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3 ~. <br />Forest properties be rezoned now as PID. <br />Ed Harrison, Conservation Chairman of the Headwaters Group of the <br />Sierra Club and Land Use Chairman of the NC Chapter of the Sierra <br />Club, presented a prepared statement (an attachment to these minutes <br />on pages 357 ) . . <br />Randy Few asked if the Army Corp of Engineer Land was already public <br />land and if so, what is the significance of rezoning those lands PID. <br />Brad Torgan responded that those lands are public lands but to zone <br />them PID would establish conformity between the Land Use Plan and the <br />Zoning Atlas. Mr. Few. continued that the Army Corp of Engineers had <br />purchased more property than was originally needed for their projects <br />and he indicated that those unused army core lands would either <br />revert to the original landowners or the original landowners would <br />have the right of first refusal. If this did occur, it would impair <br />use of that property. Torgan responded that in the case of army corp <br />lands the use would be wildlife mitigation. If the Federal <br />Government did sell those lands to a private citizen, justification <br />would be established for the changing of the PID zoning. <br />George Brumley, property owner adjacent to Duke Forest, stated that <br />even though he would prefer that the forest remain in its current <br />condition and available to the public of Orange County, he felt it is <br />Duke's right to make that decision, not Orange County's. He <br />continued that Duke has a reputation as a conscientious citizen in <br />every county in which they own property and he felt they would not do <br />anything that would damage that reputation. He noted he was a firm <br />believer in property rights and felt that if the County wanted open <br />space and Public Interest Districts, the county should purchase the <br />property. <br />Richard Helwig, Chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party, <br />quoted the following from the Democratic Party platform: <br />"The Orange County Democratic Party supports municipal, county, <br />regional and state planning to meet the challenge of population <br />growth and economic development in the coming years while maintaining <br />the unique quality of life in Orange County. We support balanced and <br />appropriate economic growth to provide jobs and increase house space. <br />We ask that county and municipal governments <br />adhere strictly to land use plans in approving development projects <br />to assure minimum disruption to existing neighborhoods. <br />We ask that county and municipal governments provide adequate water <br />supplies and protection for those watersheds. County officials <br />should act to protect natural resources and historic sites within <br />Orange County. County and municipal officials should provide <br />adequate recreational facilities including public parks, greenways, <br />bikeways and require developers to provide recreational facilities in <br />conjunction with new projects. <br />The Orange County Democratic Party supports policies which guarantee <br />