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1~6 <br />The Chairman stated that we need to .get this rolling so at the <br />latest, we should have a resolution in hand and ready to adopt at the <br />first Monday's meeting in May. <br />S. B. Olive, a resident of the New Hope Community, stated that the <br />Environmental Impact Statement, the latest version, would have an excell- <br />ent starting point, because it covers most of these areas. <br />Commissioner Gustaveson stated that there were many things in the <br />background which could be used. One is the Growth Options Conference of <br />the fall of 1975, which was not only a well attended citizen's conference, <br />but one of the recommendations which was voted on was the development of a <br />green belt and that all governmental units should work toward this. He "-- <br />stated that it seems to him that the Growth Options recommendation could <br />be a part of the resolution. <br />Further, Mr. Gustaveson stated that when you look at the land classi- <br />ficiation map, that already there are two designated major areas as con- <br />servation areas within the classification system and with the intention of <br />eventually connecting these in a green belt and designating the central part <br />(on the map) as a rural area green belt. This should have special considera- <br />tionwhen it comes to developing this particular area and this is another <br />historical part. He added that the land classification map was presented <br />at the public hearing in June, and an attempt should be made to tie this <br />into the Growth Options Conference with the concern that we are working <br />toward a green belt around the urban areas. <br />Alse, Mr. Gustaveson continued, one thing that was mentioned at the <br />meeting today is the fact that the New Hope stream is used by Duke Univer- <br />sity and .the University of North Carolina as a major research stream for <br />ecology work. <br />Chairman Whitted stated that he had talked with Fred White, Chairman <br />of the Duke Committee on Foresting, regarding the natural areas which is <br />located about midway between the 2 large areas on the map, and because of <br />Old Field Creek, Duke has purchased land on the other side of Old Field <br />Creek, because of its significant for research. He added, "the comments <br />that 2 have from the Department of Transportation are from back in 1971, <br />when they were talking about the one alternate. But as I understand now, <br />from Fred White, it would be maoredetrimental to that natural area than <br />the one alternate would be to the other division of Duke Forest. <br />One reason is that there would have to be a major interchange there <br />and that would destroy the natural area." He added that because of devey <br />lopment pressures in the area, and its significants to Duke Forest, Fred <br />White feels this would be the worst alternate they could pick. <br />Commissioner Gustaveson asked if it would be possible to get a state- <br />ment from Fred White about the significants of Old Field Creek and the <br />center piece (on the map). <br />Mr. Whitted stated that he could get a statement from the Duke Forest <br />Committee. He continued by stating, "in looking at those two parts of <br />Duke Forest and that natural area certainly if there were one continuous <br />green belt throughthere, it would be in keeping with the green belt, open <br />space, natural conservation area than would an interstate highway bypass. <br />Commissioner Willhoit referred to the Growth Options Report which <br />was adopted. He stated that the report was a siummation of the task for.ce's <br />report and studies which have been performed and was also submitted at the <br />public hearing in June. Mr. Willhoit stated that the report mentions those <br />lands in particular, with Duke Forest as being a de facto green belt. <br />Another statement in the Option Report, which was made by Mr. Willhoit, <br />was that development should not be encouraged in locations which require <br />substantial new road improvement and that development should be encouraved <br />in a way which would reduce the necessity of lengthy energy consuming travel <br />patterns and ways which facilitate the provision of energy efficiency public <br />transportation. Also, that development should provide jobs for present resi- <br />dnets of Orange Gounty and not Ming large numbers of new residents into <br />the County. This is also a major point in the Environmental Impact State- <br />ment, which refers to this as solving the local road problem and that inter- <br />state highway systems were not designed to solve local problems, but are to <br />provide far long distance travel. <br />