HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.0 Finding of No Significant ImpactGarlield County
BUILDING & PLANNING DEPARTMENT
February IO,2OI1-
Garfield County Board of County Commissioners
John Martin, Chairman
108 8tn Street, Suite 213
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
RE: Finding of No Significant lmpad as a result of o review of the West Porachute tnterchange project
os reviewed under Article 74 of the Gorfield County lJnified Land IJse Resolution of 2008, os
amended
Dear County Commissioners,
On December 2L, 2010, Garfield County Staff received an application for the review of the West
Parachute lnterchange project which is intended to convert the existing US 6 overpass on l-70 west of
the Town of Parachute into a full-movement interchange as joint venture between Colorado
Department of Transportation (CDOT), Garfield County, and the Town of Parachute, CO. ON November
19th, 20L0, Garfield County Staff held a pre-application meeting with CDOT (the Applicant) and Staff
from the County Engineering, Planning, and Administration Departments. The purpose of this project is
to improve connectivity with l-70, improve traffic operations in the Parachute area which includes traffic
at the existing Parachute interchange, and improve the mobility for both regional and local traffic.
Because this project includes the site selection and construction of an interstate interchange, it falls
squarely within the review scope of Article 14 of the Garfield County Unified Land Use Resolution of
2008, as amended (ULUR) defined as Areas and Activities of State lnterest more commonly referred to
as "LO47 Regulations." ln support of this application, the Applicant has tendered an extensive
Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by the Town of Parachute and Jacobs Consulting, preliminary
plans, and a Finding of No Significant lmpact which has been approved by CDoT and the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) on August 10, 2010.
7
108 Eighth Street, Suite 401 . Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(970) 94s-8212. (970) 28s-7972. Fax: (970) 384-3470
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1.
lllustration of Anticipated Design
This review found the project is compatible with both the County's and Town of Parachute's
Comprehensive Plans regarding improvements to traffic flow through the County. Specifically, the
proposed interchange improvement is supported by the following vision, policies and strategies in the
County's Comprehensive Plan 2030:
Vision
Garfield County has a sofe, efficient, well-maintoined and balanced transportation network that
accommodotes multi-modal uses ond effedively link oll communities throughout the Colorodo River
ond Rooring Fork River corridorc.
Policies:
7. Gorfreld County will participote and cooperdte with regional/stotewide transportation
plonning to promote occess to oll availoble modes for county residents.
Strotea i e s a n d Action s :
7. Assure the interconnedivity of the county roodway system, to provide multiple routes to
reduce congestion and provide lor emergen(y occess.
2. Focus infrostructure improvements (ond road mointenance) in a cost-effective pottern, in
oreos where growth is oppropriote.
Staff has also reviewed the project against the submittal requirements and review criteria found in
Section L4-5O1,14-601 and 14-603 of the ULUR. More specifically, the materials enclosed demonstrate
that this project does not adversely affect the following areas of review required by a 1041 review:
Ultimately, the information provided in the Environmentat Assessment prepared by Jacobs (attached)
and associated preliminary plans prepared by PBS&J (attached) have more than adequately addressed
the issues listed above. Therefore, based on this evidence, Staff has found that the construction and
operation of the interchange is unlikely to have any significant adverse impact to the County and
therefore results in a determination of a Finding of No Significant lmpact'
As required by Article 14 of the ULUR, Staff is providing this determination to the Board of County
commissioners and to the Applicant within 5 days of this decision. Please do not hesitate to call me with
any questions.
Very truly yours,
970-945-82L7
Garfield County Boord of County Commissioners
Ed Green, Gorfield CountY Manoger
Joe Elsen, PE, CDOT Progrom Engineer
Betsy Suerth, Director of Public Works
Jeff Nelson, Assistant Garfield County Engineer
Corolyn Dohlgren, Gorfield County Attorney
Fred A. Jarman, AICP