Information Items:
East Forest NIP – Proposed Sidewalk along Donegal Drive and Coatbridge Lane
Resource:
Kristie Kennedy, E&PM, 704-336-6194, kkennedy@charlottenc.gov
This is a follow-up to the September 23 Council Manager Memo and in response to comments received from three speakers during the September 28 Citizens Forum. The East Forest NIP project, located in southeast Charlotte between Rama Rd and Monroe Rd, is a 2008 Neighborhood Bond Project chosen through the Council-approved process. This project involves installation of sidewalk along various streets in the neighborhood, with construction expected to begin in the second quarter of 2010.
Residents have expressed opposition to the proposed sidewalk along Donegal Drive and Coatbridge Lane. These sidewalks were initially included based on early indications of neighborhood support and to fulfill City goals of providing pedestrian connectivity between schools and a park on Rama Road and Monroe Road. Based on the concerns expressed by the residents, staff sent a letter to the entire project area on September 3 seeking further input from the neighborhood. The deadline for response was October 3, with 49 respondents expressing opposition to the proposed sidewalk installation on the two streets, and 33 expressing support. Support was particularly low among respondents living along Donegal and Coatbridge. Based on this response, staff intends to remove Donegal Drive and Coatbridge Lane from the NIP. A letter will be sent to the entire neighborhood this week stating that, based on neighborhood response, the sidewalks have been deleted.
Three contracts for this project have been awarded:
Planning Services Contract: Awarded by Council May 14, 2007
Design Services Contract: Awarded by Council June 23, 2008
Real Estate Acquisition Services Contract: Awarded by City Manager April 29, 2009
City Council will be asked to approve the construction contract next year. The unused $230,000 in construction dollars will be transferred to the General NIP fund for use on other neighborhood projects in the City.
October 15 - Public Meeting for Modifications to Interstate 85/Interstate 485 Interchange
Resources:
Tim Gibbs, CDOT, 704-336-3917, tgibbs@charlottenc.gov
Robert Cook, CDOT, 704-336-8643, rwcook@charlottenc.gov
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold a Public Meeting to discuss modifications to the Interstate 85/Interstate 485 interchange in northeast Charlotte on Thursday, October 15 in the Mallard Creek High School cafeteria from 4:00-7:00 pm. The school is located at 3825 Johnston-Oehler Road. Interested citizens may attend at any time during the above hours.
The purpose of the project is to complete the Charlotte Outer Loop and provide a high-speed connection between Interstate 85 and Interstate 485 in northeastern Mecklenburg County. The completion of Interstate 485 will improve connectivity in the Charlotte region, provide a bypass route for through traffic, and improve connections for commuters and local travelers.
While there will not be formal presentations made during the public meeting, the format will allow citizens to talk with staff in an informal setting to ask questions and provide comments related to the project.
October 16 - Planning Coordinating Committee Fall Meeting
Resource:
Jonathan Wells, Planning, 704-336-4090, jwells@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The Planning Coordinating Committee (PCC), formerly called the Planning Liaison Committee, will meet on Friday, October 16 at 12:00 noon at Huntersville Town Hall, 101 Huntersville-Concord Road. The keynote speaker will be Jim Westmoreland, Assistant Secretary of the NC Department of Transportation, who will discuss NCDOT's recently adopted "complete streets" policy and its relevance to urban areas. Mayor Pro Tem Burgess and Council members Kinsey and Lassiter represent City Council on the PCC. The PCC also includes members from the Board of County Commission, Board of Education, and the boards of the six Mecklenburg towns. The Committee is chaired by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission chair.
The group meets twice yearly under the terms of a recently adopted joint resolution. The first meeting is held as a "joint luncheon", inviting all elected officials from member entities. The other meeting (including the upcoming October 16 meeting) is devoted to updating members on planning activities, receiving other planning-related information, and identifying potential strategies and priorities for the upcoming year.
The joint resolution also extended membership to the planning directors of each member entity, who are charged with identifying priority planning issues and strategies for the upcoming year as well as providing staff support for the committee. The agenda topic, Complete Streets, for the October 16 meeting was identified as a priority by the planning directors.
BusinessFirst Charlotte 2009 Community Survey
Resource:
Emily Cantrell, Neighborhood & Business Services, 704-432-2076, ecantrell@charlottenc.gov
On Friday, October 9 the 2009 BusinessFirst Charlotte Community Survey will be highlighted in a Charlotte Business Journal editorial written by Patrick Mumford, Neighborhood & Business Services KBE. BusinessFirst Charlotte is a joint program between the City of Charlotte and the Charlotte Chamber focused on business retention and advocacy.
This week, approximately 350 companies will receive a web-based survey from BusinessFirst Charlotte. The survey will ask for general information about the company and industry as well as specific questions regarding government services. The survey seeks to gather critical business information that will assist the City and Chamber in supporting local businesses and growing the local economy.
The 350 companies selected to receive the survey are a diverse representation of company size, industry sector, and growth rate. Staff feels these companies mirror the strengths of our local business community and will give a good indication of when our community will once again see strong business growth.
The survey data will be gathered through November to supplement the BusinessFirst face-to-face visits with companies in Mecklenburg County throughout the year. In January, 2010 staff will present its findings at the BusinessFirst Charlotte Annual Breakfast.
