Norfolk Southern/Conrail Rail Connection–Bucyrus, Ohio - Surface ...

CHAPTER 3
Existing Environment
This chapter provides an overview of the existing environment in the vicinity of the proposed
construction.
3.1 LAND USE
3.1.1 Current Land Use and Zoning
The project area is within the City of Bucyrus in Crawford County, Ohio. Approximately 75 percent
of the land in Crawford County is cultivated; an additional ten percent of the county consists of
woodlands and windbreaks. Neither the City of Bucyrus nor Crawford County has zoning ordinances.
The preferred alternative would require 4.6 acres of land (of which only 1.5 acres would be occupied
by track). Land use for the area around the proposed construction site in Bucyrus is mainly residential
and commercial. The project site is bordered on the east by Catherine Street, on the north by the
existing Fort Wayne, Indiana to Youngstown, Ohio Conrail line, on the west by the existing Bellevue
to Columbus NS line, and to the southeast by residences and a narrow strip of deciduous trees and
shrubs along Conrail’s existing right-of-way. The trees and shrubs are between the existing Conrail
right-of-way and residences to the south. East/west-oriented overhead communication lines border the
north side of the existing Conrail line. North/south-oriented electric power lines border the east side of
the existing NS line north of East Warren Street. Two abandoned utility poles stand in a vacant lot
between East Warren Street and Woodlawn Avenue at the southwestern end of the construction site.
East of the construction site are vacant and commercial lots. The vacant lots are characteristic of
disturbed areas and consist of either ballast and fill dirt, or weeds, grasses, deciduous trees, and shrubs.
The commercial lots, associated with a former T&OC passenger station and a former T&OC freight
depot, contain gravel ballast and fill dirt or weeds, grasses, shrubs, and a few, small deciduous trees.
The former T&OC passenger station, presently occupied by a heating and plumbing company, is
southeast of the Conrail and NS intersection, northwest of the proposed construction site. The former
T&OC freight depot, presently owned and occupied by Quinn Brothers Construction Company, is on
the east side of the NS track between Rensselaer Street and East Warren Street. The Quinn Brothers
Construction Company yard and one-story office building are between Rensselaer Street and the Conrail
track.
A BP fuel distribution facility with five above-ground tanks is 200 feet east of the proposed
construction. There are 144 residences within 500 feet to the north, west, and southeast of the proposed
construction site.
3.1.2 Consistency with Local Plans
Neither the City of Bucyrus nor Crawford County have zoning ordinances.
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