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Home My WebLink About20191416_Final ICE_20181004STIP R-?53013 ; I�-2��7 �� Stara�y a��d Morn�TMc�oon�:�y Coe.anfiies iI�iDV��CI- AI�JC C�i6V�ULA-�1�'� EFI=ECTS REPQRT Sep�eu�n&�ec 2013 Page 1 R-2530B / R-2527 Short-Form Indirect and Cumulative Effects Report September 25, 2018 Project Description and Background State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Project R-2530B proposes to widen NC 24/27 to a four-lane median-divided roadway, from NC 740 to the Pee Dee River in Stanly County. Project R-2527 proposes to widen NC 24/27 to a four-lane median-divided roadway, from the Pee Dee River to the Troy Bypass in Montgomery County, from the Pee Dee River to the Troy Bypass. The total length of the proposed projects is approximately 14.6 miles. Community Impact Assessments (CIAs) were prepared in June 2008 and August 2007 for R-25306 and R- 2527, respectively. Consistent with NCDOT procedures at that time, each CIA included an analysis of indirect and cumulative effects (ICE). A single Environmental Assessment (EA) covering R-2527, R- 2530B, and B-4974 (replacing Bridge 51 over the Pee Dee River) was approved in December 2011. A single Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) covering these three projects was approved in April 2017. NCDOT will be applying for a single permit for both projects, instead of separate permits for each. Therefore, this short-form ICE report combines and updates the ICE analyses in the R-2527 and R-25306 CIAs. Indirect Land Use Effects Matrix and Methodology The categories listed on the Indirect Land Use Effects Screening Tool below have been shown to influence land development decisions in numerous areas across the state, as well as nationally. Each characteristic is assessed individually and the results of the table are considered comprehensively to determine the potential for indirect and cumulative effects as a result of the proposed project. Some assessment categories are given extra weight in determining indirect and cumulative effects potential based on the strong relationship of these attributes to induced development activity and related impacts. The Future Land Use Study Area (FLUSA) is the area surrounding a proposed construction project that could possibly be indirectly impacted by the actions of others as a result of the completion of the proposed project in combination with other projects in the area. This study area encompasses all of the areas examined for potential increases in development pressure as a result of project construction. STIP R-25306 / R-2527 � Stanly and Montgomery Counties INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS REPORT � September 2018 Page 2 The R-2530B CIA delineated a two-mile buffer as the FLUSA, while the R-2527 CIA delineated an irregularly-shaped FLUSA using roads, river sub-basins, the water supply watershed, and the Demographic Study Area as boundaries. The present analysis retains the two-mile buffer on either side of the R-2530B corridor and uses a one-mile buffer on either side of the R-2527 corridor. The FLUSA for the combined project is shown on Figure 1. Summary Report The ratings for each assessment category are shown in the table above and the reasoning for each rating is described below. Scope of Proiect The combined project proposes to widen 16.5 miles of NC 24/27 in Stanly and Montgomery Counties. This category is rated Medium. Travel Time Savin�s Assuming a current average travel speed of 45 miles per hour (to account for delays) and a future average travel speed of 55 miles per hour (the proposed speed limit along most of the corridor), the travel time to travel the 15-mile length of the combined project will decrease from 20 minutes to 16 minutes, a savings of 4 minutes. Therefore, this category is rated Medium. Forecasted Population Growth Using the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management projections from 2018 to 2037, the average annualized growth rates are 0.33 percent for Montgomery County and 0.87 percent for Stanly County. This category is rated Medium-Low. Forecasted Emplovment Growth Stanly County is within North Carolina Department of Commerce's Southwest Prosperity Zone, Charlotte Sub-Region. The forecasted employment growth for the sub-region is 16.8 percent with an average annualized growth rate of 1.56 percent. Montgomery County is within the Sandhills Prosperity Zone, Pinehurst-Rockingham Sub-Region. The forecasted employment growth is 12.2 percent with an average annualized growth rate of 1.16 percent. Forecasted employment growth is rated Medium. Available Land The parcels within the FLUSA contain a total of 32,443 acres. Road rights-of-way and the Pee Dee River are not included in this acreage. A parcel is considered available for development if • The value of the structures is less than the value of the land, i.e., the parcel is either vacant or underdeveloped; • The parcel is not within Morrow Mountain State Park or Uwharrie National Forest; and • The parcel is outside a 30-foot (Montgomery County) or 35-foot (Stanly County) stream buffer. About 16,035 acres, or 49.4 percent of the FLUSA, are available for development. STIP R-25306 / R-2527 � Stanly and Montgomery Counties INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS REPORT � September 2018 Page 3 Among the available parcels, the parcels-to-owners ratio is 1.47. The ease of assembly weighting factor is 0.75, so the weighted available land is 37.1 percent of the FLUSA. This category is rated Medium-High. Water/Sewer Availabilitv Water service is available in 30.9 percent of the FLUSA, and sewer, in 24.6 percent. Water/sewer availability is rated Medium-Low. Market for Development The market for development is discussed in the R-2527 and R-2530 CIAs. Both rated this category as Medium-Low. Thus, the rating for the combined project is Medium-Low. Public Policy Most of the FLUSA within Stanly County and the western portion of the FLUSA within Montgomery County lie within the Lake Tillery Class IV Water Supply Watershed (WS-IV). The R-2527 and R-2530 CIAs discuss public policies in more detail. The R-2527 CIA rated public policy as Medium-High, while the R-2530 CIA rated it as Medium. Public policy for the combined project is conservatively rated Medium-High. Notable Environmental Features Notable natural environmental features include the following: • Uwharrie National Forest—This national forest consists of many non-contiguous parcels, the majority of which are north of the FLUSA. However, several tracts totaling 3,542 acres are within the FLUSA, in Montgomery County. • Morrow Mountain State Park—The southern edge (55 acres) of Morrow Mountain State Park is within the FLUSA, in Stanly County. • High Quality Waters —The R-2527 CIA noted that Rocky Creek (Little River tributary) is a High Quality Water. • Wetlands—As discussed in the Environmental Assessment, the combined project will impact wetlands. • Federally protected species—The FONSI noted that Schweinitz's sunflower, smooth coneflower, red-cockaded woodpecker, and northern long-eared bat are listed for Stanly and/or Montgomery Counties. The biological conclusion is "May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect" for Schweinitz's sunflower, "No Effect" for smooth coneflower and red-cockaded woodpecker, and "Unresolved" for northern long-eared bat. According to the R-2527 and R-2530 CIAs, there are no 303(d) waters within two miles of the corridor. This category is rated Medium. Indirect Effects Conclusion Indirect Summarv Statement The Indirect and Cumulative Effects Screening Tool (Table 1) generated a score of 21 points, which corresponds to a"Possible Land Use Scenario Assessment" for this project. Available land and public STIP R-25306 / R-2527 � Stanly and Montgomery Counties INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS REPORT � September 2018 Page 4 policy are of inedium-high concern. Scope of project, travel time savings, forecasted employment growth, and natural environmental features are of inedium concern. However, R-2530B and R-2527 are not expected to have notable indirect effects on land use in the FLUSA because of slower forecasted population growth, limited water/sewer availability, and a slower market for development. Also, despite the amount of available land in the FLUSA, there are several constraints to development, namely the presence of Uwharrie National Forest and development regulations in the Lake Tillery Class IV Water Supply Watershed. Cumulative Effects Summa State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Project R-2530B proposes to widen NC 24/27 to a four-lane median-divided roadway, from NC 740 to the Pee Dee River in Stanly County. Project R-2527 proposes to widen NC 24/27 to a four-lane median-divided roadway, from the Pee Dee River to the Troy Bypass in Montgomery County, from the Pee Dee River to the Troy Bypass. The total length of the proposed projects is approximately 14.6 miles. The Troy Bypass (STIP Project R-0623), which extends east from the eastern terminus of R-2527 to the Little River, is under construction. Previous projects include various residential developments in the vicinity of the Pee Dee River and Lake Tillery in both Montgomery and Stanly Counties. Planning and design are in progress for the following STIP projects in the vicinity of R-2530B and R-2527: • R-5826 — NC 109 from NC 73 (North Main Street) in Mt. Gilead to NC 24 / NC 27. Upgrade roadway, including paved shoulders, turn lanes and signals. • R-5844A— NC 109 from NC 24 / NC 27 in Troy to NC 47 in Denton. Increase lane width, improve shoulders and signalization, construct turn lanes and provide bicycle accommodations. As noted above, notable natural environmental features found within the FLUSA include Uwharrie National Forest, Morrow Mountain State Park, Rocky Creek (Little River tributary) (a High Quality Water), the Lake Tillery WS-IV water supply watershed, wetlands, and Schweinitz's sunflower. These features are provided multiple protections under State and Federal laws and local permitting ordinances as described in the R-2527 and R-2530B CIAs as well as the EA. With these existing regulations in place, the combination of past, current and future projects is expected to have a minor impact on notable environmental resources in the FLUSA. Because few indirect effects are anticipated, the cumulative effect of this project when considered in the context of other past, present, and future actions, and the resulting impact on the notable human and natural features, is expected to be minimal. Direct natural environmental impacts by NCDOT projects will be addressed by avoidance, minimization, or mitigation consistent with programmatic agreements with the natural resource agencies during the Permitting process. All future development will be required to follow local, state, and federal guidelines and permitting regulations. Sources North Carolina Department of Commerce. https://www.nccommerce.com/lead/data- tools/industrv/proiections/prosperitv-zones (Accessed August 16, 2018) North Carolina Department of Transportation, Community Impact Assessment and ICE Analysis, R- 2527C, August 2007. STIP R-25306 / R-2527 o Stanly and Montgomery Counties INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS REPORT o September 2018 Page 5 North Carolina Department of Transportation, Community Impact Assessment, TIP Project R-2530B, June 26, 2008. North Carolina Department of Transportation, Environmental Assessment, TIP Projects R-2530B, B-4974, and R-2527, December 23, 2011. North Carolina Department of Transportation, Finding of No Significant Impact, TIP Projects R-2530B, B- 4974, and R-2527, April 10, 2017. North Carolina Department of Transportation. State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) 2018- 2027, Volume 2(Divisions 8-14). August 2017. https://con nect. ncdot.�ov/prolects/pla n n i ng/STI P Docu m e ntsl/2018-2027 % 205TI P% 20- %20Divisions%208-14.pdf (Accessed August 21, 2018) North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. https://www.osbm.nc.�ov/demo�/county- prolections (Accessed August 6, 2018) STIP R-2530B / R-2527 �� Stanly and Montgomery Counties � INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS REPORT � September 2018 Page 6 �i�ur� � �-2�2� � i�-��3�8 Futur� Land ��e Stud�r ,��a .�u g u st 2�l 1� Leg en �d � a-��,�� -��s� � FLU�A US Raute P�1C Route Secondary Ftoute 4"�I�ter 8up�ly �,^J�tershed L'�l�ter�adies � Marrawv IL�auntain St�te Park � Uwharrie h�latianalForast �__ ___j h�lu�iicipal Boundaries �� Cr�unty Boundaries .� [} f�.5 7 � h�9iles I � I � I 4:�L,�='�.^OJR�� duF:THvARC•_IhA.CeF,�,RT4IENT�^FTRkNSF��F.T�.TI^vlv �� i� � � � �� Cj a��r. e�� m�ry� us� �t�� C�r py,� �-�e s. r. ty