Minutes - 19890522 - Laserfiche WebLink

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i, M1.,. - ~:.y 1 Commissioner Willhoit stated that he is opposed to making a decision prior to the "~ Public Hearings because the County has entered into a public process in considering an :alternative to the Horace Williams Airport. This process started with the establishment of a task force which met for a long period of time to consider the issue. They made a recommendation and the $oard moved ahead with applying for a Planning Grant based on that recommendation. He stated that he believes making a decision at this time would preclude meaningful public hearings on the matter. There has been exaggeration and di.startion in the information which has been provided to many of the people who are opposing the airport, which is confirmed by the content of many of the letters. A meaningful process would be to go ahead with the Public Hearings and evaluate the data which is provided at that time. This process was undertaken with the hopes of achieving maximum public participation. Often it is not until after the Public Hearing is held and the Planning Board has given the Commissioners its recommendation that the citizens raise their objections. This issue has energized the citizenry and he indicated that he would like to follow through the normal course of events. Commissioner Marshall stated that when she looked at the matrix last Monday night, she came to the conclusion that there was not a suitable site. She mentioned that although she enjoyed the letters, she also felt saddened that people would not listen and understand the process. Phase II would have provided additional information about a particular site. It wouldn't be until the end of Phase II that a decision would need to be made. The public would have known fully about the cost. They would have adequate time to study detailed plans of the siting. Many people complained about an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) not having been done. The EIS would have been a part of the Phase II process. It would not be practical to do an EIS until .a site is selected. She indicated that she was encouraged by the number of people who want the ,~ Commissioners to pursue the kind of planning they have tried to pursue. In the past they have gotten a lot of criticism about planning and it's good to know that there are citizens who are in agreement with the type of planning that the Commissioners believe -' is necessary. She asked the citizens to please be aware of what is happening, and let ' the Commissioners hear from them and be aware that there are quarterly Public Hearings. Come and tell the Commissioners what you want because they want and need to hear from everybody. It would be helpful and it will make citizens active participants in Orange County Government. Chairman Carey indicated that the process is working because it has gotten many people involved even before the Fublic Hearings have been held. He shares the concern of some of the Commissioners that a formal decision is going to make the Public Hearings irrelevant. He stated the $oard will be considering other issues in the future, some of which are going to be equally upsetting to some people. He does not want to encourage people to think a process will be stopped because there is a public outcry in the middle of it. The County ,has been working on a plan to preserve the rural character in this County for several months and many of the people who have written have not been involved in that process. Many of the letters indicate that the citizens are as concerned about what is happening in the rural areas of Orange County are the Commissioners. He pointed out that it is not too late to get involved in the process. He indicated that he would like to have the public hearings held. Commissioner Hartwell stated that he would like to have the Public Hearings regardless of whether or not a vote is held on the airport issue. He indicated that he would like to make a clear statement that he is not prepared to move forward with the airport.