6/27/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Furthermore, the Society's attorney has stated that Bill Thurston of the Division of Historical resources is of the opinion that unless the realignment proposal also allows for public access to the original alignment, approving the proposal could impair the historic character of the Trail and its potential eligibility for listing in the National Register. In staff's opinion, the proposal can be conditionally approved in such a way that the realignment would not adversely affect the historic character of the Trail as a whole. Impact Analysis: In reviewing this proposal, the County must consider the impact of approval or denial of the request on the Orchid Island Associ- ates development, and in turn the impact of development on the historical character and integrity of the Trail. Several factors can play a major role in affecting the Trail's historical charac- ter and integrity: A - alignment B - intersections and crossings, access control C - surrounding or "encroaching" development D - regulation and jurisdiction Evaluating each of these factors in light of this request is uniquely affected by the fact that all development and "protected areas" surrounding the subject road segments are under the exclu- sive jurisdiction of the Town of Orchid. The applicant's proposed "realignment plan" offers a package of design features and assur- ances under the control of both the County and the Town of Orchid. A. Alignment Ideally, any development plan that would be approved would preserve the Trail's existing alignment and provide extensive vegetative buffers and development setbacks to preserve the Trail's traditional rural character. However, assurances of this type of development design are not within the County's grasp. Because the development site is located on both sides of the Trail, the developer feels that realigning the road would accommodate a secure and unified development and present fewer conflicts between the Trail and the develop- ment, while providing incentive for the developer to estab- lish and provide buffers and conservation areas which exceed the requirements of the County's Jungle Trail Management Plan. In staff's opinion, based upon comments from the Division of Historical Resources, public access of some kind to the original alignment would lessen any adverse impact on histor- ic significance. Visual access of the original alignment, which would include a "structure -free zone" along and around the original alignment roadbed, along with appropriate markers and informational signs could be maintained from the proposed new road. Because the existing alignment is simple geometrically and in relation to line -of -sight from the proposed new Trail segment, the original alignment could be described and observed by the public on site. Any kind of physical access over the original alignment, such as a footpath, would further mitigate any adverse realignment impacts, but would probably be contrary to the developer's basic purpose for requesting the realignment. B. Intersections, crossings_ access control: The realignment plan proposes only one new major "inter- ruption" in the Trail for a large project that has several Miles of Trail frontage. A condition that could be attached to approval would be the granting of a limited access ease- ment along the project's Trail frontage. This would give the County more control over access connections which affect traffic safety and the corresponding "interruptions" which 37 BOOK AJ C L -