Orange County NC Website
8 <br />Open Space Development Area is unacceptable as written. However, if it <br />included 50$ of the buildable land as open space, it would be more acceptable. <br />Rex Bentley, a resident of the New Hope Church Road community, mention <br />several communities which have 50~ of their land set aside as open space. He <br />spoke to planners in Livingston County, Mich., Montgomery County, Penna., and <br />Graffin, Mass. The Open Space Ordinances were well received, even by <br />developers, after they were in place. Two of these Planners suggested not <br />allowing substantial density bonuses for cluster development. They said that <br />the ordinance must be density neutral. They also felt that 50$ open space is <br />necessary to effectively preserve .the rural character. He stated that the <br />densities allowed in this proposal are unacceptable to him. <br />Bob Harrell, a member of the University Station Work Group, stated that <br />this group started with an established set of criteria and then developed <br />plans based on this criteria. If 30~ open space is the only requirement, he <br />felt that the effect of open space would be lost. <br />Marty Mandell, an Orange County resident, spoke in opposition to this <br />proposal. She read from the minutes of a Carrboro Board of Alderman meeting <br />where they directed their Planning Staff to draft an amendment which requires <br />50~ open space. She feels the density is already too high and that it is <br />important to let the countryside survive for future generations. <br />Stanley Robbing, an Orange County resident, spoke in support of the <br />Arendt Plan and requested that the Board of Commissioners study and consider <br />it carefully. <br />Allen Seiferheld, a resident of Orange County, spoke in opposition of <br />allowing the extension of water and sewer into the open space development <br />area. <br />Lee Rafalow, an Orange County resident and member of the University <br />Station Planning group, spoke in support of small area plans. He asked if <br />open space is designed to preserve rural character or is it designed to <br />promote urban sprawl. It is well documented that extending water and sewer <br />causes urban sprawl. Density allowances must be such that water and sewer is <br />not required. He feels that a small cluster development can be supported by <br />alternative systems and large clusters cannot. Open space must be defined as <br />preservation of the existing rural character. <br />Larry Bohs, an Orange County resident, lives north of the proposed <br />development. He feels that it is important that the County proceed <br />thoughtfully with future growth preserving at least 50~ of the buildable land <br />and that developments should provide their own water treatment facilities. <br />A small area plan should be completed before any changes to the Land Use Plan <br />is considered. He thinks that development in Orange County can be provided <br />for while continuing to preserve the rivers, forests, farms, and wildlife. <br />He feels that the Stony Creek area would be irrevocably changed if this <br />development is approved and that high density development and a golf course <br />would cause an unnatural amount of runoff to occur which would greatly damage <br />the creek and surrounding areas. A copy of his complete statement is in the <br />