Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Mitigation Plan, Cary, North Carolina

6.1.18 North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (formerly Wetlands Restoration Program)

The North Carolina (State) Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires projects that involve public funding that exceed certain minimum criteria include the preparation of an environmental document (environmental assessment [EA] or environmental impact statement [EIS]). These environmental documents must outline the direct, indirect (or secondary), and cumulative impacts to natural, cultural, and historical resources.

Typically, EAs or EISs are developed for a given infrastructure project. Each individual EA or EIS includes summaries of the direct, secondary, and cumulative impacts. Inefficiencies from developing documents in this manner include the following:

These inefficiencies result in frustration for both the regulatory agencies and the regulated community. Thus, the Town of Cary developed a Secondary and Cumulative Impacts (SCI) Master Mitigation Plan to address the secondary and cumulative impacts for all planned infrastructure. Inclusion of all infrastructure plans in one document provides a holistic review of Cary’s growth projections and infrastructure being designed to support that growth. While EAs or EISs are developed for individual projects to examine the direct impacts of the projects, these documents will reference the SCI Master Mitigation Plan for secondary and cumulative impacts, avoiding redundancy.

The Town of Cary has entered into an memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that outlines how the SCI Master Mitigation Plan document will be used, the time period during which it can be cited in individual EAs and EISs, and under what circumstances it must be updated more frequently.

The study area for the SCI Master Mitigation Plan document consists of the Town’s Planning Area. The Planning Area boundaries are based on a combination of the urban service area, extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), and the Land Use Plan boundary, as well as recent boundary and urban service area agreements with the Town of Holly Springs and the Town of Apex. The Planning Area covers approximately 78 square miles and is located in the Neuse and Cape Fear River Basins.

Infrastructure – Part of the Town’s mission is to provide responsible leadership for controlled infrastructure development. Cary promotes orderly growth through development and implementation of the Town Standard Specifications and Details Manual. The Town also has developed a comprehensive transportation plan and master plans for providing water and sewer services to its citizens in a manner that will protect water quality, air quality, open space, and wildlife habitat. The Town has current and planned regional water and wastewater facilities. For example, the Town shares its water treatment plant (WTP) with Apex and supplies water to Morrisville. In addition, an ongoing study will result in a regional plan for wastewater treatment and conveyance in western Wake County that includes the Towns of Apex, Morrisville, and Holly Springs.

Existing Conditions – Within the Planning Area, existing environmental conditions were assessed to facilitate the identification of potential SCI to the natural environment as growth occurs.

The presence or potential habitat of protected species were considered. A bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nesting site is present within the Planning Area near Lake Crabtree. Of particular note is a survey of freshwater mussel species in the Middle Creek and Swift Creek watersheds. No individuals, live or relic, of the Federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) were found during the survey.

Secondary and Cumulative Impacts – Table ES-1 summarizes potential SCI to the Planning Area, the likelihood of impacts, and the mitigation measures in place to address them. These mitigation measures will offset environmental impacts associated with growth that are likely to occur with or without planned infrastructure projects. The Town is taking progressive steps to protect its environmental heritage by developing many programs to balance the competing goals of growth and environmental protection.

Main SCI concerns include the loss of open space (including forests and agricultural lands) and the potential for impacts to water resources, aquatic habitats, and associated aquatic species including freshwater mussels.

Mitigation – Many measures are currently in place to limit SCI as growth occurs in the Town. Planning processes will guide development in appropriate areas. Ordinances protect open space, water supply watersheds, stream buffers, floodplains, and wetlands; and require stormwater controls to limit water resources impacts. These efforts protect the Town’s natural resources and quality of life for its citizens. A summary of these mitigation efforts and their applicability to each of the natural and cultural resources analyzed under SEPA guidelines is presented in Table ES-1.

TABLE ES-1 Areas of Potential Impacts to be Addressed by Permitting and Mitigation Programs
Environmental Resource	Potential for SCI	Types of SCIs	Mitigation Programs
Topography and Floodplains	LI	Some floodplain loss from commercial development Isolation of floodplain from stream by channel entrenchment; loss of nutrient exchange capabilities	Floodplain Protection – No residential development or fill in floodplain; commercial development in floodplain must obtain special use permit which limits development in floodplain (Town permits approx. 1 /year Open Space Goals and Land Use Plans often preserve additional corridors along required riparian buffers
Soils	PI	Soil erosion and compaction from new development	Erosion and Sediment Control Program Open space preservation efforts Land Use Planning – encourages development in Town Center and growth corridors to limit areas of disturbance
Land Use	PI	Conversion of agricultural and forested land uses to mainly residential land uses	Land Development Ordinance Land Use Planning encourages development around town center, selected corridors, and mixed use developments Growth Management Plan Parks, Recreation, Greenway, and Open Space Planning
Wetlands	LI	Loss through development; subsequent loss of habitat and habitat fragmentation, reduction in genetic diversity, and loss of attenuation of flow Loss of wetland function through pollutant loading	Wetland Protection through Section 404 and Section 401 Riparian Buffers – 100 feet on perennial and intermittent streams Floodplain protection ordinance Stormwater programs reduce pollutant loads to wetlands
Prime or Unique Agricultural Land	PI	Conversion to other uses	Land Use Planning Wake County Voluntary Agricultural Districts Wake County Tax Incentive Programs
Public Lands and Scenic, Recreational Areas, and State Natural Areas	LI	Possibility of conversion of adjacent land uses	Parks, Recreation, Greenway, and Open Space Planning
Areas of Archaeological or Historical Value	LI	Possibility of conversion of adjacent land uses Structural damage due to acid rain and vibrations	Land Use Planning Open Space and Historic Resources Plan
Air Quality	LI	Reduction in air quality due to increased vehicular traffic Negative impacts to human health (i.e. asthma); acid rain; reduced visibility	Wake County Air Quality Task Force Transportation elements of bicycle lanes, greenways, and alternative methods such as light- rail and alternative fuel vehicles C-Tran system – mass transit for Cary and surrounding areas Alternative fuel vehicles used by Town of Cary LDO connectivity requirement Tree Protection Ordinance
Noise Levels	PI	Increase in overall noise level in Planning Area Negative impacts to human health	Transportation Planning Development buffers
Surface Water Resources	PI	Water quality degradation; increase in stormwater runoff Alteration of natural hydrograph (i.e. magnitude, timing, frequency, duration, rate of change); lower and more frequent low-flow conditions; alteration of channel morphology	Riparian Buffers – 100 feet on perennial and intermittent streams Floodplain Protection – No residential development or fill in floodplain Stormwater – Impervious limited to 12-36 percent, or stormwater controls required; Phase II requires runoff volume be controlled; outfall velocity requirements Erosion and Sediment Control – Plan review and pre-construction process; plan required at 12,000 sq. feet. Wetland Protection through Section 404 and Section 401 Watershed Protection Overlay District – establishes additional stringent regulations for water supply watersheds Clean Water Management Trust Fund – Funding to protect floodplains and buffers on White Oak Creek and implement headwater stormwater controls on Swift Creek Work with agencies to identify restoration projects and funding to improve water quality in 303(d) listed streams Open space preservation efforts
Groundwater Resources	LI	Reduction in use for drinking water; potential to become contaminated Groundwater inflow provides base flow in streams, which supports life during droughts	Failing septic systems taken offline as infrastructure developed Town piloting LID project and hosting LID workshop; LID practices will help maintain infiltration and stream base flow
Forest Resources	PI	Conversion to other uses Reduction in air quality; increase in near-surface air temperature; habitat fragmentation	Riparian Buffers – 100 feet on perennial and intermittent streams Parks, Recreation, Greenway, and Open Space Planning – protect important habitat areas and examine connectivity Lane Use Planning – encourages development in Town Center and growth corridors
Shellfish or Fish and their Habitats	PI	Possible aquatic habitat degradation Disruption of food chain; reduction in aquatic insect number and diversity through loss of riffle habitat; reduction in potential for long-term population sustainability	Riparian Buffers – 100 feet on perennial and intermittent streams Floodplain Protection – No residential development or fill in floodplain Stormwater – Impervious limited to 12-36 percent, or stormwater controls required; outfall velocity requirements Erosion and Sediment Control – Plan review and pre-construction process; plan required at 12,000 sq. feet. Wetland Protection through Section 404 and Section 401 Watershed Protection Overlay District – establishes additional stringent regulations for water supply watersheds Clean Water Management Trust Fund – Funding to protect floodplains and buffers on White Oak Creek and implement headwater stormwater controls on Swift Creek Open space preservation efforts
Wildlife and Natural Vegetation	PI	Reduction in available habitat Habitat fragmentation; reduction in genetic diversity; reduction in species tolerance; increased dispersal distance to suitable habitat; reduction in potential for long-term population sustainability	Riparian Buffers – 100 feet on perennial and intermittent streams Parks, Recreation, Greenway, and Open Space Planning – protect important habitat areas and examine connectivity Endangered Species Act
Introduction of Toxic Substances	LI	Increase in likelihood of contamination Negative impacts to human health	Land Use Planning/Zoning - controls uses Stormwater education programs

LDO = Land Development Ordinance PI = Areas of Potential Impact (major relevance in NCEPA documents and permitting applications)
LI = Areas of Limited Impact (minor relevance in NCEPA documents and permitting applications)

^Top^

Introduction

The North Carolina (State) Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires that projects that involve public funding that exceed certain minimum criteria include the preparation of an environmental document (environmental assessment [EA] or environmental impact statement [EIS]). These environmental documents must outline the direct, indirect (or secondary), and cumulative impacts to the following resources:

Direct impacts are those impacts that are caused by the construction and operation of the given project.ndirect or secondary impacts are “caused by and result from the proposed activity although they are later in time or further removed in distance, but they are still reasonably foreseeable” (15A North Carolina Administrative Code [NCAC] 1C. 0101(d)(4)). Thus, secondary impacts include the impacts of growth that a given project may help support.

Cumulative effects or impacts are defined as “resulting from the incremental impact of the proposed activity when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future activities regardless of what entities undertake such other activities” (15A NCAC 1C. 0101(d)(2)). Cumulative impacts include the direct and secondary impacts that occur when examined in conjunction with other proposed infrastructure projects. This document focuses on secondary impacts and cumulative indirect impacts. Cumulative direct impacts will be addressed in individual EAs or EISs.

These inefficiencies result in frustration for both the regulatory agencies and the regulated community. Thus, the Town of Cary developed this secondary and cumulative impacts master mitigation plan (SCI Master Mitigation Plan) to address the secondary and cumulative indirect impacts for all planned infrastructure. Inclusion of all infrastructure plans in one document provides a holistic review of Cary’s growth projections and infrastructure being designed to support that growth. While EAs or EISs are developed for individual projects to examine the direct impacts of the projects, these documents will reference the SCI Master Mitigation Plan for secondary and cumulative indirect impacts, avoiding redundancy.

The Town of Cary has entered into an memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that outlines how the SCI Master Mitigation Plan document will be used, the time period during which it can be cited in individual EAs and EISs, reporting requirements, and under what circumstances it must be updated more frequently. The SCI Master Mitigation Plan is actually an attachment to the MOA.

1.1 SCI Master Mitigation Plan Process

This document was developed following an approach similar to an EIS. A scoping document was developed and submitted to the State Clearinghouse for review and comment. A meeting was also held during the scoping process to explain the purpose of this process and plan and solicit preliminary comments from the agencies. Based on the comments received at the meeting and through scoping, a draft SCI Master Mitigation Plan was prepared and submitted to DENR, the lead agency for review and comment. All agency comments are included in Appendix A.

An EIS does not require a determination of whether impacts are significant. Thus, this document uses qualitative analyses of available data and literature to determine whether impacts to a given resource may occur. The document also outlines the mitigation strategies in place to address those impacts. However, no quantitative analysis was performed to determine the level of significance of the impacts.

It should also be noted that for a given infrastructure project, DENR may determine that the programs described in this document are insufficient to address the secondary and cumulative impacts of that project. In this case, this document will still be used to meet SEPA requirements, but additional requirements could be placed in the permit condition.

1.2 Project Study Area

The study area for the SCI Master Mitigation Plan document consists of the Town’s Planning Area (Figure 1-1). The Planning Area boundaries are based on a combination of the urban service area (USA), extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), and the Land Use Plan boundary, as well as recent boundary and urban service area agreements with the Town of Holly Springs and the Town of Apex. The Town of Cary’s Planning Area is approximately 78 square miles.

The ETJ represents the area beyond the Town limits where the Town has zoning and regulatory authority. State law authorizes municipalities to have ETJ to allow control of development in areas that are expected to come within their corporate limits in the near future. This enables municipalities to ensure that development patterns and associated infrastructure will allow the efficient provision of urban services.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners evaluates the following criteria when they consider expansions of a Town’s ETJ:

USA represents areas where the County envisions that the Town will ultimately provide utility service. The Town does not have zoning authority outside the ETJ even in areas within the USA. Wake County determines the USA and a Town does not have the authority to make modifications to the boundaries. New development within the USA is according to Town standards if annexation is requested and to Wake County standards if annexation is not requested. In order for the Town to provide utility services to new development, it typically requires annexation or will provide service at rates significantly higher than the typical rates. Because of these policies, the Town rarely provides utility service to areas outside their ETJs.

Annexation is a governing board decision. Areas outside a Town’s ETJ may request annexation, which often occurs when these areas desire utility service. For areas previously developed under Wake County development standards, a situation (e.g., septic failures) may occur that could cause areas currently outside the Town limits to come into compliance with Town standards when requesting utility services or annexation. On the rare occasion that annexation by the Town does not occur, Wake County policies described in the Appendix will apply for these areas.

The less dense development that typically occurs when annexation is not requested is usually served by onsite water and wastewater or small community wells and package plants, and is subject to County—rather than municipal—development requirements. Systems to treat wastewater generated by this growth do not have requirements for licensed operators to be onsite 24 hours, and there are no requirements for the operation and maintenance of septic systems. Additionally, small developments that occur outside municipal jurisdiction often fall below thresholds for stormwater, open space preservation, and erosion and sediment control as required by the state or county.

Because development outside a Town’s ETJ will follow Wake County development requirements if annexation by the Town is not requested, a description of Wake County’s programs that mitigate growth impacts is included in Appendix B. Wake County is an active participant in the process to develop this document. Wake County does not provide infrastructure; therefore, Wake County has decided not to prepare its own SCI Master Mitigation Plan. Within Wake County, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) provides transportation infrastructure and the municipalities provide water and sewer infrastructure. Wake County does have riparian buffer, stormwater and other mitigation programs in place which are described in Appendix B.

Land Use Planning serves as a basis for the SCI Master Mitigation Plan. Land use plans indicate how a Town would like development to occur if a landowner chooses to develop the property. A land use plan cannot limit a property owner’s decision to develop their land. Zoning which is based on the land use plan can limit the type of development a property owner can execute.

The land use planning and infrastructure planning process is a dynamic process. The future land use plan and proposed infrastructure plan are linked to population projections and reassessed as elements change over time. As a future land use plan is modified, the proposed infrastructure plan is modified to ensure adequate infrastructure for future population predictions. Zoning, which is guided by the land use plan, may be modified. Future land use plans typically coincide with planned infrastructure time frames of 25 to 30 years.

The Town of Cary provides water and sewer service to Research Triangle Park (RTP) South and to the Raleigh-Durham (RDU) airport. RTP South is covered by the Wake County programs described in Appendix B. However, RTP South also has more extensive open space and riparian buffer corridors than those required by Wake County. Thus, its planning efforts are also described in Appendix B. The RDU airport is located in Wake County and is also covered by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit. In addition, all activities completed by the RDU airport are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and are subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). All projects planned at the airport must develop a NEPA document that addresses secondary and cumulative impacts. The airport has completed an EA for a safety area expansion of a runway and has plans to develop another runway. However, there is no schedule for this project. There are not other planned projects at RDU for the next 15 to 20 years that would require an EA or EIS (Powell, 2005). The environmental documentation indicates that the primary purpose for RDU projects is to increase safety or quality of service. RDU is not increasing its operating capacity (Kimley-Horn and Associates, 2003).

1.3 Organization of Document

This document contains the Town of Cary’s SCI Master Mitigation Plan document. The remaining sections include:

The Town of Cary has developed a comprehensive transportation plan and master plans for providing water and sewer services to its citizens in a manner that will protect water quality, air quality, open space, wildlife habitat, and other environmental characteristics. The plans outline future transportation corridors and roadway improvements and provide the general sizing and location of facilities such as the water treatment plant (WTP), water distribution lines, booster pump stations, and water towers; gravity sewer lines; wastewater pump stations; and sewer force mains. In addition, an ongoing study will result in a regional plan for wastewater treatment, conveyance, and surface water disposal in western Wake County.

2.1 Wastewater

2.1.1 Existing Wastewater System

The wastewater collection and treatment system for the Town of Cary consists of gravity lines, pumping stations and force mains conveying flows to the North Cary water reclamation facility (WRF) and the South Cary WRF.

The North Cary WRF currently discharges approximately 6.5 million gallons per day (MGD) on an annual average basis to Crabtree Creek between the Lake Crabtree dam and Interstate 40 and has a permitted maximum month discharge capacity of 12 MGD. The current maximum month treatment capacity at the North Cary WRF is 10 MGD, and it has a 4.28 MGD permit for reuse of wastewater effluent as reclaimed water for irrigation and other nonpotable uses. Expansion of the North Cary WRF to 12 MGD capacity is expected to be complete in mid-2005.

The South Cary WRF currently discharges an annual average of approximately 5.2 MGD to Middle Creek between Sunset Lake and Johnson Pond Road (State Route [SR] 1404) and has a permitted maximum month discharge capacity of 16 MGD. The current maximum month treatment capacity at the South Cary Plant is 12.8 MGD, and it has a 0.86 MGD permit for reuse of wastewater effluent as reclaimed water for irrigation and other nonpotable uses.

Each of these plants includes state-of-the-art treatment with advanced nutrient removal capabilities because they discharge into the designated Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW) of the Neuse River Basin.

The Town of Cary also provides wastewater collection and treatment for the Town of Morrisville, the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and the Wake County portion of Research Triangle Park (RTP South). These users contribute to the North Cary Plant and have existing agreements with the Town of Cary to plan for and provide for flows based on annual user projections. Cary will work with the users to plan for any sudden increases. The system serves residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial customers. The Town’s industrial community includes several major employers, such as IBM, SAS Institute, Caterpillar, John Deere, and Lucent Technologies.

The Town of Cary system includes numerous drainage basins. Sewer lines generally flow by gravity, following the natural drainage, until they reach a WRF or a point where they are pumped out of the basin to another drainage basin. Main sewer lines can receive flows from numerous tributary drainage basins as well as flows pumped from other drainage basins. Thirty-one subbasins (12,969 acres) are served by gravity or pumped to the North Cary WRF, while 26 subbasins (13,031 acres) are served by gravity or pumped to the South Cary WRF. Twelve subbasins in the West Basin are tributaries to waters in the Cape Fear River Basin that flow into Jordan Lake. Flows from these 12 subbasins, along with the 19 subbasins in the North Basin, are presently pumped to the North Cary WRF for treatment.

In June 2003, these plants were served by approximately 518 miles of gravity interceptors, approximately 45 miles of force mains, and 29 pump stations (Hazen and Sawyer, 2003). Figure 2-1 illustrates the locations of the WRFs, pump stations, force mains, and gravity lines that are 8 inches or larger. North Cary WRF has 307 miles of gravity lines, 25 miles of force mains, and 15 pump stations. Four of the 15 pump stations currently service the area in the Cape Fear River Basin that will eventually be redirected to a new WRF for the western Cary service area. South Cary WRF has 211 miles of gravity lines, 20 miles of force mains, and 14 pump stations.

2.1.2 Future Wastewater System

One of the projects that will require an environmental document that references the secondary and cumulative impacts mitigation plan is a new WRF to treat wastewater and return reclaimed water to the Cape Fear River Basin. The Town of Cary is working with the Towns of Apex and Morrisville to construct and operate the WRF, and the Town of Holly Springs will share the outall line which will discharge to the Cape Fear River below Buckhorn Dam. The planned location of the proposed plant is in southwestern Wake County within the Cape Fear River Basin. The exact location will be identified in an EIS that examines the direct impacts of the proposed plant on environmental resources. Figure 2-2 shows the anticipated service area for the proposed Western Wake WRF and the Study Areas/Planning Areas of the four involved municipalities.

Figure 2-2 illustrates that the service area for the proposed WRF extends beyond the Town of Cary’s Planning Area. This is because the Town provides water and sewer service to RTP South and the RDU airport. RTP South is covered by the Wake County programs described in Appendix B. However, RTP South also has more extensive open space and riparian buffer corridors than those required by Wake County. Thus, its planning efforts are also described in Appendix B. The RDU airport is located in Wake County and is also covered by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit. In addition, all activities completed by the RDU airport are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and are subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). All projects planned at the airport must develop a NEPA document that addresses secondary and cumulative impacts. The airport has completed an EA for a safety area expansion of a runway and has plans to develop another runway. The environmental documentation indicates that the primary purpose for RDU projects is to increase safety or quality of service. RDU is not increasing its operating capacity (Kimley-Horn and Associates, 2003).

The Town developed its Wastewater Collection System Master Plan (Wastewater Plan) in June 2003 (Hazen and Sawyer, 2003). The Wastewater Plan provides a long-term strategy for implementing system improvements to meet the projected wastewater flows for the collection system in several planning periods within Cary’s utility service area. The report identified system improvements to provide capacity for peak wastewater flows to minimize the potential for overflows in the collection system. Recommendations were provided for new gravity interceptors, parallel gravity interceptors, new force mains, parallel force mains, new pump stations, and expanded pump stations.

Plans exist for approximately 78 miles of gravity sewer lines, 25 miles of force mains, and 17 new or expanded pump stations. These figures represent the trunk lines; however, many more miles of gravity lines will feed these trunk lines. Figure 2-1 illustrates the location of the proposed infrastructure, including the pump stations, force mains, and gravity lines that are 8 inches or larger. A detailed summary of proposed capital improvements is presented in Appendix B. The exact locations of the proposed infrastructure will be determined during the environmental studies that examine the direct impacts of the proposed infrastructure. However, general locations are known and are supported by the Land Use Plan and population projections; thus, secondary and cumulative impacts are identifiable at this time.

2.1.3 Reclaimed Water

The Town of Cary recognizes that water resources in the RTP region are becoming increasingly scarce. Cary’s reclaimed water program is an initiative to recycle a valuable resource. The program is intended to provide a safe, cost-effective, and beneficial alternative to using valuable drinking water for some non-potable water needs.

In Cary, as much as half of the drinking water used on peak days during the summer can be for nonconsumptive uses such as irrigation or cooling towers. Under this program, reclaimed water is available via bulk distribution and through pipes to certain areas of the town. Reclaimed water is provided as a replacement for certain types of water uses that do not require potable water, and rates are lower than those for drinking water. Reclaimed water use extends the service life of the drinking water plant and the life of a water supply, recycles a valuable resource, and reduces the amount of treated wastewater discharged to surface waters.

According to the Western Wake County Regional Wastewater Treatment Studies Project Phase 1 (CDM, 2004), Cary could have an annual average reclaimed water demand of 3.3 MGD by year 2030 (CDM and Hazen & Sawyer, 2004). Cary has defined three reclaimed water service areas in the northeast, northwest, and southern portions of its jurisdiction and long-range urban service area (LRUSA). The reclaimed water program has two components: two reclaimed water piping systems and two bulk water distribution centers. One of each is at the North Cary and South Cary WRFs. The piping system runs parallel to existing drinking water lines in the vicinity of the North Cary and South Cary WRFs. The Reclaimed Water System was put into service on June 12, 2001. Expanding the reclaimed water system is consistent with Cary’s Reclaimed Water Policy Statement, which aims to protect the region’s finite natural resources, reduce potable water demands, and reduce nutrient loadings in the Neuse River Basin.

Cary’s Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) specifically lists reclaimed water projects that will be implemented in the next few years. The Town is working with Durham County and Wake County to bring reclaimed water to the Wake County portion of RTP. In addition, reclaimed water from Durham County will be piped to Thomas Brooks Park and from the North Cary WRF to the western side of town.

Exact locations of the proposed infrastructure will be determined during development of the environmental documents that examine the direct impacts of the infrastructure. However, general locations that are described above are supported by the Land Use Plan and population projections; thus, secondary and cumulative impacts are identifiable at this time.

2.2 Water

2.2.1 Existing Water System

The Town of Cary obtains its drinking water from Jordan Lake. The water is treated at the Cary/Apex WTP, as shown on Figure 2-3. Raw water from Jordan Lake is conveyed aboutu 4 miles to the WTP, which is located on Wimberly Road (SR 1603). The WTP has a current capacity of 40 MGD. Maximum daily use in 2004 was 25.8 MGD. To distribute water to Cary citizens, the Town of Cary maintains approximately 630 miles of transmission lines with diameters ranging from 2 to 42 inches. The distribution system includes four pump stations: Trinity Road, Durham Davis Drive, Old Apex Road, and Plumtree Way. The Trinity Road pump station provides emergency connection with the City of Raleigh, and the Durham Davis Drive pump station provides emergency connection with the City of Durham. Storage is provided in seven tanks: North Harrison, Kildare Farm, Ridge View, Maynard, Carpenter, Plumtree Way, and Old Apex Road.

2.2.2 Future Water System

The Town developed its Water System Master Plan (Water Plan) in March 2000 (Camp Dresser &McKee, 2000). The Water Plan evaluated the existing WTP capacity, pressure zones, pumping systems, transmission and storage facilities. The Water Plan outlines recommended improvements to upgrade the capacity of the transmission system. The expansion of the service areas would allow for the creation of additional pressure zones to eliminate or reduce elevated system pressures that are currently experienced at lower ground elevations.

The Water Plan outlines recommended improvements to upgrade the capacity of the transmission system. These improvements mainly include replacement of existing mains by larger diameter pipes. The transmission line improvements can be classified in three categories:

A detailed explanation of proposed capital improvements is presented in Appendix C. Exact locations of the proposed infrastructure will be determined during development of the environmental documents that examine the direct impacts of the infrastructure. However, general locations are known and are supported by the Land Use Plan and population projections; thus, secondary and cumulative impacts are identifiable at this time.

In addition to the transmission system improvements outlined in the Water Plan, the Town plans to expand the WTP capacity when needed; the next expansion process is expected to begin in approximately 2009 for completion by 2012. These plans are included in the Town’s CIP and are described in Appendix C.

2.3 Transportation

The Town of Cary’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan (Transportation Plan)was adopted in May of 2001 (Wilbur Smith, 2001). The Plan seeks to create a safe, convenient, and efficient multi-modal transportation system. The Transportation Plan addresses potential solutions to improve pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and thoroughfare elements in Cary for the future. While the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is responsible for the major highway work that will be done in Cary, the Town’s Transportation Plan includes specific recommendations for thoroughfare improvements. The purpose of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan is to update the official Thoroughfare Plan that is used by local, regional, state, and Federal decisionmakers. The plan reserves land for future transportation corridors and helps guide decisions on setbacks and roadway improvements as development occurs.

The Comprehensive Transportation Plan has four elements: Pedestrians, Bicycles, Transits, and Thoroughfares. The Pedestrian Element shows the network of walkways that will include sidewalks and greenways, forming an interconnected system. The Bicycle Element shows a network of on-street bikeways, including striped bike lanes, streets with wide outside lanes to accommodate bicycles, and connections to the Town’s greenway system. The Transit Element shows how Cary can begin to look to enhanced regional bus service and future local and feeder bus service within Cary. The Thoroughfare Element shows the network of major and minor roadways that will improve traffic flow over existing conditions and begin to meet some of the anticipated future travel demands.

Figure 2-4 summarizes recommended thoroughfares discussed in the Transportation Plan. A key planned construction project is the NCDOT development of I-540 (outer loop) from NC Highway 55 to the NC Highway 55 Bypass near Holly Springs. Several other roads are also being widened, some with projects undertaken by the Town, to help accommodate the growth. The Transportation Plan for the southwest portion of the Town is being updated in accordance with recommendations from the Southwest Area Plan and should be completed by early 2005. Commuter rail service to connect Cary with Raleigh, RTP, and Durham is projected to begin in 2007 through the Triangle Transit Authority. Exact locations of the proposed infrastructure will be determined during development of the environmental documents that examine the direct impacts of infrastructure. However, general locations are known and are supported by the Land Use Plan and population projections; thus secondary and cumulative impacts are identifiable at this time.

Purpose of and Need for Proposed Infrastructure

The purpose of and need for the proposed infrastructure is a function of the Town of Cary’s commitment to its citizens. Part of Cary’s mission is to provide responsible leadership for controlled infrastructure development. Cary promotes orderly growth through development and implementation of the Town Standard Specifications and Details Manual. Through effective planning, the Town has anticipated infrastructure problems and needs by developing cost-effective, viable solutions implemented as a part of the Town’s capital improvements budget. The Town of Cary plans for capital improvements in 10-year increments (Appendix B). Through proper planning, the Town ensures that infrastructure meets the expectations and needs of Cary’s citizens.

The Town of Cary integrates its infrastructure plans with its other planning processes, and understands that infrastructure planning strategies must be formulated and implemented in a manner to balance the competing goals of growth and the environment. By integrating its growth management strategies, land use planning strategies, and infrastructure plans, the Town preserves important ecological areas in the form of open space; ensures that its citizens have adequate recreational resources; and meets water, wastewater, and transportation demands. By integrating >these processes, the Town ensures that infrastructure is commensurate with the projected population of given sections within the Planning Area. Also, proper planning ensures that Jordan Lake drinking water quality is protected and wastewater is treated to levels that protect surface water quality.

The Engineering Department is responsible for planning, design, and construction of capital improvements for the Town of Cary, including street improvements, right-of-way acquisitions, stormwater and utility system improvements, utility plant expansions, thoroughfare planning, and management of development contract and easement releases.

The three main infrastructure elements are wastewater, water and reclaimed water, and transportation. The projects in each area are evaluated against the established goals of the Town.

To meet these infrastructure goals, the Town of Cary develops and implements infrastructure plans. These plans are based on the projected population numbers and the Land Use Plan to ensure that adequate capacity exists for future residents at the proper locations. The population projections are consistent with build-out of the Land Use Plan which will occur in roughly 2030.

The Town of Cary grew rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s, but growth has slowed in recent years. The population in Cary was estimated to be 21,763 in 1980 and 94,536 in 2000 (U.S. Census). Population projections for the Town of Cary (Table 3-1) show growth of about 3 percent per year, resulting in about 200,000 residents by the year 2020 (CDM et al, 2005). The Town’s Land Use Plan is described in Section 6.

The Town periodically reviews and updates its population, wastewater, and water supply projections. While minor differences in population projections may occur with these updates, the methodologies and numbers are consistent. The environmental documents that are developed to evaluate direct impacts of specific infrastructure projects will contain thorough justification on why the projects are needed to support the Town’s growing demands. The balance of growth and environmental protection is of critical importance to the Town of Cary.

Description of Existing Environment in Planning Area

This section describes the existing environment to facilitate the identification of potential secondary and cumulative impacts to the natural environment as growth occurs in the Planning Area. The data for this section were gathered through literature reviews, internet searches, geographic information system (GIS) queries, phone conversations, letters, and meetings with various resource agency personnel.

4.1 Topography and Floodplains

Cary is located in the North Carolina piedmont, near the edge of the costal plain, with gently sloping to moderately steep terrain.

Floodplains function as storage areas for surface water during large rainfall events. Within floodplains, microtopography variations often create pockets of riparian wetlands. These riparian areas provide multiple functions, including flood storage, wildlife habitat, corridors for wildlife movement, and water quality functions such as infiltration zones and surface water filtering. Approximately 5.1 square miles of FEMA regulated floodplains are located inside the Planning Area; these floodplains represent 6.5 percent of the Planning Area.

Floodplains within watersheds greater than one square mile are regulated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the area are dated March 3, 1992 (FEMA, 2004). Regulatory floodplains total 8 percent of the Planning Area, as shown on Figure 4-1. A majority of regulated floodplain area is within the Town’s 100-foot stream buffer zone. Preliminary FIRMs for the Cape Fear River Basin in Wake County are under an appeal period from April 20, 2005 to July 20, 2005. After all appeals and protests are resolved and the 6-month compliance period has ended, final FIRM panels will be issued for the Cape Fear River Basin in Wake County. The appeal period for the Preliminary FIRMs for the Neuse River Basin in Wake County was from July 15, 2004 to October 13, 2004. After all appeals and protests are resolved and the 6-month compliance period has ended, final FIRM panels will be issued for the Neuse River Basin in Wake County.

4.2 Soils

The major soil types are Appling, Creedmoor and White Store. Other soil types include Congaree, Altavista, and Mayodan. These soils are mostly sandy loams. Soil types within floodplains and adjacent to streams include Wehadkee and Chewacla. Many of these soils, especially in the eastern portion of the Planning Area, have been impacted by development and other soil disturbances. These soils are gently sloping to steep, and are well-drained to moderately well-drained.

4.3 Land Use

Figure 4-2 illustrates broad land use categories within the Planning Area. The map shows land that is available for development, land that is already developed, and land that is protected as open space. The developed land is divided into residential and non-residential uses. The open space category includes protected open space, floodplains, parks, and privately held open space. Undeveloped land includes parcels that are 10 acres in size or greater that have a residence on them as these parcels could be subdivided in the future.

A portion of the parks and privately held open space have been developed for recreational purposes. The Town does not have the data to determine the percentage of open space that is in its natural state.

Table 4-1
Residential Developed	32.4	41.4%
Non-residential Developed	15.0	19.2%
Undeveloped	21.7	27.7%
Open Space*	8.4	10.7%
Open Water	0.7	0.9%
Total	78.2	100%
* Open space area includes <0.1 square miles of WRC Gamelands Source: Town of Cary GIS, 2005

Table 4-1 provides detail on the acres within each broad land use category. As shown in the Table, approximately 60 percent of the Planning Area is developed land; another 28 percent is currently forested, agricultural or vacant (no building on the parcel according to Wake County’s parcel data). According to the Table, approximately 11 percent of the land is protected as open space.

Open Space is underestimated; the riparian buffer and floodplain open space is actually counted in the other land use categories. Figure 4-2 illustrates the riparian buffers within the Town’s Planning Area, and these buffers account for 15.8 square miles (20.2 percent of the Planning Area). The approximately 5.1 square miles of FEMA regulated floodplains are located inside the Planning Area; these floodplains represent 6.5 percent of the Planning Area. Because of the manner in which the data were created, it is difficult to distinguish the riparian buffer area or floodplain area from other land use categories due to technological complexities of the data layers used in the analysis. In addition, other areas within development areas such as perimeter buffers are actually open space.

The actual percentage of open space within the Planning Area is greater than the amount indicated by Table 4-1 and Figure 4-2 due to the following factors: 1) large portions of the areas classified as residential are open space due to the large amount of low-density development; 2) the Town requires open space in residential and commercial developments and 3) the Town requires the protection of 100-foot riparian buffers and floodplains. In addition, as land is developed, the Town requires open space to be provided with the developments. Therefore, although the park and open space uses are limited, there are many areas that are undeveloped open space within the various land use designations.

Table 4-2 breaks the consolidated land use categories out further as provided by the Town’s GIS staff (received April 2005) and based on Wake County’s parcel database; the Town’s land use categories are described in Appendix D. Residential use (41 percent) is the current predominant land use within the Planning Area with the majority of residential use classified as low density (25 percent). Small amounts of clustered high- and medium-density residential developments exist. Commercial, industrial, and institutional land uses comprise 12 percent of the area. The most heavily urbanized areas lie along the I-40 corridor, US Highway 54 corridor, US Highway 1 (US 1) corridor, and in the northern area near RTP.

TABLE 3-1 Town of Cary Population Trends and Projections
Year	Population
2000	94,563¹
2005	113,460²
2010	145,720²
2020	204,520²
2030	242,930²
¹ U.S. Census ² CDM et al, 2005

Table 4-2
Planning Area Detailed Existing Land Use
Land Use Type	Square Miles	Percent of Planning Area	Percent Impervious	Impervious Square Miles
Commercial	2	2.6%	82%	1.6
Office Commercial/Industrial	2	2.6%	82%	1.6
Office Commercial/Institutional	4.7	6.0%	72%	3.4
Institutional	0.6	0.8%	72%	0.4
Mixed Use	0	0.0%	72%	0.0
High-Density Residential

Secondary and Cumulative Impacts
Master Mitigation Plan
Cary, North Carolina

Contents

Executive Summary

Introduction

Proposed SCI Master Mitigation Plan Process

1.1 SCI Master Mitigation Plan Process

1.2 Project Study Area

1.3 Organization of Document

Background and Description of Infrastructure Master Plans

2.1 Wastewater

2.1.1 Existing Wastewater System

2.1.2 Future Wastewater System

2.1.3 Reclaimed Water

2.2 Water

2.2.1 Existing Water System

2.2.2 Future Water System

2.3 Transportation

Purpose of and Need for Proposed Infrastructure

Description of Existing Environment in Planning Area

4.1 Topography and Floodplains

4.2 Soils

4.3 Land Use

Table 4-1
Planning Area Existing Land Use
Land Use Type	Square Miles	Percent of Planning Area
Residential Developed	32.4	41.4%
Non-residential Developed	15.0	19.2%
Undeveloped	21.7	27.7%
Open Space*	8.4	10.7%
Open Water	0.7	0.9%
Total	78.2	100%
* Open space area includes <0.1 square miles of WRC Gamelands Source: Town of Cary GIS, 2005

Secondary and Cumulative ImpactsMaster Mitigation PlanCary, North Carolina

Contents

Executive Summary

Introduction

Proposed SCI Master Mitigation Plan Process

1.1 SCI Master Mitigation Plan Process

1.2 Project Study Area

1.3 Organization of Document

Background and Description of Infrastructure Master Plans

2.1 Wastewater

2.1.1 Existing Wastewater System

2.1.2 Future Wastewater System

2.1.3 Reclaimed Water

2.2 Water

2.2.1 Existing Water System

2.2.2 Future Water System

2.3 Transportation

Purpose of and Need for Proposed Infrastructure

Description of Existing Environment in Planning Area

4.1 Topography and Floodplains

4.2 Soils

4.3 Land Use

Secondary and Cumulative Impacts
Master Mitigation Plan
Cary, North Carolina