OCPB agenda 100318 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The concepts shown on a CTP are for planning purposes and are subject to change. These concepts will need additional analysis to meet state and federal environmental regulations, to determine final locations and designs, and to be funded for implementation. The Orange County UDO, Sections 6 and 7 includes the requirements for reserving and dedicating right of way or requiring construction of roads listed in Access Management Plans or on the CTP. Specific mention is also made to the dedication of right of way based on the concepts shown on the CTP and local collector street plans, based on N.C.G.S. §136 66.2 and § 136 66.10. Section 2 – Existing Conditions ENVIRONMENTALFEATURES To begin the transportation report development process, Orange County’s environmental contractor, Pilot Environmental, Inc. (PEI) conducted preliminary studies within the Study Area: Wetlands determination, threatened and endangered species determination. Specifically, PEI’s field work and use of existing federal and state agency data determined the presence of any streams, ponds and Wetlands, assessment of potential historic properties/structures and/or archaeological remains, and obtain information regarding federally protected threatened and endangered species that could be located in the area. The project was broken into four study areas: 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B, a map of which is shown in Attachment A. The purpose of the work was to document environmentally sensitive areas to assist the County in long‐range planning and regulating future road networks related to development proposals in the area. The future road network proposals will ultimately be developed to mitigate impacts on environmental features in the Study Area. Figure 2 depicts the Existing Conditions, highlighting water features, schools, and cemeteries. Figure 3 contains Environmental Features including endangered species and elevation contours. CULTURAL FEATURES PEI also conducted a cultural resources inquiry in the Study Area. A cemetery and several historic structures were located. PEI submitted a letter to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) soliciting comments pertaining to the Study Area. Copies of their responses are shown in Attachment B. SHPO determined that the road network as proposed will not have an effect on any of the historic structure, and additionally, the cemetery is protected in accordance with NCGS Chapter 65. Portions of the Study Area also have a high probability for the presence of archeological resources. Archaeological data was obtained but is not depicted on Figure 2 in order to protect sensitive areas of archaeological interest. 67