AGENDA #4p

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

 

FROM:            George Small, PE, PLS, Director of Engineering

                        Mike Taylor, Engineering Design Specialist

 

SUBJECT:       Right-of-way for Duke Energy

 

DATE:             June 25, 2008

 

PURPOSE

 

The attached resolution would authorize the Town Manager to execute an agreement with Duke Energy to grant a utility right-of-way or easement to Duke Energy on a parcel of land owned by the Town of Chapel Hill. The affected Town property is located at the corner of Hamilton Road and Prestwick Road and is the site of Town of Chapel Hill Fire Station # 2. The property is shown on the attached map   (Please see Attachment #1). We recommend adoption of the attached resolution.

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

The construction of public improvements that include curb & gutter, sidewalk and underground utilities is proposed along Prestwick Road and Hamilton Road as part of the off-site improvements for the East 54 development.  There are existing overhead utilities in the general location of the requested easement along the Fire Station frontage of Hamilton Road and Prestwick Road. However there is no recorded easement for these existing utilities.  If the Council grants a utility easement then enough space would be provided to enable the developer or Duke Energy to install underground utilities along the street frontage of the Fire Station.  Utility poles would also be installed on the corner of Prestwick Road and Hamilton Road as part of the proposed utility work. The utility right-of-way would extend 10 to 15 feet from the centerline of the electrical facilities.

 

If the easement is granted and the utilities are installed as planned then it would be necessary for the grantee to coordinate the work with the administration of the Chapel Hill Fire Department to ensure the work would not compromise the necessary access at the site for emergency operations of the Fire Department.

 

At this time a schedule for the work has not been provided to Town staff. However it is our understanding the utility installation would be an early phase of the off-site work for East 54.

 

The attached resolution would authorize the Town Manager to grant a right-of-way to Duke Energy. The boundary of that right-of-way would be a maximum of 15 feet from the centerline of the proposed electrical facilities.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Council adopts the attached resolution authorizing the Town Manager to execute an agreement with Duke Energy to grant a right-of-way on a parcel of Town-owned property.

 

ATTACHMENTS

  1. Map (35 KB pdf) (p. 4).