Agenda - 6-a - EfIand-Buckhorn-Mebane Access Management Plan Adoption

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2 March 12, 2019 Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Meeting - Staff met with members of the church and approximately over 40 people attended. The Orange County Planning Director provided an overview of the plan and some specifics about a possible rail crossing relocation and grade separation in a 5-10 years horizon. The public notification process for the Buckhorn (and other areas) Traffic Separation Study (TSS) began in 2016 and was initiated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR). The TSS includes environmental and cultural impact survey. Residents were shown all three proposed alignments as recommended in the TSS (Attachment 1) and asked to work with staff to find the alternative with the least impact. They were also reminded of the two public meetings, public hearing and public review processes NCDOT and Mebane conducted when drafting and adopting the TSS. The City of Mebane notified the County of this project and we offered comments about what alignment option has the least impact (i.e. No impact) to the church and cemetery and the best alignment for a future intersection to US-70. The Church has provided a letter to Orange County (Attachment 2) requesting: • The Mebane TSS for Buckhorn Road be removed from plans and that closing the train crossing at Buckhorn Road not to be an option. • A resolution assuring that the E-B-M AMP will not be part of any long rang plans for the Efland-Buckhorn community's residents and economic future. Planning Director's Recommendation - The Planning Director recommends that the draft 2019 E-B-M AMP be revised to exclude the elements of the TSS between the Industrial Drive/Buckhorn Road intersection and US-70 Frazier Road intersection (Attachment 3). The concerns of the residents will be forwarded to NCDOT and NCRR. The Planning Director also recommends the BOCC adopt the E-B-M AMP (Attachment 4). Adoption of the plan will lead to more orderly growth which promotes the public health, safety, and general welfare and helps to achieve the purposes of the adopted Comprehensive Plan. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact associated with this item. The 2017 Transportation Study was funded through the FY 17-18 budget at a cost of $35,000. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: CREATE ASAFE COMMUNITY The reduction of risks from vehicle/traffic accidents, childhood and senior injuries, gang activity, substance abuse and domestic violence. • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board adopt the 2019 Efland- Buckhorn-Mebane Access Management Plan (Attachment 4)