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Degradation of the Surrounding Environment <br />With its combination of rolling hills, streams, fields and woodlands, this corner of <br />Orange and Durham Counties retains some of the most scenic rural land left in the <br />Triangle. The impact of this project on such a pastoral landscape can be all too readily <br />imagined. <br />The Firing Range <br />The stated possible dual use of this property for a police firing range just adds <br />insult to injury. How would this firing range be made safe so that a family on a Sunday <br />afternoon hike were not fired upon? What other uses might be thought up for this large <br />tract of land? "Live" fire - fighting practice? A full- service landfill? The main reason the <br />old firing range off Old NC 86 was abandoned was because there were so many <br />complaints from area residents regarding noise.... <br />Being a Bad Neighbor <br />Although this is an Orange County project, it would literally border directly on <br />the Durham County line. Environmental degradation and problems with firing range <br />noise would be shared pretty equally between Durham and Orange counties. With the <br />watershed and transportation issues, the most significant negative effects of the project <br />would fall on Durham County and its residents. A cynic might say that this is actually a <br />plus to the project from the point of view of Orange County politicians. Whatever the <br />reasons, there has been no notification of Durham County officials regarding the project. <br />Until apprised by Durham county residents, no Durham County Commissioners knew of <br />this project, nor did anyone in the Durham Planning Department know of it. <br />A Secretive Rush to Judgement <br />Were it not for a watchful reporter for the Chapel Hill Herald, the citizens of both <br />Orange and Durham counties would likely still be completely in the dark about this issue. <br />In Ray Gronberg's May 291h article, he even quotes Gayle Wilson as saying "Quite <br />honestly, I was hoping you wouldn't find out for another couple of weeks." So much for <br />open government. <br />A number of area residents have had conversations with different commissioners <br />about this project over the last week, and no one was informed of tonight's meeting. Why <br />has there been an attempt to keep this matter quiet? When are public hearings scheduled <br />on this project? Why does there seem to be a hurry to meet and make decisions when <br />there has been no opportunity for public input? <br />What Should Be Done? <br />This project should be dropped. There is no requirement for Orange County to <br />provide a construction and demolition landfill. Putting the environment at risk for this <br />