20160191_Handouts_20060629

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CONSTRUCTION
The NC DOT is currently estimating any of the remaining
Southwest Bypass corridors to cost tax payers $180 to
$190 million dollars.
Recent bids for improvements to widen Firetower Road
were 40% above NC DOT estimates. Placing the Southwest
Bypass as far from existing population centers as possible
means tax payers will be paying for significantly more projects
like Firetower Road to provide access to the bypass.
Such costs are currently being ignored.
As a U.S. highway, up to 80% of cost of the proposed U.S. 264
bypass would be eligible for federal funding. Section 4(f) of the
Transportation Act of 1996 clearly states that no property
eligible for the National Register maybe confiscated unless
there is no "prudent and feasible alternative."
Based on this law, placing a bypass through the Renston U.S.
Rural Historic District would make the new road ineligible for
federal funding. This would mean the tax payers of North
Carolina would have to pay 100% of the cost.
Using current NC DOT estimates, North Carolina tax payers
would be paying $150 million more to put the bypass through
Renston. Putting a bypass through Renston would not make
good economic sense for the citizens of North Carolina.
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Destroying Renston makes
no sihce financially.

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The proposed Southwest Bypass was funded to alleviate congestion on
NO 11 / Memorial Drive.
NO DOT's traffic consultants have stated that all remaining corridor options
will be equal in terms of their ability to reduce traffic. Why have local planning
authorities disagreed with this premise?
While all three remaining corridors would likely have similar regional effects
on traffic, the corridor closest to existing population centers and key
destinations (i.e. Pitt Community College, Sam's Club, Lowe's, The Home Depot,
and the Sara A. Law Complex), would have the greatest positive impact on
local traffic. I
Such reasons have prompted Ramey Kemp & Associates, Inc, professional
traffic engineers, to state, "The stated purpose and need of the project is to
relieve the congestion on NO 11... alternative 5-EXT is the best alternative to
reduce congestion on NC 11..."
One of the recent editorials regarding the bypass claimed, "Building roads
to relieve congestion is like knocking holes in a leaky boat to let water out."
This logic warrants serious scrutiny especially in light of the 'development'
which the NO Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) acknowledges
will be prompted by a new bypass. Such development is hailed as progress
by some and an abomination of urban sprawl by others. The same editorial
claims that studies in Wake County, NO have shown that for each $1.00
increase in tax base from new subdivisions it costs the county $1.41 in
additional services. Is this progress?
There are many ways 200 million dollars could be spent to improve
transportation in Pitt County while simultaneously promoting a better quality
of life.

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RENSTON
ARCHITECTURE
The community of Renston is blessed with an impressive
collection of architectural treasures. Pictured on this page is
' a recent photograph of the Charles and Maggie McLawhorn House.
The couple and their eight children moved into the foursquare,
hip-roofed house with wraparound porch in 1910.
Surrounding the house is a full collection of early
20th century outbuildings including: a smokehouse,
a stilted dairy, a storage shed, a playhouse,
a washhouse, a c ommissary, a large
barn, and numerou s other structures.

j, The house sits roughly 100 yards
from NC 903 down a pe can-lined driveway.
This hou se and numberous
- -,- other homes were
.. - fz major contributing
factors in Renston
being added to the
N ational Register of
Historic Places.
None of this
cultural heritage
can be
replaced.
.
RENSTON
Renston's citizens are extremely conscious of environmental issues and do
not support any highway which will adversely affect our region's environment.
The citizens of Renston have a strong environmental record:
In the 1980's, a mountain of corn was stored on the ground in
Renston. To slow the decay, a Greenville businessman fumigated the
corn with toxic chemicals, harming the environment and endangering
nearby families. Local elected officials did nothing. The citizens of
Renston had it removed.
In an age when nearly everything we eat is genetically moc
farmers in Renston are supplying the area's only'organic'
Local development practices show little to no regard for wetlar
Many local politicians have ignored their duty to protect wetlan
The citizens of Renston have been fighting for local greenways,
using environmentally sensitive farming practices, and pushing
for development patterns that reduce sprawl.
Preserving Renston's rural character is vital to protecting wetland environments
such as the one pictured here. If such wetlands are not consumed by a bypass,
they will surely be consumed by the development associated with a bypass.
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In the Spring of 2006, the Rotary Clubs of Eastern
North Carolina hosted a handful of Danes as part of the
Rotary Exchange program. The program is designed
to share the cultural identities of places around the
world. The Danish tour ended in Renston, where the
Danes learned what an Eastern style pig-picking is
all about.
The Danes and Rotarians haven't been the only ones
enjoying Renston and the hospitality of its people.
Japanese, Scots, Germans, and Swiss have all come
to Renston for a taste of the best our area has to
The people of Renston have hosted farm tours for kids,
cub scout campouts and fishing trips, political rallies
where fun takes precidents over politics, church
homecomings at Bethany and Zion Hill, and a chance
for many locals to 'Pick Your Own' strawberries.
Renston and its people have represented Eastern
North Carolina's cultural heritage since the 1800's.
Every generation has added to the history and story
of this place. Those who own the farmland and houses
which comprise Renston understand that it is the
people which define a place and its history. Renston
belongs to all those who have fond memories rooted
in this place. Destroying it would rob everyone who
has ever loved, lived, and smiled in Renston.
RENSTON
PEOPLE
A place is defined by those who love it.
For a small community,
the people of Renston have
made tremendous contributions
to the schools, churches, politics,
history, art, and fellowship of rural
Eastern North Carolina. Tiv

Dennis McLawhorn
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COMMUNITY:
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PITT COUNTY
COMMUNITIES This map of Pitt County
Reprinted (mm the Chronicles of PAL County, Vd. 2 clearly indicates that a commun
had been established in Renston
1907. The integrity of this well
'4M y established rural community has
been severely down-played
peecanst ?" . .:
caum"
throughout the Southwest Bypas
• "` selection process. Putting a byp<
through the heart of this commu
would destroy it.
?Mr? ?S ?AMN?7
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NEW RENSTON SCHOOL AROUND
8 THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
.: TEACHERS: HARRIET BROWN ,
AND WILLIE RAGSDALE
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COMMUNIVY,
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RENSTON
BUSINES%I.
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Perspective is important to maintain.
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Shown here is a ma of Raleigh, NO with the beltline
highlighted. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Raleigh pyF? "?•L r?„
is a city of approximately 276,000. On the adjacent page is a map of Greenville, NO. Both
still
images are depicted at an identical scale. Raleigh's >Ka " ?*?., r g 1n r+','
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beltline is clearly smaller and more compact than any of the proposed bypass corridors for Greenville, NO. ? °' "'
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Why is this important? According to the same 2000 U.S.?.,• ., RALEIGH
Census, Greenville is a town of approximately 60,500.
t ? r ?r'' Nrr.w ?. ~ a h ..w:. aSa`?w?a 1 •llj? ? 1 Raleigh's population is more than 4 times as large as ,t"`
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Greenville's, yet Greenville's bypass (as currently
b Id.. ? 1M r ?k, t' .,r A II dr ? e.. !til`w.:y '?
planned), is larger than Raleigh's beltline."`
This does not make sense. 47
There is no need which would merit Greenville having a
bypass larger than Raleigh's beltline. The Southwest """'"" ""f? ri' '_ ' ?```•'', t
Bypass was funded based on an identified need. '?y ,
Building a road that does not maintain a sense of -?.. ` }`s Y '•-- '
perspective regarding need is irresponsible. Such a
disregard for perspective will only lead Greenville down 1
an irreversible path of sprawl; one that will destroy ( ?r r- {,-
quality of life in Pitt County rather than improve it.
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RENSTON
` SPRAWL
On November 7, 2006, the nationally acclaimed
critic of sprawl, James Howard Kunstler, gave a
4 lecture at the Greenville Convention Center. When
R asked what he thought of placing a Southwest
Bypass as far from existing population centers as
uk "" possible, he laughed and emphatically stated that
this type of backwards planning is already outdated
and will be obsolete in the not too distant future.
As illustrated here, Corridor 5 is closer to
4v Greenville than Corridor 4 which runs through
the Renston Historic District. Corridor 1 B is
located between the two corridors and also
intersects the Renston Historic District.
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` Any decision which takes sprawl into consideration
would acknowledge that a smaller bypass loo
" !. ?. ~ r? ° +? (i.e. one closer to the center of town), is better.
µ?t1.c !' I "•?-.1t . i4 .nrA .
a-1 C' 9.+ Corridor 5 would minimize sprawl.
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?• yak' "' `_• In addition, Corridor 5 would best facilitate
4L,? connections to a future Southeast Bypass. This
'.qy is a critical factor which has not been considered
y `during an public discussion of the Southwest
Bypass.
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........................................................................................................ ........ .
Much of this
information is During the last two decades of the
from The Chronicles 19th century, the area known as
Pitt County, Vol II Many of the families who settled Resnton began to develop into a
what is now known as the Renston community.
ral Historic District did so in the
th century.
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1861-1865
1742-100 acres was deeded The Civil War
to Mary Laughan from King George II.
By the last quarter of the 18th century,
George McGlohon had settled in or near
Renston
t ! t i r to ? k i
1879-
1885 -Renston
school built.

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