20201371 Ver 1_10_A0009C_EffectsSigned_Aug2020__20211216

A-0009 Historic Architecture Effects, June/July 2020
Page 1 of 5
Federal Aid #: APD-0074(178) TIP#: A-0009C County: Graham

CONCURRENCE FORM FOR ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS

Project Description: Appalachian Highway Development System: Corridor K Improvements
from Robbinsville to Stecoah

On June 1 and July 30, 2020 representatives of the

North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (HPO)
Other: USACE, USFS, Elizabeth Toombs (Cherokee Nation), Stephen Yerka (EBCI),
NPS, AT Conservancy

Reviewed the subject project and agreed on the effects findings listed within the table attached to
this signature page.

Signed:

Representative, NCDOT Date

FHWA, for the Division Administrator, or other Federal Agency Date

Representative, HPO Date

8/19/2020
8/19/2020
8/19/2020
A-0009 Historic Architecture Effects, June/July 2020
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Federal Aid #: APD-0074(178) TIP#: A-0009C County: Graham

Property and Status Alternative Effect Finding Reasons
John and Mattie Colvard
House (GH0238) – DE
Criterion C
Improve
existing
No adverse effect
De minimis 4(f)
3-lane section with guardrail along US 129 could require tree removal within
historic boundary. NCDOT will survey trees and minimize design to decrease
impacts and removed trees will be replaced with balled/burlaped trees guaranteed
to survive 3 years
Frank and Lenora Colvard
House (GH0235) – DE
Criterion C
Improve
existing
Outside revised
APE
Original project APE reduced after surveys due to elimination of several
proposed alignments.
Colvard Motor Company
(GH0236) – DE Criteria
A&C
Improve
existing
Outside revised
APE
Original project APE reduced after surveys due to elimination of several
proposed alignments.
Colvard House (GH0240) –
DE Criterion C
Improve
existing
Outside revised
APE
Original project APE reduced after surveys due to elimination of several
proposed alignments.
J. Boyd Crisp House
(GH0242) – DE Criterion C
Improve
existing
Outside revised
APE
Original project APE reduced after surveys due to elimination of several
proposed alignments.
The Hut (GH0204) – DE
Criteria A&C
Improve
existing
No effect No construction activities within historic property boundary and will not impact
setting or viewshed
Robbinsville First Baptist
Church (GH0203) – DE
Criterion C
Improve
existing
No effect Intersection improvements at US 129 and East Main Street will not require
construction activities within historic property boundary and will not impact
setting or viewshed
Robbinsville Downtown
Historic District (GH0230)
– DE Criteria A&C
Improve
existing
No effect No construction activities within historic property boundary and will not impact
setting or viewshed
A-0009 Historic Architecture Effects, June/July 2020
Page 3 of 5
Old Mother Church and
Cemetery (GH0048) – DE
Criterion A
Improve
existing
No effect No construction activities within historic property boundary and will not impact
setting or viewshed
Delmas and Mary Ruth
Shuler House (GH0257) –
DE Criterion C
Improve
existing
No effect No construction activities within historic property boundary and will not impact
setting or viewshed
Patton Gwynn Denton
House (GH0264) – DE
Criterion C
Improve
existing
No effect
De minimis 4(f)
Permanent drainage and utility easements within historic property boundary but
will not impact setting or characteristics that contribute to the significance of the
site. No change in access.
Cody House (GH0263) –
DE Criterion C
Improve
existing
No adverse effect
De minimis 4(f)
Permanent utility easements for utility pole service line within historic property
boundary but will not impact setting or characteristics that contribute to the
significance of the site.
John and Ruby Cody House
(GH0261) – DE Criterion C
Improve
existing
No adverse effect
with
environmental
commitments
No construction activities within historic boundary. Stone walls that line the
driveway will be marked with temporary protective fencing during construction
to prevent accidental harm.
John A. Cody House
(GH0043) – DE Criterion C
Improve
existing
No adverse effect
De minimis 4(f)
Retaining walls at each end of the historic boundary along NC 143 but will not
require ROW or easements. Small permanent utility easement for utility
transmission line at NE corner of property but will not impact setting or
characteristics that contribute to the significance of the site.
Cheoah Historic District
(GH0347) – DE Criterion A
includes Sweetwater
Baptist Church, Floyd Crisp
House, Shope House, Molt
Rice House Barn, Earnest
Phillips Road, & Beech
Creek Road
Improve
existing
No adverse effect
with
environmental
commitments
De minimis 4(f)
Symmetrical widening of NC 143 within existing ROW but will require
temporary on-site detour to replace culvert at Beech Creek (at western end of
district). Staged construction methods will be investigated to minimize footprint
of detour. NCDOT agrees to tie in detour to existing road prior to the driveway
at the Shope House, minimize tree cutting and/or removal along detour, and
restore landscape to pre-construction appearance after completion.
Randolph-Stewart House
(GH0272) – DE Criterion C
Improve
existing
No adverse effect
De minimis 4(f)
Retaining wall with a height between 3’-6’ along eastern boundary with NC 143
within existing ROW and visible from barn. Permanent utility easement and
construction easement within western boundary of property but will not impact
setting or characteristics that contribute to the significance of the site.
A-0009 Historic Architecture Effects, June/July 2020
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Appalachian National
Scenic Trail (NC0007) –
DE Criteria A,B,&C
Improve
existing
4-lane cross
section with
pedestrian
bridge
Adverse effect Climbing lanes in both directions result in 4-lane section with guardrail and
retaining walls on both sides of road at AT crossing of NC 143 [1600’ retaining
wall at the crest of Stecoah Gap with a maximum height of 30’, average height of
12’, height of 6’ at trail, and a wall on east side of NC 143 150’ long with
average height of 3’]. ROW impacts to USFS land 2.33 acres and .20 acres
impacted at trail. AT will be relocated onto a new structure over NC 143. Visual
impacts for visitors to the trail and setting impacts to the historic trail.
Improve
existing
2-lane cross
section with
pedestrian
bridge
No adverse effect
De minimis 4(f)
Climbing lanes reduced in length therefore at trail there is a 2-lane section with
guardrail and retaining walls on one side of road at AT crossing of NC 143
[2000’ retaining wall at the crest of Stecoah Gap with a maximum height of 30’,
average height of 10’, height of 3’ at trail, and only guardrail on east side of NC
143]. ROW impacts to USFS land 1.29 acres and .25 acres impacted at trail. Trail
will be relocated onto a new structure over NC 143. Fewer visual impacts to trail
visitors and less impact to historic setting. Visualizations and aesthetics to walls
and bridge to be reviewed with HPO, NPS, and USFS.
Improve
existing 4-lane
cross section
with combined
pedestrian and
wildlife
crossing land
bridge
No adverse effect
De minimis 4(f)
Climbing lanes in both directions result in 4-lane section with guardrail, tiered retaining
walls, and fences on both sides of road at AT crossing of NC 143 [1146’of tiered
retaining walls at the crest of Stecoah Gap with a maximum height of 63’ and average
height of 33’]. ROW impacts to USFS land 3.27 acres and 0.23 acres impacted at trail.
AT will be relocated onto a new structure over NC 143 that includes dense plantings and
a wildlife crossing. The proposed land bridge is 220’ wide and 78’ long. Visualizations
and aesthetics to walls and bridge to be reviewed with HPO, NPS, and USFS.
Stecoah School (GH0025)
– DE Criteria A&C
Improve
existing
No effect No construction activities within historic property boundary and will not impact
setting or viewshed
Stecoah Baptist Church
(GH0026) – DE Criteria
A&C
Improve
existing
No effect No construction activities within historic property boundary and will not impact
setting or viewshed
Boxed House (GH0349) –
DE Criterion C
Improve
existing
No effect No construction activities within historic property boundary and will not impact
setting or viewshed

A-0009 Historic Architecture Effects, June/July 2020
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FHWA Intends to use the HPO’s concurrence as a basis for a “de minimis” finding for the following properties, pursuant to Section 4(f):
John and Mattie Colvard House
Patton Gwynn Denton House
Cody House
John A. Cody House
Cheoah Historic District
Randolph-Stewart House
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (2-lane cross section with pedestrian bridge and 4-lane section with combined pedestrian and wildlife
crossing land bridge)

A Programmatic Agreement between the Parties will be developed to include the Environmental Commitments agreed u pon to avoid adverse
effects to the historic properties.

Initialed: NCDOT ________ FHWA ________ HPO ________