INTER-NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
Making Better Neighborhoods
Http://www.rtpnet.org.durhaminc
Minutes of Meeting of October 23rd, 2001
MEMBERS PRESENT
Cheryl Sweeney Northgate Park NA
Dennis Dickerson Trinity Park NA
Pat Carstensen Cross Country
Harry Dawley Trinity Park
Ron Graff Old North Durham NA
Richard Mullinax Old North Durham NA
Renate Wend Tuscaloosa/Lakewood NA
David Beischer Croasdaile Farm
Todd Heinz Old North Durham NA
Marcy Lowe Hillandale Commons NA
Robin Arcus Old North Durham NA
Barry Ragin Duke Park NA
Robert Larson Grove Park NA
Mo Fried Placid Valley NA
Fred Mowry Colony Park NA
T.N. Parrot NCDOT
Michelle Long NCDOT
Aaron Earwood NCDOT
Ed Shanken Duke Park NA
Kristine Stiles Duke Park NA
Johnea Kelley Duke Park NA
John Compton Old North Durham
Administration and Announcements
The President Johnea Kelley opened the meeting.
Program
A panel discussion featuring issues relating to the I-85 expansion was held. Panel participants were from both the North Carolina Department of Transportation and representatives from neighborhoods most affected by the roadway expansion.
Tracy Parrot spoke first about the scope of the project. The $400 million project in a 7 county area is one of the biggest projects the state is currently undertaking. The complexity makes it hard to incorporate phasing which helps to minimize impact. Meetings began in 1986 for the work that is currently underway.
Michelle Long spoke about the various segments of work to be completed along with tentative schedules for when they would commence. She explained the various types of sound walls that will be used and the locations of additional culvert installations. A brief discussion ensued about the affect heavy volumes of detour traffic have on quiet residential neighborhoods. The eventual width of I-85 through Durham will be eight lanes with a planted divider between the 4 south bound and the 4 northbound lanes. This reworking of the road system will also eliminate the difficult on and off ramps that are currently being used.
The neighborhood input presentation began with Cheryl Sweeney relating Northgate Parks experiences during their portion of the Club Boulevard detour. She pointed out that channeling 8 to 10 thousand commuter cars through an old residential neighborhood could only mean inconvenience and disruption to those living in the area. Short sightedness on the part of the NCDOT meant that communication with the neighborhood was totally lacking prior to the detour signs being installed. The fabric of older neighborhoods in Durham is comprised of narrow tree lined streets, homes set close to the right-of-way, lack of sidewalks, and on street parking. In the case of Northgate, it also included heavy pedestrian usage because of the park. NCDOT and the City of Durhams street engineers worked with the neighborhood to implement traffic calming devices. Duke Parks representatives; Kristine Stiles and Ed Shanken said their neighborhood was shocked at the extent of trees lost in their park adjacent to the construction area. There was also concern about the configuration of new lanes creating confusion for commuters. One of the key points emphasized was that DOT and City Engineers do a more thorough job of learning about the neighborhoods they would be affecting. There was great concern that planning for growth was at the expense of quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods. The program concluded with an understanding that more communication would help to create better outcomes with less impact for surrounding neighborhoods.
OTHER BUSINESS
The minutes of the prior meeting were approved as written.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45PM.
