Minutes - 04-12-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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e. Urban Farm -this does not affect the urban form of what is occurring in the downtown cities f. Utility Extensions -there are no utility extensions necessary to this property g. Allocation of Growth - having a quarry and an eventual reservoir does allow for the concentration of populations to occur within the urban areas (Chapel Hill and Carrboro) He went through page 10 of the handout that lists points about the existing quarry operation. He said that quarrying would continue if this amendment was not approved. He noted that there is no time limit on the Special Use Permit. He talked about the advantages of a larger operation including better technology, improved operations, less truck traffic, and economy of scale. He said that if the permit is not approved under the existing application, the quarry would keep the rock crusher on top of the hill adjacent to the pit. If the quarry is allowed to expand further to the southeast, the crusher could be put within the existing pit. The efficiency of a quarry is mare productive by being wider and shallower than it is deeper. He noted that in the application there are certain mitigation measures. American Stone has agreed as part of this application to reduce the decibel ratings and the vibration standards at night. Additional mitigation measures include the dedication of the 10-acre park in the future, additional revenue stream to keep the park going, additional monies for neighborhood activities, and others. He pointed out that some of the mitigation measures will not be put in place until after the tract goes from a quarry to a reservoir. This is a lower cost to other alternatives and a better environmental option without the destruction of land. Also, an additional water supply will help in times of drought. If something happens with Cane Creek, the reservoir would have the capability to keep the operation under control. In regards to long term water supply, there was an issue of whether the reservoir was necessary or not and if the supply was adequate for future populations. Part of the reason the application came back in 1999-2000 was the completion of the water supply study. He said that the interesting thing about this application is that it does give an opportunity to plan for the future. He said that the Orange County Planning staff is submitting comments tonight on behalf of the other planning staffs because the property is located within the eventual comprehensive planning and zoning jurisdiction of Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Questions from Orange County Board of County Commissioners and Orange County Planning Board: Karen Barrows asked about the designation of an industrial Wade, and said that in 30 years it really would not be an industrial node if the quarrying stops. She asked if the industrial node would just be for 30 years. Craig Benedict said that the property owner at that time, primarily OWASA, could come back and request for a revision and call it public use or a public interest area. Planning Board member Sam Brooks made reference to the proposed reservoir and asked how long it would take to fill up the reservoir and if there was a watershed that was capable of sustaining the reservoir. This question was held for the proponents' presentation. Questions from Chapel Hill Town Council and Carrboro Aldermen: Allen Spalt asked Craig Benedict why the number of acres being sought for the industrial node was substantially larger than the proposed extractive use, including the existing reservoir. Craig Benedict said that the reason there is a difference in the two numbers is that presently there are 150 acres of extractive use that are in operation. The Special Use Permit does not include all of the 150 acres. The rural industrial node could be contracted to handle only the operations of the quarry activity. He made reference to a map and shaved where the crushing operations are taking place.