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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-RecapOfProcess Recap of process to date: • The NEPA environmental evaluation process kicked off in December, 2010. • As part of the process, a Purpose and Need statement was developed to guide the development of alternative solutions. The purpose and need statement included the following: o Maximize the reliability of the Dubuque Street and Park Road corridors o Minimize flood backwater rises created by the Park Road Bridge o Address roadway deficiencies related to pavement and safety. • A large range of conceptual design alternatives were developed to respond to the issues detailed in the purpose and need statement. Multiple alignment options of Dubuque Street, flood protection elevations for the roadway, the Park Road Bridge location and flood protection elevations, and structural types were considered. • Various environmental studies for the project area were performed, including a mussel survey of the Iowa River, a noise analysis, archeological and historic architecture studies, hydraulic and floodplain analyses, wetlands delineations, and various others. • The conceptual design alternatives were then evaluated based on potential natural and social environmental impacts, engineering feasibility and constructability, Iowa River hydraulic impacts, and estimated construction costs. • What emerged from the evaluation process was a “hybrid” preferred concept that incorporated elements from the various conceptual design alternatives. The potential impacts of the Preferred Alternative were then documented in an Environmental Assessment prepared for approval by the Iowa DOT and Federal Highway Administration. • The EA was approved for public review and comment by the FHWA in mid-February, 2013. The formal public comment period began March 14, 2013 and extended to April 15, 2013. The EA was distributed for review and comment to federal, state, and local agencies. Similarly, the EA document was available at City Hall, the public library, and for download via the Iowa City Gateway website. Comments on the document were received by letter, email, and through comment forms provided with the EA document at City Hall and the library. • A drop-in center and formal Public Hearing were held April 4, 2013. Approximately 60 people attended, including City and consultant staff members. • Prior to FHWA’s signing of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), local citizens appealed to the Iowa DOT Cultural Resources Section to re-evaluate the finding of a Conditional No Adverse Effect to historic resources in the Dubuque Street corridor. • As a result, Iowa DOT Cultural Resources engaged the Highway Archeology Program (HAP) to conduct an independent review of the Section 106 Historic Evaluation process. The conclusion of the independent review agreed with the finding of Conditional No Adverse Effect on cultural and historic resources in the project area. • Local citizens appealed to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to rescind its letter of support for the Iowa City Gateway Project. On July 26, 2013, the HPC voted 7-1 with one abstention to amend the previous letter of support with strong recommendations to: o Minimize grading and tree removal on historic properties; o Address drainage issues at 1818 N. Dubuque Street; and o Adopt design methods that would allow a thinner bridge deck therefore lowering the proposed grade of the Dubuque Street and Park Road intersection. • Local citizens also appealed to the Advisory Commission on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to review the project’s effects on historic properties. ACHP reviewed project materials related to the Section 106 process during August, 2013. As a result of the review, the FHWA considers the Section 106 process complete. • A draft FONSI is currently being finalized to include information regarding the Section 106 process reviews. The FONSI is anticipated to be submitted to Iowa DOT and FHWA the week ending September 6. Recap of Public Engagement and Outreach: • 01/03/2011 - 1st meeting with Joe Coulter in engineering office • 2/01/2011 – Meeting with Joe Coulter at his home. • 2/17/2011 – 1st call with Dr. Colby • 2/23/2011 – Visited Dr. Colby’s home to discuss the project • 3/3/2011 Public Meeting #1 – More than 150 attendees had an opportunity to learn about the project process, provide input regarding corridor needs, ask questions, sign up to receive project information, and see a short presentation and the project and its current status. The meeting was publicized via postcards mailed to over 2,000 addresses within and adjacent to the study area, paid advertising in six issues of the Iowa City Press-Citizen and online edition, and press releases sent to the local media and posted on the city web site. • 4/6/2011 – Bella Vista Neighborhood Meeting – was extended to all, but Scott McDonough & Barbara Latenser, past owner of 12 Bella Vista (Pink house) attended. Jim Harris & Dr. Colby did not attend & 6 Bella Vista was for sale/unoccupied. • 7/13/2011 Public Meeting #2 – More than 100 persons attended an open-house from 4:30 to 5:30, followed by a presentation and short question and answer session. This meeting included information on improvement alternatives, reasonable alternatives, alternative screening criteria, and bridge alternatives. The meeting was advertised via postcards mailed to over 2,000 addresses within and adjacent to the study area, email notifications to past meeting attendees who had provided valid email address, paid advertising in six issues of the Press-Citizen and advertising in the Daily Iowan, press releases to the local media, and the presentation was recorded and aired by local access cable TV. • 8/01/2011 – Meeting with Joe Coulter, engineering office • 11/30/2011 – Meeting with Joe Coulter, engineering office to discuss 3 alternatives to be presented at Drop-in Center • 12/8/2011 Drop-in Center to present 3 alternatives – Because of wide public interest in the project, the draft alternatives were posted to the project website on November 25, 2012. Those that wanted to review maps, ask questions, or submit comments in person, a drop-in center was held on December 8, 2012 at the Robert A. Lee Community Center. Approximately 30 citizens attended the drop-in center. • 3/8/2012 – Channel 4 Interview (available online) with Tom Markus, City Manager. • 8/29/2012 – Special Meeting with Historic Preservation Commission. • 2/19/2013 – FHWA signed cover sheet of the EA. • 4/2/2013 – Phone call with Dr. Colby, followed up with an email to all Bella Vista Residents to share information. • 4/4/2013 Drop-In Center and Public Hearing – The April 4, 2013 Public Hearing included a drop- in center from 4:30-6:00 pm and a formal presentation and question and answer session at 6:30 pm. At the meeting, roughly 45 attendees had an opportunity to learn about the recommendations in the Environmental Assessment. Attendees also had the opportunity to provide formal comments that are recorded in the official Public Hearing Transcript provided to Iowa DOT and FHWA along with all other comments provided during the public comment period from March 13 to April 15, 2013. • 4/4/2013 – Phone call with Andrea Clark about maintaining access to 900 N. Dubuque Street. • 4/12/2013 – Meeting at Joe Coulter’s house with Rick Fosse, Bob Miklo to discuss Historic Preservation. JB Barnhouse was present as well to discuss moving the garage to the north side of the property and providing an alternate access. • 5/29/2013 – Final version of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) document is sent to the Iowa DOT. Post-NEPA Public Engagement and Outreach: • 5/23/2013 – Tom Markus, Jeff Davidson, Ron Knoche and Melissa Clow all met at Tony Colby’s residence (5 Bella Vista) to discuss the details of the project. In attendance were Laurie Cummins (12 Bella Vista), Scott McDonough (10 Bella Vista), Jim Harris (8 Bella Vista), Steven Tannen & Deb Talan (6 Bella Vista), Tony Colby, Jen Wagner (4 Bella Vista) and Joe Coulter (1818 North Dubuque Street) were all in attendance. • 6/1/2013 – Bella Vista Residents reach out to the Iowa DOT Cultural Resource staff during the last week of May. It is agreed that the City will request a Highway Archeology Program to be completed by the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) at the University of Iowa. • 7/11/2013 – The OSA completed their review of the project and a finding of support for the Conditional Finding of No Adverse Effect was issued, in agreement with the Iowa DOT. • 7/11/2013 – Meeting with the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission at the request of the Bella Vista neighborhood to revisit the Commission’s support of the project. Public comment and input was heard, followed by a presentation from City staff with question and answer. No determination was made at the conclusion of this meeting. • 7/25/2013 – Second meeting with the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission. Comments were not taken from the public. A brief question and answer was held with staff before the Commission upheld their letter of support for the project with recommendations to pay special attention to grading and tree removal on historic properties, address drainage concerns at 1818 North Dubuque Street and approach the bridge design with the reduction of elevation at the Dubuque Street and Park Road intersection in mind. • 8/26/2013 – After an additional review of the project by the American Council on Historic Preservation, the FHWA considers Section 106 (Cultural Resources) of the EA closed and they are ready to move forward with getting the FONSI signed.