Orange County NC Website
-294 <br /> Mr. Irvin: Replied that he did not know of any "commercially valuable <br /> trees" that were only "50' to 60'" (the figures used by Mr. Matthews). <br /> Mr. Matthews: Disclaiming any expertise in forestry, said that in <br /> areas of the country where there were airports near where forestry was occuring, <br /> Weyerhauser, for example, that it was sometimes more %economically feasible to <br /> cut the tree for timber at 40' than to wait till it was 100' (rate of growth <br /> was cited). But Mr. Matthews did agree that someone who wished to practice <br /> y <br /> forestry may have a problem in the approach zone with tall trees. <br /> i <br /> Mr. Irvin: Asked Mr. Mattews if he didn't think, with this problem <br /> in mind, wouldn't it be simpler to require the "developer of this airport" <br /> to "have an easement to control the land beyond the clear zone and the approach <br /> zone." In that way, the developer would have to deal with the landowner, either <br /> buy the land or compensate him for that. <br /> Mr. Matthews: Replied that that would be simpler and that the Special <br /> Use Permit Requirement in the Zoning Ordinance required the developer to control <br /> "the entire approach surface." He added that even with the powers of taxation <br /> and eminent domain, counties rarely purchased either fees or easements, rather <br /> i - <br /> i a county would usually buy the first 1000'. He added that in his opinion, it <br /> was unfair to require an owner to do something that the county would not normally <br /> require of itself. <br /> Mr. Irvin: Said that if the County were developing the airport it would <br /> have more at stake, but the developers were asking the County to do something <br /> for a private company which was set up to turn a profit which would place a "severe <br /> financial burden" on adjoining property owners. <br /> Mr. Matthews: Said he didn't agree with Mr. Irvin's conclusion regarding <br /> an airport placing a severe financial burden on contiguous property owners. He <br /> added that counties routinely provide money for private purposes and cited as <br /> an example, water and sewer extension lines. He stated that "If Orange County <br /> believes that an airport is necessary to serve the County, does not wish to build <br /> that airport itself, then it should take the steps to allow the airport that will <br /> serve the county, if allowed to be built, to .protect that airport so that it can <br /> 'be operated safely." <br /> Mr. Irvin: Asserted that Mr. Matthews had admitted that if someone wished <br /> to grow trees it would be a "severe burden." Mr. Matthews denied that, saying he <br />