Agenda - 12-05-2011 - 8c - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

3 Memorandum To: Frank Clifton, County Manager From: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Management Director Subject: Summary of Comments and Response: Walnut Grove Convenience Center Public Information Meeting Date: November 14, 2011 A community public information meeting was held on October 24, 2011 at the Northern Human Services Center on Highway 86N with the objective of receiving comments from the public regarding the draft conceptual site plan. Nine county residents attended the meeting. Several comments and questions were offered and staff responded, exchanged information or took the input under advisement in finalizing the preliminary concept site plan for presentation to the Board of Commissioners. The comments expressed and the staff response is summarized as follows: Concern about traffic volume increase following the improvements Following the previous Walnut Grove Solid Waste Convenience Center (SWCC) site improvements in 2007, traffic at the site increased considerably due to the shifting of the users of closed Highway 57 Convenience Center to Walnut Grove. Such an increase in traffic volume is not anticipated as a result of this improvement project. In fact, due to moving to a combination of larger roll-off containers and compactors we project that service truck traffic at ' this location will be reduced by over 50%. Concern about traffic safety related to the Hwy. 86N and Walnut Grove Church Road Intersection We agree that this intersection is a potentially dangerous, although we are not aware of any accidents associated with SWCC customers entering or leaving the center. We have had and are continuing discussions with NCDOT with regard to traffic issues relative to center ingress and egress. The proposed site plan allows for about twice the queuing space inside the site that makes it very unlikely that traffic entering the center will back up onto Walnut Grove Road. The entrance is proposed to be-moved about 30 feet further east away from the intersection. Most users of the center will be local residents who are accustomed to the intersection's challenges and aware that care will be necessary, particularly when turning left onto Hwy. 86. As previously stated the number of large trucks that service the site will be reduced substantially. One suggestion discussed by staff was to consider a single entrance/exit driveway at the extreme eastern portion of the sites road frontage rather than a separate entrance and exit as proposed. This would allow additional space between access to the center and the intersection. A single entrance/exit would, in the opinion of staff and our consultant, make internal center traffic flow somewhat problematic and less functional. The "build team" is in the process of scheduling an on-site meeting with DOT to discuss the issue of traffic safety further. If deemed necessary by NCDOT or county planning staff, we are prepared to conduct a traffic analysis or pursue traffic control or other traffic alert devices.