were made, etc. and to get input from citizens having some knowledge of population and business in their areas of residence or work. One workshop will be at the Hillsborough Town Barn on February 22, 2007, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. She will advise the board of the other workshop when it has been scheduled. Lincoln noted that the OUTBoard should also, at the February meeting, begin discussion on priority projects for the 2009-2015 Transportation Improvement Program. The OUTBoard should recommend a priority list to the Board of County Commissioners at the OUTBoard’s meeting in March to ensure adoption/approval by the BOCC in time to submit recommendations to the DCHC MPO and TARPO. VIII. Adjournment Motion by Lasris to adjourn. Seconded by Marshall. Vote: Unanimous.