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bffiblORANDUbi - 2 - November 16, 1983 In answer to the first question, there is no certainty this By-Pass facility will ever be built. With the tightness of funds, a lot depends on how much support local officials aud community leaders can obtain [or the project. Concerning the second question, both developers have seated that the thoroughfare as planned ~onld probably kill their proposals. Nowever, the Planning Deparrmen'~ has asked both to reconsider tbeir plans to accommodate the thoroughfare. At present no official plans have been snbmitted by either developer so we do not have any proposals to study. Several alternatives have been examined for the Westside By-Pass. However, a very limiting factor is the interchange location at 1-85. The Federal Highway Administration desires a mile separation between Interstate interchanges. The proposed location is so tight as Zo allow no flexibility of interchange location. An alternative alignment along Buff-Peach has been studied but it does not include an interchange with 1-85. Traffic would have to enter 1-85 via Highway 73. The Planning Department has come up with a new alignment which appears to me to be just as desirable and efficient to construcn as the planned alignment. (See attached map.) This new alignment will nor affect the Kannapolis portion of the By-Pass and will facilitate better industrial access and development in the West Concord area. In addition, it maintains the Federal Highway Administration one (1) mfle separation between interstate imterchanges. The North Carolina General Statutes in Chapter 153A-331 clearly gives the County authority to require a reservation of right-of-way for street improvements in proposed subdivisions. But unlike school site reservations, nothing is said as ro the time period the reservation can be held and how long the governing body has to make a decision on whether or not to require a reservation. The developer, it would seem, is entitled to quick decision on this matter~ The County musc also determine who is going to pay for the right-of-way. The State probably will not~ I have taken this matter before the Transportation Technical Coordinating Committee and the Planning Board, It is our rseommendation that the County Commissioners: 1) Request in writing that the N. C. Department of Transportation do a feasibility study on the alignment. If the alignment is feasible, then move the location of the By-Pass. 2) Inquire from the Federal Highway Administration if they will approve an 1-85 interchange location as proposed on the new alignment, 3) Instruct both developers to work with the Planning Department and N. C. Department of Transportation on possible subdivision modi- fication to accommodate tbe proposed thoroughfare.