AGENDA #13
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to: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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from: |
J.B. Culpepper,
Planning Director |
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subject: |
Response to Public Forum Comments: Draft Chapel Hill 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan Socio-Economic Projections |
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date: |
December 4, 2006 |
This memorandum responds to comments and questions received at the November 20, 2006 Public Forum on the draft Chapel Hill 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan socio-economic projections (Attachment 1). The attached resolution would provide the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee with recommendations on the draft projections.
The Durham-Chapel-Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization has begun the process to revise the adopted 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan. The 2030 Plan was endorsed by the Council on January 26, 2004 and adopted by the Transportation Advisory Committee on April 13, 2005. Federal regulations require that regional transportation plans be updated every four years. Regional transportation plans include socio-economic growth projections, including housing and employment projections, for a minimum 20-year timeframe. All jurisdictions within the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area are required to prepare 2035 projections. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is also preparing 2035 projections in conjunction with the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Triangle J Council of Government is coordinating the preparation of the projections for both urban areas.
The Council held a Public Forum on November 20, 2006, to receive comments.
The following questions and comments were provided at the November 20, 2006, Forum.
Several Council Members expressed concern about the “Express Bus Gateway-HW Service” corridor that runs along I-40 from the 15/501 interchange to NC 86, and into the Carolina North site from the north.
Comment: This Express Bus corridor is part of the adopted 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan and can be modified as part of the anticipated development of the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan. The Express Bus corridor was not used as the basis for preparing the 2035 projections. Its removal or modification would not affect the housing or employment projections.
Several Council Members asked whether the projections created for the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan will be used in the preparation of the Chapel Hill Long Range Transit Plan.
Comment: We will use the regional 2035 projections in the development of both the Chapel Hill Long Range Transit Plan and the 2035 Regional Long Range Transportation Plan. The use of the projections in both planning studies will help ensure consistency between the plans.
Several Council Members asked about the source of the estimates used for the UNC Carolina North campus.
Comment: The estimates used for the UNC Carolina North property are the same as used in the 2030 Plan. As in the 2030 Plan, the number of jobs and dwelling units is based on the most recent version of the Ayers Saint Gross Plan, and assumes a 50 percent buildout of the entire project by 2035. The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee is anticipated to discuss and finalize the projections in March 2007; we will revise our estimates to reflect new information on development plans for the Carolina North campus available prior to that time.
The Council’s recommendations on the Draft 2035 Socio-Economic Projections will be submitted to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee. The Committee is anticipated to discuss and finalize the projections in March 2007.
As part of the process for preparing the regional socio-economic projections, it is possible that estimates approved by the Council may need to be revised to conform to regional control totals before final TAC approval. The control totals, based on statewide and regional growth projections, provide projections for housing, population, and employment, at the County level. Because each planning jurisdiction in Orange County prepares their own projections independently, once all estimates are combined and compared to the control totals, there may be a need for some revisions in order to maintain consistency with the control totals.
It is also possible that after the TAC releases the projections for public comment, additional revisions may be made. In the event of revisions made at the regional level either due to control totals or public comment, we will provide the Council with additional information.
Planning Board: On November 21, 2006, the Planning Board voted 7-0 to recommend that the Council approve the Draft 2035 Socio-Economic Projections (Attachment 2).
Transportation Board: Recommendations from the November 30, 2006 meeting of the Transportation Board will be provided separately (Attachment 3).
Staff Recommendation: We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution approving the draft Socio-Economic projections for use in the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan and referring them to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee.