20100834 Ver 1 - A&M_response_letter_11-5-10 - 11/8/2010

FW: Bob Helms Page 1 of 2
FW: Bob Helms
Homewood, Sue
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 9:36 AM
To: Dennison, Laurie; Strickland, Bev
Cc: Mcmillan, Ian; Lucas, Annette; Euliss, Amy
To add to that document I just send you please 10-0834
Sue Homewood
NC DENR Winston-Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Quality
585 Waughtown Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27107
Voice: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and
may be disclosed to third parties.
From: John Vilas [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 9:33 AM
To: Homewood, Sue
Subject: RE: Bob Helms
Sue,
My understanding is they are already bending on the number of parking spaces. They are clearly opposed to the
dumpster location right at the front of the lot on such a main corridor in town especially since there is no room for
a landscaped screen. This new road is the main corridor into town and appearance standards are a big deal with
the Town of Boone. Also, the sidewalk is heavily used in this area and the alternative site next to the retaining
wall is just not what the Town or anybody wants right there. There have been many conversations with the town
and most have resulted in more hurdles for Mr. Helms. There seems to be little willingness to bend on this
dumpster issue.
Thanks,
John Vilas
ENV-ECS, Inc.
3764 Rominger Rd.
Banner Elk, NC 28604
ph: 828-297-6946
fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
From: Homewood, Sue [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 9:15 AM
To: John Vilas
Subject: RE: Bob Helms
Thanks John,
https://mail.nc.gov/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAAOgPoLNIPQZ06vHVR... 11/8/2010
FW: Bob Helms
Page 2 of 2
Has Mr. Helms talked with the City about the Ordinance and if there is any way to get a variance because of his
tight situation?
Sue Homewood
NC DENR Winston-Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Quality
585 Waughtown Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27107
Voice: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and
may be disclosed to third parties.
From: John Vilas [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 5:07 PM
To: Homewood, Sue
Subject: Bob Helms
Sue,
Attached is a letter containing an alternatives analysis for locating the proposed dumpster pad. Please let me
know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
John Vilas
ENV-ECS, Inc.
3 764 Rominger Rd.
Banner Elk, NC 28604
ph: 828-297-6946
fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
https://mail.nc.gov/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAAOgPoLNIPQZ06vHVR... 11/8/2010
FW: Bob Helms
FW: Bob Helms
Homewood, Sue
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 8:59 AM
To: Lucas, Annette; Mcmillan, Ian
Cc: Dennison, Laurie; Strickland, Bev; Euliss, Amy
Attachments: A&M response letter 11-5-10.pdf (47 KB)
Page 1 of 1
Ian and Annette, FYI
Laurie/Bev, can you put this in the file please: 10-0834
Sue Homewood
NC DENR Winston-Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Quality
585 Waughtown Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27107
Voice: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and
may be disclosed to third parties.
From: John Vilas [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 5:07 PM
To: Homewood, Sue
Subject: Bob Helms
Sue,
Attached is a letter containing an alternatives analysis for locating the proposed dumpster pad. Please let me
know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
John Was
ENV-ECS, Inc.
3764 Rominger Rd.
Banner Elk, NC 28604
ph: 828-297-6946
fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
https://mail.nc.gov/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAAAOgPoLNIPQZ06vHV R... 11/8/2010
ENV
Environmental Consulting Services Inc.
November 5, 2010
Ms. Sue Homewood
NC DENR DWQ
Winston Salem Regional Office
585 Waughtown Street
Winston Salem, NC 27107
RE: Bob Helms, Dumpster Pad Project
Boone, Watauga County, NC
Dear Ms Homewood:
3764 Rominger Road
Banner Elk, NC 28604
Ph: 828-297-6946
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with additional information regarding avoidance and
minimization efforts in the development of the proposed site plan for Mr. Helms' (Applicant) dumpster
pad project. At this point a clarification of the project purpose will be helpful. The purpose of this project
is to construct a dumpster pad and enclosure to replace that lost due to Hwy. 421 widening. That this
dumpster pad be accessible to both garbage trucks and residents, and that it comply with applicable
local ordinances.
Analysis of Alternative Locations for Dumpster Pad and Enclosure:
Three alternative locations for the dumpster pad were considered in addition to the location that was
selected and proposed in the PCN. A discussion of each location and rationale for why it was not
selected follows:
Alternative (1) Place the new dumpster pad in the new parking lot on the parcel containing the
apartment building: This option was considered as a first choice. However, the old/existing parking lot
contained in excess of 40 parking spaces and the new lot contains only 27 spaces, there is no extra
space on the lot to place a dumpster pad and provide sufficient room for the garbage truck to maneuver
without the loss of numerous spaces. The Apartment building has 30 bedrooms, strict ordinance
parking requirements are not currently met. No additional spaces can be lost. We did not show the 40
spaces on the Existing Condition Map included with the PCN because the existing lot was broken
asphalt and gravel with no striping and the surveyor did not pick this up and include it on the base map.
The additional spaces are located in the center of the parking lot shown on the Existing Condition Map.
Alternative (2) Place the new dumpster pad in the vacant grassed area next to the apartment building:
This option was considered and found not to be practically feasible for two reasons. First, this option
would result in the loss of several parking spaces in the new parking lot. These spaces would not be
directly displaced by the dumpster pad but lost to provide access and room for the truck to turn and
back up. Second, the elevation next to the building is 3 to 4 feet higher than the parking lot. This would
require extensive grading next to the building foundation and this area contains several utility lines. The
only way to have made this option work would have been to shift the pad west (away from the building)
and the resulting fill would have impacted the stream and wetland area anyway.
Bob Helms Dumpster Pad
• Page 2 November 5, 2010
Alternative (3) Place the new dumpster pad on north side of new access drive next to the retaining wall
on the adjacent lot owned by Mr. Helms: This option was considered and found not to be practically
feasible for the following reasons. Town ordinance requires that dumpsters be located toward the rear
of the lot, that dumpsters be adequately screened and landscaped, that dumpster locations should not
create safety or other concerns for residents, neighboring properties or public rights-of-way. Our
analysis of this option indicated that, while it is technically feasible to fit the dumpster pad in this
location, maneuverability would be constricted, residents would have to cross the access drive to get to
the dumpster or stop in middle of the drive to unload, and this location would conflict with town
ordinances. Local ordinance conflicts include:
• Conflict due to inability to provide required landscaping around dumpster enclosure
• Conflict due to placement at the front of the lot
• Conflict due to placement immediately below the sidewalk along King Street (Hwy. 421)
• Conflict due to increase distance and safety issues created for residents of apartment building
The three alternative placement options are the only reasonable options available for consideration and
each was found not practically feasible for the reasons listed. It is our conclusion that the dumpster pad
location proposed in the PCN is the only practically feasible option that meets the project purpose.
I hope that this information is sufficient for Mr. Helms' application to be approved so that he may move
forward to finalize this project. If you have any questions regarding these items please call me at 828-
297-6946, thank you.
Sincerely,
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John C. Vil as
President, ENV Environmental Consulting Services Inc.
cc: Bob Helms
Mike Trew
Bob Helms Dumpster Pad