Durham Staff Comments on Chapel Hill Development Applications

Courtesy Review

Woodmont—Office/Residential Development

(File No. 9798-04-71-8729)

1. Durham Comprehensive Plan Policy 8.1.2m recommends denial of any zoning map change that would result in the average dialy trips exceeding 110 percent of the adopted level of service standard of any adjacent road, unless the impacts are mitigated.  Projects are exempt from this policy if they result in a change in the average daily trips of no more than three percent.  This exemption does not apply if the current traffic volume is above 120 percent of the adopted level of service standard.  NC 54 is currently operating at 117% of Durham’s adopted standard of LOS D.

2. Many of the recommended/required roadway improvements appear impracticable or infeasible to construct, therefore we cannot provide final comments about the potential traffic impacts and needed mitigation improvements until NCDOT (Congestion Management and District Engineer) has completed their review of the TIA.  Once NCDOT has completed their review of the TIA, we recommend a meeting be held with municipalities, NCDOT, and the applicant to determine the required roadway improvements.

3. To provide adequate infrastructure to serve this development all of the required roadway improvements identified in the TIA review (including the additional through lanes along NC 54 must be constructed).  We recommend the construction of all of these improvements prior to the first certificate of occupancy be made a condition of the proposed rezoning.

4. The proposed traffic signal and median break along NC 54 to serve this development does not meet NCDOT’s minimum spacing requirements.  To meet the minimum spacing requirements the existing median opening at Little John Road should remain open and access from this site via the two R-2 lots along Little John Road should be provided.

5. The proposed left-over median increases the potential for cut-through traffic from westbound NC 54 to southbound Barbee Road.  The proposed removal of the existing Service Road to the west of Downing Creek Parkway will restrict the Downing Creek Parkway residents from being able to access the full access median opening along NC 54.  Have the residents along Downing Creek Parkway been advised of the proposed left-over median and Service Road changes to be constructed at NC 54?  An opportunity for public comment/review of this access change should be provided to these residents before a final determination is made on the proposed change in access.