GOLD LINE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

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Meryl Lawrence
5 years ago
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1 GOLD LINE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

2 GOLD LINE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

3 A market analysis at the time of this evaluation demonstrated adequate availability of replacement sites for lease and for sale in all the categories of commercial real estate being acquired including light industrial, auto repair and salvage, recreational vehicle/boat storage yards, office, and light manufacturing. Indirect Impacts The property acquisitions would indirectly result in job losses, as discussed in Section 3.2.3, Economic Considerations. Temporary Construction Impacts Discussion of temporary construction easements have been discussed in the property acquisition estimates portion of the Direct Impacts discussion above. Cumulative Impacts Private property acquisition required for the Preferred Alternative (between and acres) would be additive to the property required for three roadway projects and the Northwest Rail project committed under the No Action Alternative, plus the additional land needed for new public infrastructure to serve the 2030 population in the Gold Line study area, estimated at approximately 700 acres. As described under the No Action Alternative, up to 20,000 acres would be required for public infrastructure to accommodate the 2030 population estimated for the Denver metropolitan area. CRMF The CRMF would result in acquisition of approximately 3.39 acres of property and would not result in the relocation of any businesses. The property acquisitions for the CRMF include a portion of the Owens Corning property and small strips of BNSF Railway Company ROW. The remaining property located within the Fox North Site would already be required by development of the shared alignment from DUS to Pecos Street. Therefore, the CRMF location minimizes impacts to additional properties that might be required in another location. Table presents the specific property acquisitions and business relocations associated with the CRMF

4 TABLE Summary of Property Acquisition CRMF Parcel ID Number Property Owner Property Type Partial Acquisitions Acres to be Acquired 1 Percent Impact Owens Corning Industrial Owens Corning Commercial Full Acquisitions BNSF Railway Company Industrial/Railroad BNSF Railway Company Industrial/Railroad BNSF Railway Company Industrial/Railroad Total NA NA 3.39 NA 0 Businesses Relocations Sources: Adams County, 2009; City and County of Denver, 2009; CRMF Team, Numbers are approximate, rounded, and are based on information available from City and County of Denver and Adams County 2 Impacts greater than 20 percent are assumed as full acquisitions, but will be negotiated as part of the property acquisition process. The CRMF would result in no indirect impacts associated with property acquisition except for job creation, which is discussed in Section Construction of the buildings, parking areas, and other site plan elements would be confined to the property acquired by RTD. However, temporary construction easements would be required for elements of construction in public ROW. The extent of the easements cannot be estimated until the project has been further designed. Avoidance and Minimization Measures The Preferred Alternative would use the existing BNSF Railway Company/UP rail line, minimizing the amount of property required for acquisition. Track alignment was designed to avoid the need acquire any full residential parcels. Double-track alignment from Ralston Creek to between Carr Street and Balsam Street was reduced to single track to avoid property impacts Mitigation Measures Mitigation for land acquisition, displacements, and relocation of existing use are described in Table

5 TABLE Mitigation Measures for Land Acquisition, Displacements, and Relocation of Existing Uses under the Preferred Alternative Impact Impact Type Mitigation Measures for the Preferred Alternative Source: Gold Line Team, 2007 Acquisition. The acquisition of real property interests will comply fully with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended (Uniform Act) and the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Uniform Act applies to all acquisitions of real property or displacements of people resulting from federal or federally assisted programs or projects. All impacted owners will be provided notification of the acquiring agency s intent to acquire an interest in their property, including a written offer letter of just compensation specifically describing those property interests. Relocation Analysis. RTD will prepare a relocation analysis to enable relocation activities to be planned in such a manner that the problems associated with the displacement of businesses are recognized and solutions are developed to minimize the adverse impacts of displacement. The Relocation Study will estimate the number, type, and size of businesses and nonprofit organizations to be displaced and the approximate number of employees that may be affected; and consider any special advisory services that may be necessary from RTD and other cooperating agencies. Relocation Assistance Advisory Services. Relocation assistance will include determining the relocation needs and preferences of each business to be displaced and explaining the relocation payments and other assistance for which the business owner is eligible; providing current and continuing information on the availability, purchase prices, and rental costs of comparable replacement commercial properties, and other programs administered by the Small Business Administration and other federal, state, and local programs offering assistance to the displaced businesses. Payments. The relocation payments provided to displaced businesses are determined by federal eligibility guidelines

3.3 LAND ACQUISITION, DISPLACEMENTS, AND RELOCATION OF EXISTING USES

3.3 LAND ACQUISITION, DISPLACEMENTS, AND RELOCATION OF EXISTING USES 3.3.1 Introduction to Analysis A community would be affected if private property currently being used for another purpose must be acquired