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26 <br /> 1 On April 3, 2018 the BOCC authorized the Planning Department to update the adopted 2011 E- <br /> 2 B-M AMP in accordance with an approved public and advisory board review. <br /> 3 This update has been conducted through a comprehensive public involvement process which <br /> 4 included community input and recommendations from the Planning Board, Orange Unified <br /> 5 Transportation Board (OUTBoard) and Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB). <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Community Meeting -August 28, 2018 <br /> 8 The Planning staff conducted a community meeting at Gravelly Hill Middle School in the <br /> 9 planning area. All public comments are contained in Appendix C of the E-B-M AMP. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 Planning Board - October 3, 2018 & Orange Unified Transportation Board - October 17, <br /> 12 2018. The two Boards recommended the BOCC approve the Plan with additional context. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 Economic Development Advisory Board - January 8, 2019 <br /> 15 The EDAB recommended the BOCC approve the Plan with the reduced connective option. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 February 5, 2019 BOCC Public Hearing - No members of the public spoke on the proposed <br /> 18 Plan. The BOCC directed staff to place the item on a subsequent meeting agenda for <br /> 19 consideration. <br /> 20 <br /> 21 March 7, 2019 BOCC Meeting - Members of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church attended and <br /> 22 offered comments on the portion of the plan that reflects a possible rail crossing relocation and <br /> 23 grade separation near Buckhorn Road. The BOCC directed staff to meet with members of the <br /> 24 church to review the plan, respond to questions, and place the item on a subsequent BOCC <br /> 25 meeting for future consideration. <br /> 26 <br /> 27 March 12, 2019 Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Meeting - Staff met with members of the church <br /> 28 and approximately over 40 people attended. The Orange County Planning Director provided an <br /> 29 overview of the plan and some specifics about a possible rail crossing relocation and grade <br /> 30 separation in a 5-10 years horizon. The public notification process for the Buckhorn (and other <br /> 31 areas) Traffic Separation Study (TSS) began in 2016 and was initiated by the North Carolina <br /> 32 Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR). The TSS <br /> 33 includes environmental and cultural impact survey. Residents were shown all three proposed <br /> 34 alignments as recommended in the TSS (Attachment 1) and asked to work with staff to find the <br /> 35 alternative with the least impact. They were also reminded of the two public meetings, public <br /> 36 hearing and public review processes NCDOT and Mebane conducted when drafting and <br /> 37 adopting the TSS. The City of Mebane notified the County of this project and we offered <br /> 38 comments about what alignment option has the least impact (i.e. No impact) to the church and <br /> 39 cemetery and the best alignment for a future intersection to US-70. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 The Church has provided a letter to Orange County (Attachment 2) requesting: <br /> 42 . The Mebane TSS for Buckhorn Road be removed from plans and that closing the train <br /> 43 crossing at Buckhorn Road not to be an option. <br /> 44 . A resolution assuring that the E-B-M AMP will not be part of any long rang plans for the <br /> 45 Efland-Buckhorn community's residents and economic future. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 Planning Director's Recommendation - The Planning Director recommends that the draft <br /> 48 2019 E-B-M AMP be revised to exclude the elements of the Traffic Separation Study TSS <br /> 49 between the Industrial Drive/Buckhorn Road intersection and US-70 Frazier Road intersection <br /> 50 (Attachment 3). The concerns of the residents will be forwarded to NCDOT and NCRR. The <br />