Orange County NC Website
going to be coming off the interstate, and what do we expect is going to come from major <br /> population centers. Because that will affect the carbon footprint. If we're expecting people to <br /> come from Mebane or to be coming off the interstate and that sort of thing, as opposed to <br /> expecting people to come from places in Orange County, such as the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area, <br /> that would have a definite impact on how this development would affect the carbon footprint. I <br /> guess my comments have to do mainly with whether we could spend a little bit more time trying <br /> to figure out not only the internal traffic flow, but how public transit could figure into it, and what <br /> kind of carbon footprint do we expect to be generated by this. Where do we expect the <br /> customers to come from? <br /> PLANNING BOARD: <br /> Renee Price: I have some of the same concerns the Commissioners do. One of the things I <br /> wanted to ask Craig was, at the first part of the public hearing, you mentioned that we've <br /> changed this area from Economic Development to Urbanizing. I was wondering when did all of <br /> that happen? <br /> Craig Benedict: The economic development areas and our transition areas are both <br /> considered urbanizing. They have always been designated as a public water and sewer area, <br /> which is that overall transition urbanizing category. There have not been any changes since the <br /> 1981 plan; this has always been designated as urbanizing. Prior to the EDD Land Use being <br /> affixed in 1994, prior to that, it was designated as Commercial Industrial Node. For 13 years <br /> prior to the EDD manual coming out it was still a non-residential use. <br /> Renee Price: I thought we were saying that it was now more commercial as opposed to <br /> industrial. <br /> Craig Benedict: No, there's a mixture of uses that are suggested in the EDD. <br /> Renee Price: I was unclear about the widening of Buckhorn Road. Is it to be widened to four <br /> lanes, six lanes, both, depending on where you are? <br /> Jim Parker: Basically, the actual configuration of where those numbers of lanes are at this time <br /> is somewhat vague. The plans have not been prepared to a level of specificity to tell you that. <br /> But certainly, at strategic points, like the main entrance to the development would be two turns, <br /> probably two lanes in each direction, north and south, and probably an acceleration lane in the <br /> northbound direction that may serve as a bus stop also. Across the bridge, more than likely it <br /> would be a minimum of five lanes once you get past the termini of the ramps, then your lanes <br /> are going to start to drop off as you go north and as you go south past the main entrance to the <br /> development. At this point, they are not as specific until, certainly, approval and we proceed to <br /> a construction plan stage to determine those lanes. The TIA kind of addresses the capacities <br /> and the number of lanes that are needed. <br /> Renee Price: Are there residents along there now that would have to give up part of their <br /> yards. <br /> Jim Parker: Certainly no one would be asked to give up their property. If there was a need, <br /> certainly there would be compensation to that land. The intent of the developer is to try to <br /> maintain everything within the existing right-of-way. <br />