Agenda - 05-15-1990 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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r TO: Orange County Commissioners FROM: Chris Best,Chair, Transportation Advisory Subcommittee SUBJECT: May 161990 Transportation Public Hearing Since June 1989 The Transportation Advisory Subcommittee has been meeting and working with the transportation consultant of Kimley -Horn on three specific transportation related issues. Comments and input have been solicited from the county attorney, the erosion control officer, the infrastructure committee of the EDC, the Hillsborough Planning Board, the Orange County Planning Board, the TACs, Durham County, the City of Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Mebane and N.C.D.O.T. The subcommittee's presentation at the May 16 public hearing incorporates much of this input into its recommendations for further public discussion. Other comments are included for reference. The three main ingredients to this public hearing are 1) revisions to the private mad standards, 2) revisions to the Transportation Impact Ordinance and 3) discussion of the Orange County Road Classification system to be used in the Transportation element of the Comprehensive Plan. At the same time the public is re viewing the county classification system, the subcommittee recommends reviewing the Orange County Thoroughfare Plan, the Durham - Chapel Hill- Carrboro Thoroughfare Plan and the Hillsborough Thoroughfare Plan. A map of the Mebane/Alamance Thoroughfare Plan is available for review. Included in your documentation for background information is a list of the subcommittee members. Geographically the county has been evenly represented Also, a schedule of the meetings that have taken place specifically for the review and comment on the subcommittee's draft proposals is enclosed. As supporting documentation, the Final Report of Phase I of the Transportation Plan produced by Kimley -Horn is included. The subcommittee used this report as the basis for its discussion and proposed revisions. Further changes in the ordinances have been made since the report was issued. The various thoroughfare planning documentation provided by N.C.D.O.T. is included and the current Transportation Improvements Program for roads and bridges in Durham and Orange Counties is available for discussion. The proposed revisions to the Private Roads Standards and its related transportation amendments as well as the proposed revisions to the Transportation Impact Study are included. The subcommittee hopes the enclosed information as well as N.C.D.O.T., Kimley -Horn and Planning Staff representation at the public hearing will be adequate to stir discussion as well as answer any questions that may arise. After much discussion about the appropriateness of private roads in Orange County, the subcommittee felt they should be allowed under certain circumstances. Some of the more important changes recommended to the Private Roads Standards include: 1) permitting private gravel roads for as many as 25 lots, 2) turning construction inspections over to private professional engineers, 3) ensuring continued maintenance and upkeep of private roads through the Road Maintenance Agreement by the lot owners and 4) Orange County disclaiming any responsibility of the maintenance and upkeep in the future. The subcommittee has also tried to clarify the requirements which distinguish public from private roads, but leave in the flexibility so that both Planning and the subdivider can work toward an agreeable design. The subcommittee is still working on a paragraph to be inserted in IV- B -3 -d -1 explaining how the subdivider should follow the "spirit and intent" of the allowances for private roads during the design phase of a particular subdivision.