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to the Orange County Zoning Ordinance, section 8.8.17a.1, which says that Gearon Communications is <br />required to include on the site plan all structures within 500 feet of that tower. A shed and a home located <br />within 475 feet of the proposed tower were left out of the report. In closing he put forth his strongest <br />objection to the shoddy material that Gearon Communications has tried to pass off as competent and <br />substantial evidence saying that the people in Orange County and on Greenfield Road deserve better. <br />Chris Braun distributed a written statement. He said that Gearon Communications has made it <br />clear that they believe there is a need for this tower, a need for better communications for things like <br />emergency services, EMS ambulance rescue on NC 54 and in the Orange Grove fire district. He has been a <br />paramedic for seven years and has not once used a cellular phone for an emergency reason. The reason is <br />that they use radios which are more than adequate, less expensive and more reliable. The Durham EMT <br />department also uses radios. In a recent Department of Transportation report on emergency services <br />communications in North Carolina, they basically looked at alternative options to current systems that were <br />in place for communications for police, ambulance and fire and they determined that cellular phones are more <br />expensive and that the total effort would be expensive, they take longer to connect than 2-way radios when <br />time is of the essence and that cell sites are not dedicated to a specific customer. In conclusion, the DOT <br />report proposed that 800 megahertz radios be used as an alternative. He said that recently he heard that <br />there is thought to be a need for bigger and better cellular communications for hospitals. He works at the <br />hospital and in a recent memo to employees, the hospital announced that it will be implementing a policy <br />which restricts the use of cellular phones in the hospital because they interfere with patient equipment. He <br />feels it would be a shame to let a tower come into their neighborhood and degrade the environment. <br />Jon Webster said that he and his wife were looking for a home this time last year. They decided <br />to purchase a home on Greenfield Road. It is a beautiful neighborhood with large lots and with everyone <br />keeping their homes looking nice. If a tower is allowed to be placed in back of some of their neighbors yards, <br />there is no way the existing vegetation will cover the blinking light or that it will be obscured from view. When <br />you pull into the road, that will be the first thing you see. Had this tower existed last year when they were <br />looking for a house, it would have been questionable whether or not they would have purchased on <br />Greenfield Road. He feels it would be a shame to have this tower go up and affect their neighborhood. He <br />does not see any way that this tower can coexist with their road without ruining the way the road looks and <br />the way people think of their neighborhood. He feels it would be a real shame. <br />Rakhski Khan said that they bought their house in 1992. She submitted a written letter for the <br />record. She said that the area is beautiful and peaceful. The site for this proposed tower is about 500 feet <br />from her back deck. If the tower goes up, her property will not be worth the same to her anymore. She will <br />no longer be able to enjoy the beauty of her backyard. Every time she enters her house, the first thing that <br />she will see will be this 235 foot tower. She asked the County Commissioners to listen to all of them and <br />invited them to come and see the property. She said that if this tower was there in 1992, they would have <br />never purchased this property. They have worked many hours to understand the process and are here <br />tonight to tell the County Commissioners of the impact this tower will have on their property and their lives. <br />She could go on and on and tell the County Commissioners how this tower will not be in harmony with the <br />homes and property on Greenfield Road and other issues but will let other people address some of these <br />issues. She read one letter from Dr. Bryant Cook who could not attend this meeting. He said that he is the <br />owner of 9709 Greenfield Road in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is strongly opposed to the proposed <br />cellular tower to be built adjacent to the Greenfield Subdivision for the following reasons: <br />• the aesthetics of the project are horrendous to the adjacent property owners <br />• shrinking property values both in the dollar sense and in emotional sense <br />• to approve this tower would show disregard for taxpaying citizens who have lived in this <br />neighborhood for 20 years <br />• quality of life issues such as trees versus structure <br />In summary, he asked that the County Commissioners vote no on this project. <br />Jan Scallion said that she lives on Greenfield Road. The area is beautiful and peaceful. She is a