Agenda - 12-07-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Evaluation Criteria. Technical criteria include specific engineering, operation, and transportation parameters that should be considered to assure that sites are feasible from a technical design, environmental, and economic prospective. The community - specific criteria consider the potential impacts that the facility may have on the surrounding community. This set of criteria underscores the priority that the public placed upon environmental justice considerations such as impacts upon adjacent land use; proximity to schools, churches, and recreation sites; and the number of residents impacted. Once these evaluations were made and public comments were heard, Site 056 (Howell site) on Highway 54 in western Orange County was identified as the candidate transfer station site by the BOCC. An Environmental Assessment for Site 056 was prepared and submitted to the North Carolina State Environmental Review Clearinghouse by the Orange County Planning Department in February 2009. Siting evaluation and planning are continuing for development of the transfer station on that property. Site 056 has been identified as the candidate site through the site selection process and has been shown to be a suitable site for the transfer station facility. However, during the completion of additional environmental studies and through public discussions about the development of Site 056, two additional sites have been identified for re- consideration after having been earlier eliminated during the site selection process. One of the two additional sites is owned by the Town of Chapel Hill, contiguous to its Operations Center on Millhouse Road. This potential site was previously eliminated during the site selection process because of difficulties with site access. This property was re- evaluated when it became known that the Town may consider making this land available to Orange County for the transfer station and providing entry through the Operations Center access road. Although it appears on this basis that the site may be technically suitable as well, it is not yet clear whether the Town will actually make the site available. The second site being re- evaluated is the subject of this Environmental Assessment for the Paydarfar site. It is a 10 -acre tract off of Millhouse Road contiguous to the Eubanks landfill that is already owned by Orange County. This site was originally eliminated since it is below the 25 -acre exclusionary size criteria. However, since the tract is surrounded by land owned by Orange County or the Town of Chapel Hill, it is now recognized that those properties may be used to provide the needed buffer areas around the transfer station. Since the transfer station and its ancillary facilities can be placed within the 10 -acre tract, this property is being re- considered. Environmental Assessment — Paydarfar Site 5 September 30, 2009