Minutes 03-03-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC COMMENT: Bill Hall said is a resident of Durham County and he lives in an area very close to this park. He said approximately 200 homes rely on Randolph Road for access. He said there is opposition to closing Pickett Road, since this will shift significant traffic to Randolph Road. He said a light is warranted at the intersection at Randolph and Erwin Road, but there are limited options for improving the intersection at Randolph and Pickett Road. He said keeping Pickett Road open and developing a safe park environment is not an either or proposition. He said it is possible to design a safe environment for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. He said the residents first heard about this from the Orange County Board of Commissioners, and he appreciates their consideration. He asked the Board to remember that many residents do not want to close Pickett Road, and he asked that plans be made to keep the road open. Debra Barnes said she is also here to represent the residents of Randolph and the adjoining roads who do not want to close Pickett Road. She said calling the Hollow Rock area a park and making improvements to it does not change the fact that closing a portion of Pickett Road will divert traffic into a residential neighborhood, decrease roadway connectivity, and negatively impact the safety of residents of Randolph and adjoining roads because of increased traffic. She noted the history of this proposal, which included a petition signed by 61 residents in 2011. She said there have been several suggestions that the road closure is not necessary. She noted the increases in traffic on Randolph Road since the 2010 traffic study, and she said a stoplight at Randolph Road and Erwin Road will not be enough to alleviate the increased traffic issues. She discussed a recent accident to illustrate this assertion, and she asked that the idea of closing part of Pickett Road be dropped from the planning process for the Hollow Rock portion of the New Hope Preserve. She said this closure is not necessary, and it will negatively impact the residents of Randolph Road. Commissioner Jacobs asked David Stancil to explain the status of this proposal. David Stancil said this issue has been around since the master plan was created. He said the item before the Board tonight is just an interlocal agreement, and it is actually just a pass through. He said the staff has been discussing what to do next in terms of activities and trails for the park, and it was suggested that the Durham Chapel Hill Orange Work group might be the group to work on this. He said this was placed on the agenda for the sole purpose of referring it to the work group, after which it will come back to the Board. He said the master plan does not take a position on the closure of Pickett Road, and in fact it shows both options. He said tonight's action has no bearing on this, but the Board could possibly take action on this when it comes back from the work group. Commissioner Burroughs said when this comes back to the Board she would like to see updated traffic study information. Commissioner Pelissier said she hopes the work group would do this quickly, as it has been around for a long time, and she would like to have it resolved for the sake of the residents. Commissioner Rich asked when this will be referred to the work group. David Stancil said the group meets next week. Commissioner Price said she would like to ask Durham and Orange County Fire chiefs and Emergency Services directors to review this issue and weigh in with their thoughts. Chair McKee said he does not see anything incompatible with a road and a park. He would like to see these comments passed on to the work group for consideration. A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs to receive the draft interlocal agreement for the construction and operation of the planned Hollow