ORD-2008-109 - Zoning Atlas Amendment Rezoning: Hillsborough Area Economic Developmnent

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A Planning Board member asked clarifying questions about the wetlands and floodplain. He said that he does not know how there could be small plots without covering up the stream for parking, etc. Robert Davis said that there is a stream that goes up the back of the red line, which is also a buffered stream. There is not a lot of buildable area here. PUBLIC COMMENT: Debbie Braxton is a resident of Hillsborough, but was speaking as a Real Estate agent for Audrey Miller. Audrey Miller's property is listed at 2411 Old NC 86. There has been some interest in the purchase of her home for a small office and her property meets both of the zoning plans, but definitely meets the criteria of the proposed rezoning. The home is brick, which could be a small office with parking in the back. Her client is in favor of the rezoning. Sue Spaccarotella spoke on behalf of her mother, Audrey Miller. She said that her mom has decided to move after 59 years and her home is on the market. She said that they are now hopeful to sell the home with the amended rezoning. Robert Smith was representing his mother, who owns the land where Cornwallis Hills is. His mother needs to sell her property and they are in favor of the rezoning. He just wants to look out for his parents. Margo Pinkerton lives in Cornwallis Hills and said that she has a long history in planning. She said that the idea of small offices makes perfect sense for this land but there was a proposal on this property 18 months ago and the same concerns are current today. She said that one of the proposed changes in the zoning involves the buffers and this concerns her. She said that one acre of impervious surface produces 16 times more runoff than one acre of meadow. There is already flooding at the end of the neighborhood. She showed a picture of the flooding. She said that if buffers will be reduced and impervious surfaces are increased, the flooding will get worse. She asked if the Planning Board had consulted with the river keepers of the Neuse River. This is a very sensitive river with national sensitivity. She has concerns about parking behind buildings because the police cannot see what is going on behind buildings. She would urge parking in front or beside buildings. Jo Soulier lives in Cornwallis Hills. She said that last year the neighbors fought a medical complex because of the buffering and because the parking in the back of an office does not lend itself to safety. She agreed that parking should be offset to the side. She asked that the lower piece be a special tract where there is much discussion when a use comes up. Member of the Planning Board also gave their comments. Mary Bobbit Cooke asked how many times this area floods per year and the citizens said many times in the lower section (tract 2). Tommy McNeill asked clarifying questions and Robert Davis said that the impervious surface is the same for both designations, but the difference is the lot size. Robert Davis said that there is no requirement that parking go in the rear of the building. This is an area that Hillsborough would serve with water and sewer. Chair Jacobs said that there are tradeoffs here. He said that a six -story building located to the east of a residential neighborhood would be a big wall between the people and the morning sun. He spoke in favor of limiting access points and said that this proposal has nothing about limiting access points and in fact would make road capacity worse.