Minutes 05-20-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Michael Harvey said the current practice requires final subdivision plats cannot be recorded until the road is bonded or staff has verified that it meets the appropriate standards. Commissioner Pelissier asked about the role of the Commission for the Environment (CfE) in this process. Abigaile Pittman said when the OUTBoard was considering some of the issues, concerns were brought up about emergency access on trail systems. She said it has been suggested that there be staging areas where trails cross roads. She said this relates to Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR) and CfE, and it would go to both boards. Chair Jacobs said he has environmental concerns too, and he would be thrilled to have CfE and DEAPR consider these. He said the Board labored for years to create private road standards that would be environmentally sensitive. He said there was discussion about how in other states you can build environmentally sensitive development without roads built to DOT standards. His concern is that in saying that every private road should accommodate the possibility of becoming a public road or accommodate the large ambulances, it will mean losing the ability to maintain the character of the property. He does not see this concern articulated. He said there are also smaller vehicles that can get down the trails. He does not want to see this item result in the cutting of large swaths through trails to get large emergency vehicles down. He does not see anything articulated about these concerns. Chair Jacobs said there have been past discussions with DOT about adjusting their standards so that they are not one size fit all. He said his concern would be that some of these other boards that have interest in land use and preservation should be part of this discussion. He would like people to have the opportunity to make choices. Abigaile Pittman said staff has not yet begun to do detailed research or consultation with other departments. She said this is a request to allow that research and then come back with the findings. She said staff recognizes that there will be many interests to balance. Commissioner McKee said he does not disagree with any of the statements that have been made. He does want to offer the flipside of DOT road standards. He said there is at least one subdivision in the County where residents have found the maintenance costs to be impossible to meet, and they have asked the DOT to take this road. He said the request was refused because the road did not meet standards. He said DOT is probably not going to change their standards to accommodate any needs but their own. Chair Jacobs said it was mentioned yesterday that the Board should petition the state NCDOT to investigate alternative methods for the provision of public roads. He said the arguments would need to be marshaled before there was any hope of success in this. He suggested efforts should be made to put those arguments together. A motion was made by Commissioner Price seconded by Commissioner McKee to move forward with the OUTBoard's recommendation to: 1. Authorize the Planning staff to review the private road standards, access standards, and trail system standards of the UDO; 2. Authorize the Planning Board to provide review comments to the Planning staff; 3. Authorize the Planning staff to solicit comments from Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation staff and the Commission for the Environment and/or Parks and Recreation Council; 4. Authorize the Planning staff to solicit comments from the Emergency Services staff and the Fire Chief's Council; and 5. Return to the BOCC in the Fall of 2014 with an update and request to proceed with text