20040108 Ver 2_More Info Received_20080225

Environmental Consultants, PA
Road • Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
www.SandEC.com
February 25, 2008
S&EC Project # 7472.W9
DWQ No. # 2004-0108v2
Division of Water Quality - 401 Oversight and Express Review Unit
Attn: Amy Chapman 4p- r,
2321 Crabtree Boulevard
Suite 250
Raleigh, NC 27604 FEB 2 5 20Gt?
DENR - M1 tR Q'AiJI'y
WEERANDS AND STORMWAT UP VA'!"
Re: Reply to the Division of Water Quality's 02/14/08 request for additional information
Miramonte Greenway
Wake County, North Carolina
Dear Ms. Chapman:
This letter is in response to your letter dated February 14, 2008 which requested
additional information for the proposed Whitehall Manor Greenway. The following
restates your questions/comments and is then followed by our response.
Additional Information Requested
It appears the portion of the greenway leading to the pedestrian
bridge #1 can be reconfigured to minimize impacts to the protected
riparian buffer.
Per a phone call with Ms. Amy Chapman on February 20, 2008, the greenway trail
crossing and pedestrian bridge #1 were proposed in their current location due to site
topography constraints and the existence of the 100 year floodplain.
2. It appears that the buffer impact labeled as "Impact Area #2 " on your
plan sheet can be reconfigured to avoid the impacts to the protected
riparian buffer.
Per a phone call with Ms. Amy Chapman on February 20, 2008, it was agreed that this
comment was erroneous as a stream bisects this portion of the property. Therefore, the
Charlotte Office:
236 LePhillip Court, Suite C
Concord, NC 28025
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Greensboro Office:
3817-E Lawndale Drive
Greensboro, NC 27455
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
proposed bridge crossing of the buffered stream channel for the greenway trail is
necessary and results in the proposed riparian buffer impacts.
3. This Office believes that the width of the proposed greenway trail can
be reduced to minimize the impacts to the protected riparian buffer.
Currently, there are no specific regulations in place with respect to greenway trails,
however, the ADA does require the same accessibility to outdoor trails and greenways
that is required of buildings and programs. FHWA/AASHTO standards are applied to
trail systems when there is an expenditure of public money. These standards and
regulations require that greenway trails be designed to accommodate pedestrian,
motorized and non-motorized traffic (i.e. bicycles, skates, golf carts, etc.). These design
criteria require a smooth surface path of at least 10 feet in width with an additional 2 feet
of shoulder width on each side for safety. Furthermore, ADA requirements state that in
order for wheelchairs to safely pass by each other, there must be at least 60 inches (5 feet)
of clear space for each wheelchair; this amounts to a 10 foot wide path. With respect to
the Miramonte 'Greenway, this pedestrian trail is being required by the Town of Apex and
will tie into the existing municipal Greenway system. The Town requires that the
Miramonte Greenway be constructed in accordance with these design criteria which
require a 10 foot wide paved surface, which is consistent with ADA and
FHWA/AASHTO guidelines.
Please call if you have any questions or require further explanation.
Sincerely,
r /
z`
Nicole J. Thomson
Regulatory Specialist
Attachments: 5 copies of Response letter
CC: Mr. Mark Lesman, McCar Homes, Inc., 15401 Weston Parkway, Ste. 175, Cary, NC 27513
Mr. Bill Needham, ETd, 2880 Slater Rd., Ste. 200, Morrisville, NC 27560