[Greenway-board]
RE: [TRTC-board] Re: Pipeline down existing American Tobacco Trail
Pope, Curtis T SAS
Curtis.T.Pope at sas02.usace.army.mil
Wed Jun 8 16:15:00 EDT 2005
Bill I am glad you included Michael Hosey on the emails pertaining to this
action, he will be reviewing and responding to any land use request for this
future pipeline as it relates to the Corps and Jordan Lake. Based on what I
have read through the design plans listed on the Wake web site, there is room
to discuss. As in the past, I do not believe the planners are aware that the
Corps/USA is the underlying fee owner to several sections of the ATT corridor
and that the two easements granted to the NCDOT (one for rail use and the
other for recreational transpiration use) do NOT allow the placement of
utilities as in other NCDOT right-of-ways. Although perhaps less desirable,
the design plans do address utilizing existing road corridors which the NCDOT
does have the authority to grant encroachment agreements for utilities.
Bottom-line, any crossing of government land will require a separate easement
from the Corps and significant supporting data to justify there is no
alternative route, and project cost is not a controlling factor. If in fact
the placement is granted the Corps will address mitigation as a major
restoration factor which Michael will be better able to address.
Curtis T. Pope
Realty Specialist
NC Area Real Estate
Savannah District
US Army Corps of Eng.
(919) 542-6379
-----Original Message-----
From: trtc-board-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:trtc-board-bounces at rtpnet.org]On
Behalf Of Bill Bussey
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 10:11 AM
To: Don.Belk at TownofCary.org
Cc: TGC Greenway Board; TRTC Board
Subject: [TRTC-board] Re: Pipeline down existing American Tobacco Trail
Hi Don,
It isn't the plant that we'll be concerned about.
It is the fact, they will be tearing up the current ATT in Wake County,
removing a lot of trees, ballast, compacted trail and railbed in the process.
It would completely alter the shady nature of the ATT for many years to come.
It would also ruin the years compacted surface and subsurface of the trail
which would necessitate the need for more maintenance and upkeep.
I'd like to see the plans of how the builders of this pipeline will restore
the trail. There would need to be assurances with actual planning and
construction documents that the trail would be restored to as good or better
shape than it is now. I'd sure like to see as many trees that are removed,
restored. However, even then, they would not grow back to the nice canopy
that currently exists, for many years, if ever.
TRTC's and TGC's boards may not feel this way. We've just started talking
about it. But I think the concern is there.
Also, whoever did the westernwakepartners website used the ATT Indian Head
logo without our permission. This logo is copyrighted and the service mark
has been filed and applied for. I'm checking with our attorney on this. I'm
not sure if Kim Fisher did this or not. While use of the logo makes no
question that the ATT is used for this project - and that may be a good thing
to eliminate any questions - I think the TRTC Board would be concerned
whether use of the logo would indicate we support this project, when we may
or may not.
And Kim Fisher has the dubious honor as being the only governmental staffer
to openly oppose the American Tobacco Trail in general when it was being
planned in Wake back in 1999. He wouldn't allow a parking area on the edge of
the plant, even though there was a separate and secure entrance and parking
area adjacent to the plant next to the trail. It is there right now unused by
anyone. From my contact with him then, in my opinion he exhibited a lack of
professionalism then about the ATT, as well as with advocates, and even staff
efforts to plan it. I question his motives for assuming that the ATT can be
used for this pipeline, without first talking with the owners of the corridor
south of US 64. From what I understand, Steve Head of the NCDOT Rail Division
had not been contacted until I sent this email to all of you.
In any event, there are a lot of questions we have about this. It is not the
same thing as the existing Cary pumping and filtering plant on Wimberly Road.
However, the stretch of ATT between US 64 and the Wimberly Road plant is
cleared of all overhanging canopy, adjacent trees and vegetation, and is of a
completely different character than the rest of the ATT in Wake, Chatham and
southern Durham.
I completely understand that the American Tobacco Trail corridor is meant to
be used for the public good and for infrastructure needs. This wastewater
treatment plant is an example of this. It is needed to accommodate a growing
population. However, we as trail advocates, or myself as a trail advocate,
needs to make sure that the trail is protected, maintained and restored in
any such projects.
Again, while I'm unsure what position TRTC's and TGC's Boards will have on
this, I personally am very concerned about a pipeline built down the ATT.
Happy Trails,
Bill Bussey
919 545-9104
Don.Belk at TownofCary.org wrote:
Good info, Bill. I would imagine in terms of visual/aesthetic impact, it
would be no worse that of the existing Cary water treatment plan on
Wimberly Road....
Donald R. Belk, AICP
Senior Planner, Long Range Planning Division
Planning Department
Town of Cary, North Carolina
P.O. Box 8005, Cary, NC 27512-8005
(919) 469-4084 (voice)
(919) 388-1103 (fax)
don.belk at townofcary.org
Bill Bussey
<mailto:billbus at gte.net> <billbus at gte.net>
To
06/06/2005 09:39 Steve Head
AM <mailto:wshead at dot.state.nc.us>
<wshead at dot.state.nc.us>, Tony D'
Amico
<mailto:Tony.D'Amico at co.wake.nc.us> <Tony.D'Amico at co.wake.nc.us>,
Tim Lisk
<mailto:tlisk at co.wake.nc.us> <tlisk at co.wake.nc.us>,
Doug McRainey
<mailto:Doug.McRainey at TownofCary.org> <Doug.McRainey at TownofCary.org>,
Don.Belk at TownofCary.org, Joe
Godfrey
<mailto:Joe.Godfrey at TownofCary.org>
<Joe.Godfrey at TownofCary.org>,
tnorman at dot.state.nc.us, Michael
Hosey
<mailto:Michael.L.Hosey.II at saw02.usace.army.mil>
<Michael.L.Hosey.II at saw02.usace.arm
y.mil>, Tracy Burnett
<mailto:tracy.burnett at ncmail.net>
<tracy.burnett at ncmail.net>
cc
Subject
Pipeline down existing American
Tobacco Trail
Hi ATT Management Team,
I emailed several of you earlier this weekend to find out more
information on how the proposed Cary-Apex Wastewater treatment plant
that is being considered for New Hill would affect the currently
completed American Tobacco Trail.
FYI, we found the following link: http://westernwakepartners.org/ which
describes this project in great detail.
Steve, as the American Tobacco Trail corridor owner, were and NCDOT
Rails Division aware of this project and how it will affect the ATT?
The Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is discussing on how we will
deal with this development. We'd welcome any comments, thoughts, or
questions from any in this message as well.
Happy Trails,
Bill Bussey
President
Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
919 545-9104
www.triangletrails.org
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