BY DEBBIE PAGE
Town Planner Andrew Ventresca gave Troutman Town Council members an update on several pedestrian and transportation projects during the council’s agenda briefing on Monday afternoon.
Ventresca reminded the council that seven years is considered quite fast for a transportation project. Federal funding also has strings that require additional steps and approvals that are often time-consuming.
A much needed improvement to the Old Mountain Road/Main Street/Murdock Road intersection is moving along quickly. The project received $3,546,901 from the Charlotte Regional Planning Transportation Organization (CRPTO) this year. The project total includes a 40 percent contingency and inflation cost.
The NCDOT approved the project last month, and a municipal agreement was adopted. Federal Highway Administration funds to begin design for the project can be accessed in October.
The long-awaited Talley, Wagner, and Rumple Street sidewalk project, which suffered from cumbersome federal requirements and COVID delays, is also showing some movement. Initially funded in 2017, the then-$1.29 million project received $802,000 in CRPTO funds with a $491,000 match from the town.
The town also received an additional $460,000 commitment from CRPTO in 2020 to cover cost increases, but a failure by interim planning staff at the time to create a municipal agreement between NCDOT and the town and to hire a consultant for the request for letters of interest process almost caused the the loss of the CRPTO funds in 2021.
Once the town’s planning staffing was restored in mid-2021, a municipal agreement was adopted and the town began accessing the funds for design, consultants, and preliminary plans. NCDOT approved 30 percent of preliminary plans (2023) and environmental documents (2024).
In April, NCDOT returned 65 percent of right of way documents for revision, mainly regarding the relocation of utilities and poles, but a consultant is working with Duke Energy and AT&T to avoid as much relocation as possible since it drives up project costs.
Once NCDOT approves the revisions, right of way negotiations can begin with property owners for the land on which sidewalks will be constructed.
Ventresca warned that potential shortfalls for the project could occur because of inflation. He warned that the town is on the hook for any cost increases, although the town could ask CRPTO for additional funding.
The Richardson Greenway extension project, which was awarded $991,000 in 2017 and an additional $274,000 in 2020 from CRPTO, began moving forward in 2021 with authorization to use funds for design and the selection of a consultant in 2022, but NCDOT did not approve the design consultant contract until last month.
The delays for approval occurred because of slow NCDOT review and concerns about cost estimates. A proposed schedule has been created, but again Ventesca warned that any shortfalls because of inflation will be the town’s responsibility. Applying for additional CRPTO funds is again a possibility.
THURSDAY NIGHT AGENDA
During Thursday’s meeting, council will:
♦ Recognize Officers Ethan Windsor and Johnathon Garcia as Troutman Employees of the Month for August.
♦ Hear a presentation from Iredell Adult Day Services.
♦ Consider a Joint Proclamation with the Iredell County Board of Commissioners, Town of Mooresville, City of Statesville, and the Town of Troutman in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – September 2024.
♦ Consider approval of Zaxbys facade at 1132 Charlotte Highway.
♦ Consider an amendment to the schedule of fees to increase fees for new customers for sewer taps and water and sewer availability fees
♦ Consider an amendment to the town’s water and sewer service policy to make landlords co-signers and liable for water bills not paid by renters and denying water service to the property or apartment until the bill is paid. Several renters have left bills not covered by their deposit.
♦ Consider appointments for the seats of two inside voting members to the Planning and Zoning Board terms of Karen Van Vliet (expiring May 14, 2027) and Mark Michel (expiring September 14, 2027). Van Vliet and Michel have left the board because they have moved out of town limits.
♦ Consider a request for water service at 203 Timber Lake Drive, a non-town property in the Falls Cove – Parkwood subdivision, where several other non-residents receive city water service. The town changed its policy to require annexation to receive water service in August of 2023.
♦ Consider an amendment to an ordinance regulating obstructions in public right-of-ways to define the height (14 feet) to which all limbs must be cleared from the public roadway or sidewalk by the property owner. The UDO already states that it is the owner’s responsibility to keep any branch or vegetation from protruding into the public spaces to maintain safe and free passage on roadways or sidewalks. If the property owner does not remedy the obstruction within ten days of receiving a town notification of violation, the town will have authority to go on the property to remove the limbs or vegetation protruding into the public space.
The town has received complaints from the school system and commercial vehicle operators about scratches and damage to vehicles from low-hanging limbs.
♦ Consider a UDO text amendment regarding side setbacks in the Highway Business District. The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended the text amendment to allow a zero side setback in highway business zoning districts. The request, made by Matt Grant of Jordan-Grant and Associates, will make the HB district consistent with the neighborhood commercial district, which allows properties or units to be parceled out and sold as individual units in attached shopping centers.
The HB setback is still 25 feet when adjacent to a residential district.