STAFF REPORT

Planning and Zoning Board, March 15, 2010

Comprehensive Transportation Plan Amendment – Wake Road/Kit Creek Road (EN10-023B) 10-CPA-01
Consideration of a public hearing for a request to amend the collector system on the existing Comprehensive Transportation Plan
Speaker: Ms. Laura Cove

From: Tim Bailey, P.E., Director of Engineering
Prepared by: Eric Simpson, P.E., Engineer
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Town Manager
Approved by: Michael J. Bajorek, Assistant Town Manager

Executive Summary: Staff received a request from residents to amend the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP). Several residents from the Wake Road area have requested a change to the Kit Creek Road, Wake Road alignment. Items in bold below have been added since the last staff report.

Background: During the update of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan in the fall of 2008, several citizens were concerned with a portion of the plan in the Kit Creek Road and Wake Road area. Council asked staff to continue to work with the community to try and resolve their concerns. Staff received a letter in September 2008 from fourteen Wake Road area residents requesting the modification of Wake Road alignment on the Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Staff and the Wake Road residents worked together over the past year to develop the proposed amendment request. The Wake Road residents sent a letter October 5, 2009 with nineteen signatures supporting the realignment for Wake Road. On behalf of the Wake Road residents, staff submits this report and recommendation to Town Council for action in accordance with section 3.2.2 of the Land Development Ordinance (LDO).

Wake Road is located near the intersection of Green Level Church Road (formerly Alston Avenue) and Kit Creek Road. It is shown on the Comprehensive Transportation Plan as a western extension of Kit Creek Road to directly align with existing Wake Road. A location map with the current Comprehensive Transportation is provided. A map showing the proposed realignment is also provided.

Staff from both the Engineering and Planning Departments reviewed the request. The following are statements of support for the proposed realignment:

• The new alignment avoids impacting three existing residential properties.
• The new alignment bypasses a pond located at 7633 Wake Road.
• The curvature of the alignment limits drivers to the 35 mph speed limit. The local residents support a low speed limit of 35 mph.
• The local residents west of 7512 Wake Road are in agreement with the new alignment.

The following are points of concern in the realignment proposal:

• Two vacant properties not affected by the existing alignment are now impacted by the new alignment.
• Introducing the curvature to the roadway limits the ability to raise the speed limit above 35 mph.
• The property owners to the east of 7521 Wake Road have not been involved in the proposed change to date.
• To create the realignment, the design uses minimum sight distance values to determine the geometry. Driver visibility is reduced as compared to the original alignment.

Visibility is adversely affected with the use of sharper curves, requiring motorists to react quicker to vehicles entering the road, other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

Staff has identified the property owners and associated PIN numbers directly impacted by the existing and proposed alignments:

1. Current Alignment – 72602871940 (Reiss, Edmund Allan & Louise), 72602889782 (Poole, Waverly R & Lois S), 72602985347 (Bagwell, Harold G), 72602894517 (Berry, Charles F), 72602977663 (Wake County Board Of Education).
2. Alternate Alignment – 72602998154 (Cannady, Cornell L & Franita L), 72602985916 (Bagwell, Harold G), 72602997326 (Perry, Albert Lynn), 72602977663 (Wake County Board Of Education), 72602889782 (Poole, Waverly R & Lois S), 72602985347 (Bagwell, Harold G), 72602992507 (Triangle Brick Co).

Summary of Process and Actions to Date:

Request to Amend the Comprehensive Transportation Plan	On December 10, 2009, Town Council approved moving forward with the Comprehensive Transportation Plan Amendment process (Staff Report EN10-023).
Notification	Ads appeared in the January 27 and February 3, 2010 editions of the Cary News for the February 11, 2010 Town Council public hearing.
	Property was posted on January 26, 2010 for the Town Council public hearing.
Town Council Public Hearing Comments	Council member Don Frantz asked if the existing Wake Road could ’Y’ into the proposed realignment at a sharp angle versus a perpendicular tie into the proposed realignment.
	Staff Analysis: The Town of Cary specification for intersections states “streets shall intersect each other at right angles whenever possible. The minimum desirable intersection angle is 80 degrees. At no time shall a street intersect any other street at less than 75 degrees.”
	The existing Wake Road is to be a stop condition at the future Kit Creek Road. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) have identified the implementation of increasing sight distance at intersections as a measure to increase highway safety.
Changes Since Town Council Public Hearing	There have been no changes to this case since the Town Council public hearing on February 11, 2010.
Notification	Ads appeared in the March 3 and March 10, 2010 editions of the Cary News for the March 15, 2010 Planning and Zoning Board public hearing. Property was posted on March 2, 2010 for the Planning and Zoning Board hearing.

Criteria For Consideration In Reviewing Comprehensive Plan Amendments:

Section 3.2.2(B) of the Land Development Ordinance states that “Proposals to amend the Comprehensive Plan shall be evaluated based upon whether the amendment is necessary in order to address conditions including, but not limited to, the following:”

· A change in projections or assumptions from those on which the Comprehensive Transportation Plan is based;

Staff Analysis: There have been no changes in this regard.

· Identification of new issues, needs, or opportunities that are not adequately addressed in the Comprehensive Transportation Plan;

Staff Analysis: There have been no changes in this regard.

· A change in the policies, objectives, principles, or standards governing the physical development of the Town or any other geographic areas addressed by the Comprehensive Transportation Plan; or

Staff Analysis: There have been no changes in this regard.

· Identification of errors or omissions in the Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

Staff Analysis: No errors or omissions have been identified.

Fiscal Impact: None

Staff Recommendation: Pending additional public comments, based on the technical analysis to date, there appears to be no compelling reason for a change to the alignment in the Comprehensive Transportation Plan at this time. As development takes place or as a Transportation project is included in the Capital Improvement Program, additional analysis can be undertaken.

It is important to note that the proposed realignment better meets the community goals and the character of the area and all of the property owners requesting the change support the proposed realignment.