The RDU Airport Authority used the 2040 Master Plan to declare the Odd Fellows Tract non-aeronautical and to change the land use from residential to industrial/quarry on their airport layout plan. This made the land no longer federally obligated, and thus no National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) review is required (link to FAA response on this issue).
The City of Raleigh, City of Durham, County of Durham, County of Wake acquired the Odd Fellows Tract for the purpose of a perpendicular runway in the 1970’s. This land was acquired for a public purpose and is managed by RDU Airport Authority
The Land Use Map provided by RDUAA for the community to review during the 2040 Plan public meetings failed to show the East Coast Greenway/Old Reedy Creek Road through Umstead State Park that is part of the Raleigh Bicycle Transportation Plan and the Town of Cary’s Greenway Master Plan. It also doesn’t show the existing quarry as an industrial use. Lake Crabtree is colored Green indicating Wild/Conservation Lands rather than Blue for Water, and the other significant waterways such as Crabtree Creek and the Lakes in Umstead State Park are not identified as waterways. No wonder a quarry use on the Odd Fellows Tract didn’t stand out as an inconsistent land use, it was difficult to recognize any of the natural features or sensitive uses on the map.
Included in the land use map is a table titled “Notes”. It states that there are jurisdictions with zoning authority in areas adjacent or near the airport.
Cary, Raleigh, Morrisville and Durham established zoning for land within their jurisdiction that was adjacent to the airport to prohibit land uses incompatible with the airport (including quarries). These airport overlay districts prohibit land uses that support activities that could be dangerous to aircraft operations (e.g., excessive dust and blasting).
In the same map, the Odd Fellows Tract, which is on Airport Managed Property is identified as being an industrial/quarry use as denoted by the light polka dots. The choice of symbols in the legend was deceiving, a dark grey or black is more closely associated with an industrial use classification.
The East Coast Greenway/Old Reedy Creek Trail is there, and is used heavily by the public, and is also used for training by the National Guard Troops who are stationed at the airport and in Raleigh. I know, I’ve seen them hauling logs behind them as they run on the trails in Umstead State Park.
There was no discussion of how many acres of airport property used for recreation by the public for decades (Lake Crabtree County Park, Odd Fellows Tract, 286) would be converted to commercial uses, quarry, parking lots while stripping the overburden from all of this currently forested land to be used as fill for the new runway.
Why did RDU Airport Authority decide that a quarry is a safe activity for airport land, when it isn’t allowed on other jurisdiction’s land adjacent to airport?
Airport-compatible land uses are defined as those uses that can coexist with a nearby airport without either constraining the safe and efficient operation of the airport or exposing people living or working nearby to unacceptable levels of noise or hazards (American Planning Association, 2010).
The map that RDU Airport Authority provided to the community to review that was labeled Environmental Considerations also failed to identify Lake Crabtree County Park and the Odd Fellows Tract as Open Space and it isn’t clear from the map that Crabtree Creek has Neuse River Buffer Protection.
Purpose of the environmental review was presented at the 10/11/16 Public Workshop
This incomplete environmental review by the airport authority combined with incorrectly segmenting the source of overburden from the Odd Fellows Tract, 286 and other “borrow pits” that are a requirement to build the preferred alternative led us down this path. In this way, RDU Airport Authority avoided the requirement for an environmental impact assessment under NEPA for the Odd Fellows Tract. Yet, RDU Airport Authority explicitly reserved the “right” to obtain the overburden from the Odd Fellows Tract in the quarry lease.
This incompatible quarry is not just a hazard for aircraft operations, it is also dangerous for the existing neighboring uses including the Dunn Family Home, the Odd Fellows Boy Scout Camp, Crabtree Creek, Umstead State Park and East Coast Greenway trail users.
In addition, the Odd Fellows Tract borders the East Coast Greenway between Raleigh and Cary. The Old Reedy Creek Road segment between I-40 and the Dunn’s Property along the Odd Fellows Tract is not in Cary or Raleigh but it fills a gap between the two greenway systems.
The placement of an incompatible open pit quarry on the Odd Fellows Tract will sever the comprehensive greenway plans of the Town of Cary and the City of Raleigh. In fact, the East Coast Greenway is also a significant component of the greenway systems for the Town of Morrisville, and the Cities and Counties of Durham.
It will be unsafe for anyone who currently uses the greenway system to share this gravel road/trail with logging trucks that will be removing trees from the 105 acres of currently forested public use land. Cyclists and runners will also be dodging bridge building trucks who will build a new bridge over Crabtree Creek to prepare for the removal of overburden. For 30–40 years, the Dunns and trail users will be subject to noise and dust generated by the drilling and blasting. This decision by RDU Airport Authority to lease public use land for a private quarry deprives the public of its rightful use to the Odd Fellows Tract. The RDU Airport Authority and the public will be left with the liability of a 400 ft deep pit with steep 90 degree slopes that will render the land useless for future airport use, and a hazard to the public.
The Table in the Cary Greenway Master Plan identifies the Lake Crabtree Park to American Tobacco Trail in light green. The Downtown Cary to City of Raliegh Trail is identified as a Brown trail is also known as the Black Creek Trail.
The City of Raleigh Bicycle Masterplan Map shows the Old Reedy Creek Trail as a greenway trail (marked as green thru Umstead State Park). Note that it ends right at the Odd Fellows Tract. I realized after seeing this map, and a NC-DOT map that showed bridge work that Umstead State Park was in the Jurisdiction of the City of Raleigh. Why isn’t the City of Raleigh stepping up to defend Umstead State Park and the Odd Fellows Tract?
This notation on the NC-DOT map that mentioned Reedy Creek Park was surprising to me. Then I remembered that Umstead B. State Park was previously segregated, with Reedy Creek Park used by the Black Community and Crabtree Creek State Park used by the White Community. In 1966, the two state parks were joined under the name William B. Umstead State Park, and yet, in 2010, the maps used by DOT contains a notation for Reedy Creek State Park. I also noticed what may be the old Reedy Creek Park in the Greenway Signs at the entrance to Umstead State Park at the Reedy Creek Road (Raleigh Side of the Park).
Is the Tan area on the Southern Portion of Park the former Reedy Creek Park section of Umstead B. State Park? The existing quarry location is not identified on the map (not an amenity for tourists).
Wake County also has a greenway plan that includes the East Coast Greenway segment along the Odd Fellows Tract identified on their greenway map.
The vision for this plan is to create a connected and comprehensive system of greenway trails that enhances the quality of life throughout Wake County. There is no other single type of investment that can be made on a local and regional scale that provides such a wide range of positive impacts. Greenways improve quality of life by providing opportunities for transportation, recreation, public health, economic development, and environmental stewardship. This plan serves as a clear guideline for trail planning and development, providing a framework for local governments and project partners to create a connected system of cross county greenway trails.
The Wake County Countywide Greenway System Map shows the East Coast Greenway/Old Reedy Creek Trail segment along the Odd Fellows Tract as an existing, unpaved trail (tan colored line) that is connected to the Crabtree Creek Trail (blue line) which at the time was still in development. Now I use the Crabtree Creek Trail and the East Coast Greenway/Old Reedy Creek Trail thru Umstead State Park and the Black Creek Trail to make a 16 mile bike ride loop back home. I look forward to trying many of these longer routes on the countywide greenway sytem to explore Wake County. Before I can do that, we need to work to find a way to save this crucial link!
Did you know that we have a local Greenway Artist that captures beautiful scenes of many of the locations along our greenway trail system? Her artwork is featured on the cover of the Wake County Greenway System Plan. There is more of her work available; see if you can find your favorite trail hangout. https://autumncobelandpaintings.com/
This beautiful segment of the greenway system can be saved if we work together! The Odd Fellows Tract is one of the most beautiful open spaces in our area, with a fishing, rock climbing, off-road cycling trails, boy scout camping, and more. It must be preserved for future generations!
Please urge the Town of Cary, the City of Raleigh, City of Durham, Durham County and Wake County to oppose the mining permit modification for a quarry pit on the Odd Fellows Tract. Visit this website to learn more:
https://umsteadcoalition.org/StopRDUQuarry
Please also send pictures and letters of your favorite memories along the greenways asking to please protect and preserve our greenway systems directly to Dan Sams dan.sams@ncdenr.gov, and ‘cc Brian Wrenn NCMiningProgram@ncdenr.gov and Umstead Coalition at info@umsteadcoalition.org
The deadline is July 17th!
If you have connections to NC-DOT, please ask them if the Aviation Division has any requirements for airport land use plans to be compatible with the surrounding jurisdictions. Quoted below is a statement from the Florida Guidebook for Airports.
At the state level, Chapter 332, F.S. defines the duties and responsibilities of FDOT. One key provision within Ch. 332 is directly parallel to FAA funding requirements, in that:“Only those projects or programs provided for in this act that will contribute to the implementation of the state aviation system plan, that are consistent with and will contribute to the implementation of any airport master plan or layout plan, and that are consistent, to the maximum extent feasible, with the approved local government comprehensive plans of the units of government in which the airport is located are eligible for the expenditure of state funds in accordance with fund participation rates and priorities established herein.
