Tell RDU Airport Not to Deforest near William B. Umstead State Park for Parking Lot

The RDU Park Economy 3 (PE3) parking expansion project will expand the existing PE3 parking spaces by adding another 7,000 new spaces. The project also proposes a new building for airport police and other airport employees, as well as some airport vehicle maintenance facilities.
The project will impact (e.g., destroy the forested landscape) 120 acres; leaving only a narrow 50 foot buffer along much of Haley’s Branch Creek (which is part of Lake Crabtree) and its tributaries; and be as close as 112 feet from William B. Umstead State Park.
The project appears to "squeeze" in as much impervious surface (e.g., pavement) as would fit within 50 feet of Haley's Branch. In addition, the project is extremely close to the 150 acres of the bike/pedestrian trails on the east side of Haley's Branch currently leased by Wake County, known as "286 East".
Action is needed before 5pm on Friday, August 4. Please ask RDU Airport to:
- Decrease the number of parking spaces, there is no need for an additional 7,000 parking spaces
- Decrease the acres of deforestation
- Build parking decks instead of surface parking
- Increase use of public transportation to RDU rather than build more parking lots
- Increase the forested buffers along Haley’s Branch Creek, which is part of Lake Crabtree and its tributaries
- Increase the forested buffer along William B. Umstead State Park
- Go well beyond the minimum with for stormwater controls. Encourage the use of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) including reducing impervious surfaces and providing shade and pollutant treatment within the medians in the parking lots
- Minimize light pollution by using using time or motion sensors, full cutoff lighting and lighting shields to reduce the spread of light into the forest
- Consider at this same time the effects of other parking projects (e.g., the rental car storage lot and the airport perimeter) planned for the area along National Guard Drive
Key Items in the Draft Environmental Compliance Report
Review the Draft Environmental Compliance Report posted here. Appendix A-H are linked from here. The Appendixes include species inventory, stormwater control, wetland impacts, air quality, cultural resources, environmental justice, floodplain impacts, and mitigation measures to minimize project effects.
This surface parking lot project will result in a large loss of forested protection area for William B. Umstead State Park and create a large heat island, light pollution, noise pollution, habitat reduction, stormwater runoff and more affecting our treasured Park. The draft Environmental Compliance Report implies these impacts will be minimal. We disagree. Significant and detrimental impacts to our Park and downstream Lake Crabtree and Crabtree Creek are likely.
The draft Environmental Compliance Report also ignores the vast amount of off-trail usage within William B. Umstead State Park and only considers Park users on the official park trails. Actual Park usage goes to the Park boundaries, not just the trails.
The report also minimizes the impact on wildlife corridors. The report ignores impact on the users at the Wake County Bike/Pedestrian “286” East Park along Haley's Branch and the planned connecting trails within William B. Umstead State Park in this area.
Share Your Comments
The more public interest, the more likely the RDUAA Board will request more stringent protections for the critical recreation and wildlife corridor/resources adjacent to the airport made up by William B. Umstead State Park, Haley's Branch, Lake Crabtree, and Crabtree Creek.
Public comments are requested on the draft report. Please submit your public comments by 5pm on August 4 to: publiccomment@rdu.com
For your convenience, if you submit through this Action Network we created, your comments will also be sent to the RDUAA Board and local elected officials.