Orange County NC Website
-,~ ~.~ -µ <br />~~ ~, .~ <br />recommendation that was needed to protect University Lake Watershed was one (1) unit <br />per five (5) acres. It turns out that University Lake is a more fragile body than <br />people thought it was. Even one (1) unit per five (S) acres; does not protect the - <br />water. It results in significant degradation, at least 10$ over a period o£ time, if ~_. <br />its developed according to the plan. This is a health issue, as well as an economic <br />issue. He mentioned that if the hearing had been held in Chapel Hill or Carrboro many <br />people would have attended who are in support of this proposal. The present use value'. <br />taxation justifiably taxes the urban people by allowing legitimate farmers to get <br />taxed at a lower rate. That is not the strongest kind of farm land preservation, nor <br />is it a very good water protection measure but it is the best that has been gotten out <br />of the General Assembly so far. There is a need to work for better measures. People <br />who use well water will not benefit from the degradation of the water supply. Ground <br />water is equally vulnerable from contamination and there will come a time in this <br />county where people will be glad that there are some clean surface water supplies. Tf <br />the ground water supply is contaminated it cannot be cleaned up. Protect Our Water <br />supports these measures far at least the University Lake and Cane Creek watersheds. <br />The people in the Northern end of the county have legitimate concerns. All water <br />supplies need to be protected. However, it needs to be part of a democratic process. <br />He urged adoption of the measures. <br />MARY BUSHNELL; a Carrboro resident, stated that the present population of the <br />county is about 103,000 people. There are projections that by the year 2000 the <br />population could be 153,000. Even if its only 135,000 ar 140,000 people its still a <br />major increase. .She stated that she believes there is a need to look at the <br />development policies and regulations that are presently in place in the County. The <br />interim measures would be a cautious way to proceed for a short periad of time while <br />these questions are decided. She mentioned a need for an overall county plan which <br />would include guidelines.on haw to share the cast of clean water. <br />NANGY JOHNSON spoke in apposition to this proposal. She requested that the <br />restrictions on the farmers be decreased. <br />NANCY MUELLER, of the League of Women Voters of Chapel Hill and. Carrboro, read <br />the following statement. "Thank you for the opportunity of speaking at this Public <br />Hearing. The League of Women Voters nationally has been a strong advocate of <br />conservation of natural resources for more than three decades. Our position has been <br />that the best, most effective, and economical means of maintaining drinking water <br />quality is by protection of the sources of supply. Locally, the League has made <br />statements on several occasions regarding the protection of University Lake watershed, <br />including at the Public Hearing December 16, 1987 of the Environmental Management <br />Commission, regarding granting WSl status to University Lake as a source of drinking <br />water. Recently,~at the February 2nd Public Hearing which was called by the Division <br />of Environmental Planagement, the League urged the Orange Gounty Board of Commissioners <br />to be very conservative in approving development in the watershed until all relevant <br />governing bodies have had time to come to agreement as to the best strategy for total <br />watershed protection. We urge the adontian of interim standards in compliance with <br />the recommendations of the CDM study which would restrict residential development to a <br />minimum of 5 acre lots in University Lake watershed and two acre lots in Cane Creek <br />watershed as well as a ban on community alternative sewage systems in the watersheds". <br />tiTILLIArI HOUSE, of Damascus Church Road, spoke in opposition of this proposal. <br />He asked the Commissioners how he would be able to divide his 7 1/2 acres for his 2 <br />children. <br />