Wednesday, November 7
12:00 pm - Economic Development and Planning Committee Meeting, Room 280. AGENDA: Synthetic TIF Limits; Infrastructure General Development Policies; Bryant Park; Institutional Uses in Residential Districts
Information Items:
On October 17, the Environment Committee unanimously supported a stakeholder recommended ordinance for consideration by Council. A public hearing is scheduled for November 12. On November 2, Council will receive a workbook of materials that were used by the Environment Committee during their analysis of the ordinance which includes documentation used to draft the ordinance. A portion of the information is technical and is based on engineering and scientific analysis. Staff members are available to meet with Council members individually, if needed, to help explain these technical issues and drivers. A vote to adopt the ordinance is scheduled for November 26.
Following the City Council's approval of funding for an expanded program to address the Cankerworm infestation, Engineering & Property Management staff solicited bids for tree banding. During the bidding period last week, Council members received an email describing a proprietary method of tree banding from a firm called Tree Banding Services (TBS). TBS did not submit a bid to Engineering & Property Management, and therefore was not considered in the selection of vendors. Five contractors were selected out of six responsive submittals for the five designated areas of the City.
Even though the TBS proposal was not responsive to the "Request for Proposal," staff has compared the cost of the TBS proposal to the successful bids. Although the price per tree would apparently be lower, there is a licensing fee that would bring the total cost to within 2% of the cost of the low bid contractors. Staff intends to proceed with award of the five succesful bids for the City's tree banding program this coming season. We will further evaluate the TBS proposal and determine if the methods are effective and pricing is advantageous for future City tree banding.
At the September workshop, Council member John Lassiter shared that he had received complaints from residents of Highland Creek about odor from the Wallace Farm composting facility located at 14410 Eastfield Road. Council member Barnes has raised similar concerns, as recently as October 22. Council asked staff to provide information about the status of the farm's permits to operate and their response to odor complaints.
The only authority the City has in this matter relates to two components: zoning and water quality. All other regulatory authority rests with the State and with Mecklenburg County acting as the State's enforcement agent.
For preparation of this report, City staff met with County staff, contacted State staff and drove the neighborhoods adjacent to the farm. As part of the field tour, City staff spoke briefly with staff at Highland Creek Elementary School who confirmed that there are strong odors coming from the facility on a sporadic basis. On the September day staff visited the area, there were no
noticeable odors.
Below is a brief summary of the status of regulating this facility. A more detailed report, including a memorandum from Mecklenburg County, is attached.
The lead permitting agency is the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (NCDENR). The Wallace Farm facility was originally permitted by the State to operate as a composting facility in July 2000 with an expiration date of 2005. Since Wallace Farm submitted their application for renewal prior to permit expiration, they are allowed to continue to operate as long as the application process proceeds in a timely manner.
The State is compiling and reviewing information for permit renewal now. There is no timetable
as yet for when this review will be complete. NCDENR staff has indicated that a public hearing will be held once the review is complete and a draft solid waste permit is ready and available for comment. At this time no date has been set but the State has indicated they will advise City staff as soon as it has been established.
On October 4, 2007, County staff, under the authority granted them by the State through a Memorandum of Agreement, issued Wallace Farm a Notice of Violation for an odor violation. Wallace Farm has responded and submitted documentation requested by the County which is now being reviewed. Wallace Farm has also requested that the Notice of Violation be rescinded; however, the County has not indicated that they would do so.
On October 22, 2007, at about 4:00 p.m., County staff investigated an odor complaint received that morning from a neighborhood resident, but they were unable to document the complaint. No
further action was required by the County.
City staff will keep Council advised of the status of the permit process, including the date of the public hearing once it is set by State officials.
I-485 Construction Funding Delay
Staff Resource:
Danny Pleasant, 704-336-3879, dpleasant@ci.charlotte.nc.us On Wednesday, November 1, 2007, the NC Board of Transportation received from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) a new draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that would further delay construction of the following I-485 projects in Charlotte:
- I-485 northeast segment between NC 115 & I-85 – to be delayed from 2013 to 2015. ($30.65M)
- I-485 widening between Johnston Rd & I-77 – to be delayed from 2013 to 2015. ($16.27M)
- I-485/I-85 interchange work near Concord Mills – to be delayed from 2013 to 2015. ($14.38M)
NCDOT staff cites cost escalation and funding shortages as reasons for delaying the projects. The draft TIP proposes to delay all urban loop projects in North Carolina for two years except for Wilmington's, which would be delayed one year.
The Board of Transportation will approve the final TIP in early 2008.
Neighborhood Improvement Program – Public Involvement Meetings
Staff Resource:
Pamela W. Lopez, 704-336-2735, pwlopez@ci.charlotte.nc.us City Council approved 14 neighborhood improvement planning contracts with seven engineering firms at their May 14, 2007 meeting. These neighborhoods include: Sugaw Creek/Ritch Avenue, Revolution Park, York/Cama, Enderly Park, Tryon Hills, Colonial Village Sedgefield, Lincoln Heights/Wilson Heights, Nevin, Eastway/Sheffield, East Forest, Farm Pond, Autumnwood, Delta Lake and Linda Lake.
City staff and engineering firms have begun holding a second series of public meetings in these neighborhoods. The purpose of these meetings is to present neighborhood infrastructure project alternatives based on citizen input received during the first round of public meetings. The November meeting schedule is:
Lincoln/Wilson Heights Neighborhoods
Thursday, November 8, 2007
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Macedonia Baptist Church
1300 Hateras Avenue
East Forest Neighborhood
Thursday, November 15, 2007
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Garr Memorial Church
7700 Wallace Road
Nevin Neighborhood
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Nevin Community Building
3315 Lake Road
Eastway/Sheffield Neighborhood
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
4855 Albemarle Road
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Eastern Hills Baptist Church
943 West Sugar Creek Road
Sugaw Creek/Ritch Avenue Neighborhoods
Thursday, November 29, 2007
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
943 West Sugar Creek Road
Construction continues on the NASCAR Hall of Fame and associated road improvements.
Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
The curbside lane of eastbound Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at the intersection with Caldwell Street will close beginning Friday, November 2, 2007 until Friday, November 9, 2007. This closure is due to the placement of utilities in the street for the I-277/Caldwell Interchange Project.
NASCAR Hall of Fame Complex Road Improvements
The I-277/Caldwell Interchange Project (NASCAR Hall of Fame Road Improvements) will reconstruct several ramps on I-277 and modify Stonewall, Caldwell and Brevard Streets along with Martin Luther King Boulevard in uptown Charlotte. When completed, the area in and around the interchange will be pedestrian and bicycle friendly and accommodate development of the future NASCAR Hall of Fame site. Construction of the interchange project is scheduled to be complete when the NASCAR Hall of Fame opens in 2010.
For the latest information about the project, visit the project website nascarhof.charmeck.org.
Street Lights to be De-energized for Construction at I-277/Caldwell Street Interchange
Staff Resource:
Kruti Desai, 704-353-1795, kdesai@ci.charlotte.nc.us In order for the contractor to perform work on the I-277/Caldwell bridge, the existing lights on the bridge will need to be de-energized. Duke Power believes these lights are tied into other street lights at unknown locations along I-277 on their system. The result of de-energizing the bridge lights and its effect on street lights will not be known until the power is actually cut off, now scheduled for Monday, November 5. If excessive loss of lighting is encountered, alternative measures will be explored to allow the construction to occur safely.
Fall Events Season
Staff Resource:
Dave Christopher 704-336-3889 dchristopher@ci.charlotte.nc.us During this time of year, the fall events reach a crescendo. Beginning last weekend with the Johnson C. Smith Homecoming Parade, there will be two more parades, a half marathon and a marathon within a seven week period. The following events will be held:
November 3 7:30 am - 11:00 am Dowd Y Half Marathon - 2000 runners
November 10 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Veterans Day Parade
November 22 12:45 pm - 3:00 pm Thanksgiving Day Parade
December 8 8:00 am - 2:00 pm Thunder Road Marathon - 2500 runners
Attached are the courses for the two races along with the standard parade route for the Uptown area.
