Minutes 09-09-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Joseph Henderson lives at 5316 Old Hillsborough Road. He said he hopes everyone can come to an agreement to develop and maintain the landscape, while creating jobs and business opportunities. He says there is only one piece of paper, and he said there should be 3 that can be discussed. He said Old NC 10 is a beautiful drive and a wonderful place for bicyclists and joggers. He said commercial traffic should be limited to Highway 70. He said he has seen the new lines for access to 70 and this is a waste of money. He said this eliminates only 2 minutes of driving and is a waste of time and resources. Paul Guthrie said the transportation map includes the location of potential rail stop. He said there needs to be significant discussion on the location of this. He said this decision involves issues outside of the current discussion. Commissioner McKee asked what the speed limit is in this area. He noted that Pleasant Green Road on the north side of Highway 70 has an extended area of 45 miles per hour. He noted that the Board does not have the authority to regulate speed limit or what traffic can use the roads. He said the speed limits need enforcement in this area. Chair Jacobs said one of the reasons he likes going to football games at Duke is because there is not a lot of traffic, and he uses Old 10 as a shortcut. He said he does enjoy this drive and the sense of being in the country. He empathizes with the residents' comments. He said it could be part of the motion that the Planning Staff should share how the Saint Mary's scenic corridor works and how this might be applied to NC 10. He said DOT can be asked to reduce the speed limits, but speed limit is usually only reduced if there are high rates of accidents in the area. Chair Jacobs followed up on Commissioner Gordon's question regarding the petition against the access management plan. He said there was an underlying decision made by a previous Board that changed the land use plan, but that is not what is before the Board at this time. He said that is a topic for a later discussion. Commissioner Price said she travels in that area and she feels that an increase in the use intensity would mean more traffic and higher speeds. She said she has seen so many of the accident shrine markers on that road. She said something does need to be done. She said the same is true of Saint Mary's Road. She said DOT can intervene. Commissioner Rich referred to Chair Jacobs mention that the petition was for the wrong discussion, and she asked if the petitioner was in agreement with this statement. Chair Jacobs said the underlying issue from the petition is that the land use has changed. David Walbert said he signed the petition with full knowledge that it was not about the issue before the Board tonight. He said there was no petition to be signed 5 years ago. He said he found out about the plan in 2008 with only 2 days notice. He spoke at that meeting. He said that Chair Jacobs made the same comment at that meeting regarding a map that was drawn in 1980. He said it seems at every point in this process the Board is referring back to something that already happened. He said he would ask that the Planning Board and the Commissioners take into account the concerns expressed in that petition regarding the character and the fact that there is a residential neighborhood involved. Commissioner Price said the petition is about something else, but he management plan does affect the residents' way of life and quality of life. A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Pelissier to: 1. Refer the matter to the OUTBoard and the Planning Board with a request that a recommendation be returned in time for the 11-19-2013 BOCC meeting. 2. Direct staff to review the standards applied to the Saint Mary's Road scenic corridor to see if and how these standards may be applied to Old Highway 10. 3. Adjourn the public hearing until 11-19-2013 in order to receive and accept the OUTBoard's and Planning Board's recommendations, and any submitted comments. Commissioner Dorosin asked for clarification on what is supposed to come back to the Board with regard to the Access Management Plan. He said there is not really a plan yet.