STAFF REPORT
Planning and Development
Committee, June 19, 2008
Request for Road Improvement Waiver – Progress Energy Piney Plains Substation
(EN08-103)
Consideration of waiving thoroughfare improvement
requirements associated with the proposed Progress Energy Piney Plains
Substation addition
Speaker: Mr. Tim Bailey
From: Tim
Bailey, PE, Engineering Director
Prepared by: Sandra Stepney, PE, Transportation Engineer
Approved by: William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager
Progress Energy is requesting a waiver from thoroughfare improvements associated with the site plan submitted for the Cary Piney Plains 230kV Substation addition project. Per Town Ordinance, when any development plan is submitted for review and approval by the Town, the developer must dedicate right-of-way and construct any road improvements necessary to meet the Town’s current Thoroughfare Plan. The developer is responsible for half-street improvements and right-of-way dedication along the entire property frontage.
Piney Plains Road is designated to have an ultimate 45’ back-to-back section (3 lane undivided roadway) centered within a 67’ right-of-way. A 10’ multi-use trail is also required which replaces the proposed 5’ sidewalk. The existing cross section of Piney Plains Road is a 2 lane roadway (20’ wide). To meet Comprehensive Transportation Plan requirements, approximately 11.5’ of additional pavement widening, 10’ concrete multi-use trail, and additional right-of-way are required along the 880’ of frontage on Piney Plains Road.
Progress Energy has submitted a letter requesting a waiver from the thoroughfare widening improvements. The thoroughfare waiver request is based on the following provided by Progress Energy:
● This work (road widening and trail addition) will require us to relocate several underground utilities and remove all trees currently providing screening along Piney Plains Road.
● The expansion of the existing Cary Piney Plains 230kV Substation is a result of continued growth and development in the Cary and Western Wake area.
● As the need for additional load occurs, electrical infrastructure must be expanded to provide a reliable source of power for the citizens of Cary and adjoining areas.
● The expansion of the existing Cary Piney Plains 230kV Distribution Substation will enable continued quality electrical service to this area.
● As a regulated utility, Progress Energy is required by G.S. 62-32(b), 62-42, and 62-131(b) to construct facilities necessary to provide all customers in its service territory who apply for service with adequate, efficient and reasonable electric service.
● Progress Energy considers the magnitude of the required traffic improvements to be an undue burden and seeks relief.
Fiscal Impact: If the road improvements become the Town’s responsibility due to a waiver being granted, the Piney Plains Road improvements would cost the Town approximately $370,000.
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that Town Council require the thoroughfare road improvements, 10’ concrete multi-use trail, and right-of-way dedication for Piney Plains Road.
Sandra Stepney
Town of Cary
Engineering Department
PO Box 8005
316 North Academy Street
Cary, NC 27511
Dear Ms. Stepney:
The purpose of this letter is to submit a waiver from the requested transportation road improvements in conjunction with the site plan submitted for our Cary Piney Plains 230kV Substation addition project. The Town of Cary’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) is projecting Piney Plains Road to be widened to 45’ back-of-curb to back-of-curb. This requires that we (PEC) widen the approximately 880’ of road adjacent to our property by 11.5’. We are also being asked to add a 10’ multi-use trail to the property. This work (road widening and trail addition) will require us to relocate several underground utilities and remove all trees currently providing screening along Piney Plains Road.
We are respectfully requesting the Town of Cary consider a waiver of the following required road and sidewalk improvements that were discussed during at our Pre-Application Conference on February 6th, 2008:
● The Town’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) provides for a future ultimate roadway section width of 45’, which includes 2-20’ travel lanes with curb & gutter and sidewalk on each side. As part of this substation project, Progress Energy would be responsible for ½ of this section (curb & gutter, sidewalk and additional pavement width to provide for the ultimate 20’ travel lane) along the entire length road frontage. The CTP did not specify sidewalk width and the understanding was that a pedestrian trail would replace this sidewalk.
● Provide a pedestrian concrete trail with a width of 10’ width, as outlined in the Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Facilities Master Plan, along the entire length of road frontage.
The reasons for the waiver for road improvement and the pedestrian trail are as follows:
The expansion of the existing Cary Piney Plains 230kV Substation is a result of continued growth and development in the Cary and Western Wake area. As the need for additional load occurs, electrical infrastructure must be expanded to provide a reliable source of power for the citizens of Cary and adjoining areas. The expansion of the existing Cary Piney Plains 230kV Distribution Substation will enable continued quality electrical service to this area. As a regulated utility Progress Energy is required by G.S. §§ 62-32(b), 62-42, and 62-131(b) to construct facilities necessary to provide all customers in its service territory who apply for service with adequate, efficient and reasonable electric service. Progress Energy considers the magnitude of the required traffic improvements to be an undue burden and seeks relief.
Please kindly consider this waiver request and thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Billy Harrell
Progress Energy Corporation
Project Manager
100 East Davie Street
Raleigh, NC 27602-1981
