Agenda - 02-02-2021 Virtual Board Meeting; 8-a - Minutes

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19 1 issues. These `improvements' would likely have involve eliminating westbound Exit 2 160 to address public safety issues as traffic volumes increase in the area. 3 The elimination of westbound Exit 160/reconfiguration of Exit 161, requires additional 4 review as part of NC DOT and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) processes, 5 which are independent of this zoning atlas amendment process. 6 If approved, the project will move forward consistent with the master concept plan. If 7 denied, the applicant will have to address modification(s) at a future date. 8 As a practical matter, the processing of this rezoning request is the first step in this 9 process. 10 During our initial review of the Project, staff made the following recommendation(s) 11 concerning the proposed location of right-in/right-out driveway points (Attachment 4): 12 ➢ Eliminating the access drive(s) on the interstate on/off ramp west of US 13 Highway 70/1-85 Connector Road altogether; OR 14 ➢ Limit the two proposed access drives to an `entrance only' east of Mt. Willing 15 Road and an `exit only' west of the US Highway 70/1-85 connector road versus 16 a right-in/right-out for both driveways as current designed. 17 If the proposed access drives were eliminated altogether, motorists would access 18 Interstate 40/85 from the Project either via the US Highway 70/1-85 Connector Road 19 or Mt. Willing Road. Staff made this recommendation in an effort to preserve Exit 160 20 as currently configured and reduce anticipated traffic conflicts. 21 NC DOT staff have indicated westbound Exit 160 may be 22 eliminated/relocated/redesigned to address anticipated traffic safety needs as traffic 23 volumes increase in the area. Further, the applicant expressed concern over not 24 having direct access to the Project via the on/off ramp. 25 Staff still believes there is merit to continue investigating limiting the proposed access 26 drives to be an `entrance only' and/or `exit only' thereby reducing potential vehicular 27 conflicts and continued study on preserving westbound Exit 160, recognizing the 28 ultimate decision on these components of the Project have to go through a separate 29 State and Federal review process. 30 ii. Installation of new traffic signals (i.e., new driveway/Exit 161 intersection with US Highway 31 70/1-85 Connector Road and the intersection of the 1-85/40 on/off ramp with Mt. Willing 32 Road) in Phase 1; 33 iii. Turning Ben Johnson Road into a `right turn only'. Vehicles attempting to access the 34 Interstate from Ben Johnson Road will turn right onto US Highway 70/1-85 Connector 35 Road, complete a U-turn at the proposed signal approximately 500 ft. north, and access 36 the Interstate via the existing on/off ramp. This work would be completed in Phase 1; 37 iv. Numerous roadway improvements (i.e. widening for adding of turning lanes, development 38 of traffic stops, etc.). 39 STAFF COMMENT. Both Planning and NC DOT staff have reviewed the proposal. 40 Comments are contained in Attachment 4. 41 Improvements will need to be made to Mt. Willing Road to accommodate the 42 current/anticipated traffic flow. County Comprehensive/Transportation Planning staff 43 have recommended a roadway design consistent with the approved Efland-Buckhorn- 44 Mebane Access Management Plan (EBM AMP).