Minutes 09-09-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Abigaile Pittman said arterial collector and local categories are broad categories, but NCDOT has some subcategories. She said the categories are taken directly from NCDOT's website. She said she is aware that NCDOT is currently undertaking a review of the entire functional classification program. She said this will be well under way by December. She said comments from local jurisdictions regarding classification changes will be welcomed. She suggested that NC 10 and the continuation onto Old Hillsborough are not consistent yet. She said NCDOT should examine this. Commissioner Gordon said that the current classification is being used with subcategories. She clarified that changes will be dealt with as they come. She said the classifications take a long time. Abigaile Pittman said there is an opportunity to participate in the process through comments. Commissioner Price asked about signal lights. She asked what the next phase is for the intersections. Abigaile Pittman said the map identifies existing signal intersections, and she has not indentified any future signal lights. She said this may change as development proceeds. Commissioner Price said she was referring to connectivity. She asked if the road would be widened if it is not made a scenic road. Abigaile Pittman said there is no known proposal to widen Old Highway 10. She said there is a proposal to straighten some of the curves in the future. Commissioner Price said she was just trying to figure out where the circled areas are connected to the plan. Abigaile Pittman said this is just the existing road system. Commissioner McKee said there are two rail crossings that complicate any possible widening. Planning Board Member Johnny Randall asked how much bicycle traffic exists on highway 10. He asked if there are bike lanes. Abigaile Pittman said there is a striped lane for bikes but no official bike lanes. Commissioner McKee said a 2 foot addition is simply a paved shoulder and not a bike lane. This adds a little separation. He said the widening of 86 North includes a 4 foot paved shoulder wherever possible. He said a true bike lane is 5 feet wide. PUBLIC COMMENT: Gina Andrews lives in the study area. She has spoken to 88 people in the neighboring area, and 85 of those people signed a petition. She said she took the maps provided at the Murphy school. She read the petition, which expressed opposition to the Eno EDD Small Area Plan due to potential destruction of surrounding wooded areas, and degradation of the local environment due to noise and other pollution. She asked for a rejection of this plan. She said that Old NC 10 welcomes people to Orange County and is favored by cyclists due to the beauty and safety of the area. She feels there is another plan that could work for this area. Commissioner Gordon asked if the petition is against the Eno Economic Development Access Management Plan or the small area plan. Gina Andrews said it is against the access management plan. Jon Arvik said he came to ask for help. He said Chair Jacobs comment regarding classification of Old NC 10 as a scenic area provided hope for the help. He said he moved here 7 years ago for the rural neighborhood, clean air, quiet, and claims on the County website. He said neighbors are still great, but the difficulty is air contamination and heavy truck traffic with noise. He said his history is in environmental science and airborne particulates and their health effects. He said Weldon Ridge is in close proximity to NC 10 and there is heavy traffic going at high speeds, spewing diesel exhaust, which is a human carcinogen. He said he moved here voluntarily, but he did not want to see these trucks going down these smaller roads. He said his concern is the health of his neighbors.