Minutes - 02-21-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

rezoned, what would be located there, and why the rezoning was being requested before overall solid waste management plans have been determined. Commissioner Carey noted that the proposal was not to rezone more than 60 acres of the site. He stated that the public hearing was on the entire site because of the reasons that had just been explained relating to environmental and cultural surveys. Commissioner Carey added that the Board would identify the specific 60 acres prior to any action. Heather Mills, Principal Investigator for TRC Garrow and Associates, stated that her firm had conducted the Cultural Resource Survey of the entire 169 acres. She said that they had identified two low-density prehistoric sites, which were not significant because they would not produce any additional information if studied. Ms. Mills said that her firm also found two historic sites represented by foundations. One, in the center of the tract, had been called the Byrd farmhouse, she explained, but they cannot establish exactly when it was constructed {probably between 1870-1910}. Ms. Hills reported that there were intact archeological deposits around that house, such as a well and a remnant kitchen hearth. Ms. Mills explained that the other site, referred to in deeds as the Rebecca N. Johnston pots house, was located along a stream to the south of the Byrd farm, adjacent to an unused access road that had been overgrown. She said that there are pots in that house dating back to 1879, but they had not determined exactly when the house was constructed. Ms. Mills explained that the house is represented by a foundation, with no other features nearby. It does have intact archeological deposits and has been left undisturbed, she said. Ms. Mills recommended either leaving those two sites undisturbed or having other cultural resource studies done if they fall in the desired 60-acre tract. She noted that there also were four isolated finds, which were single artifacts that do not represent archeological sites. Mr. Joel Potter, Principal Investigator with Robert J. Goldstein & Associates, Inc., reported that his firm had only one day an the site, but had walked the boundaries and streams and had mapped out the areas. Using overhead slides, Mr. Potter showed where the streams drained off, where the wetlands were, and which areas contained the hardwoods. From an ecological perspective, he said, the northern area and the lower eastern side would be the most valuable. He added that about one to five acres of wetlands down in the southern part would be suitable far some of the County's rare species. Orange County Commissioner Alice Gordon stated that someone should make it clear to the public why they were having this hearing on rezoning before the exact 60 acres have been determined. Commissioner Carey replied that the public hearing had been required by the Joint Planning Agreement and by the Chapel Hill planning and rezoning process. He asked Mr. Waldon to comment on that process. Mr. Waldon explained that the Town's touchstone on this issue was the Interlocal Agreement that had been negotiated and executed by the three parties. He noted that that Agreement prescribed the transfer of sixty acres of the Greene Tract to the County for possible solid waste management. Mr. Waldon added that another part of the Agreement calls for rezoning of that property in a manner that would allow a materials handling use. In order to do that, he said, the parties have to go through a joint planning process because the Greene Tract is in the joint planning area. Mr. Waldon stated that the sequence was set up to allow time to meet deadlines and to accomplish the Interlocal Agreement. Along the way, he explained, issues were raised that led the Commissioners to request the two studies to get more information. Public Comment David Godschalk, a 35-year resident of Chapel Hill, stated that this potentially "unwise decision" had the feeling of a "done deal." He argued that the proposal to rezone 60 acres of prime, developable land for an industrial, solid waste handling facility instead of a future walkable Chapel Hill neighborhood is neither smart