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to be sure that roads are adequately built so that the cities would not need to repair or replace them at a later time. Stancil stated that this concern would be addressed in the County Ordinances. PLANNING BOARD CHAIR BETTY EIDENIER stated that the Rural Character Study Committee has worked to achieve a consensus. She feels it extremely important that elected officials accept these concepts and begin to implement them rather than study them further. In answer to a question about the extension of water and sewer, David Stancil stated that other communities have been able to address this concern but not in the same context. COMMISSIONER STEPHEN HALKIOTIS stated that the report represents a compromise. He does not support alternative systems. He supports the extension of water and sewer which is controlled by sizing and regulations. COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE ANDRESEN stated she is greatly disturbed about putting water and sewer in the Rural Buffer. She feels it would change the Rural Buffer to something that is urban and by adding that element change significantly the Joint Planning Agreement. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS JUDSON EDEBURN, Duke Forest Resource Manager, read a prepared statement. He asked that a paragraph be included in Section II.4 of the Conceptual Guidelines for the Rural Buffer which would provide appropriate measures to protect and enhance the values of the large contiguous tracts of open land represented by the Duke Forest within the Rural Buffer and facilitate continued management of the Duke Forest as a research and teaching resource. LOIS HERRING, Chair of the OWASA Board of Directors read a prepared statement. OWASA believes that the recommendations for limited extensions of public water and sewer service into portions of the Rural Buffer may not be possible to implement. They feel that these issues should receive substantially more technical and policy consideration before the Joint Planning documents are amended. Also, OWASA would like a clear answer regarding what role, if any, OWASA is expected to play regarding water and sewer service in the Rural Buffer. VICTOR TRIPP, speaking on behalf of the Chapel Hill and Bingham Landowners Group, commended the Rural Character Committee for their work. He read a prepared statement endorsing the recommendations. He stated that the recommendation reflects the true consensus of the property owners. They are workable and less complicated than the regulations now in place. These recommendations promote development at affordable prices. He feels the rural boundary will be protected as well as the resources. Also, the rights of the property owner to develop their property have not been denied. MARK O'NEAL, local real estate broker and developer, commended the Committee for their time and effort to understand the issues and to build a consensus among a varied group of individuals. He supports the recommendations because they have taken an approach which creates incentives as opposed to mandates. With the creation of the Rural Buffer, houses in excess of $200, 000 are being created. The Committee' s proposal creates an opportunity to create housing in the $150, 000 category. Through the tighter clustering process, the preservation of green space is greatly enhanced and the areas are