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any increase in the noise level. She said that the activities of the development have already resulted <br />in additional noise from I-40 because the trees that were removed were 80 feet tall. She asked about <br />the additional plantings and if they would replace the existing vegetation or be added and Mr. <br />Alexander said that there would be minor clearing for the planting of new trees. She asked what Dr. <br />Diehl was planning to do about erosion control. <br />Craig Benedict said that the erosion control devices that are in place underneath the <br />stream have been verified as acceptable. <br />Betsy Kraus asked what assurances there were that Dr. Diehl was operating in good faith <br />whereas earlier he was not operating in good faith. <br />Steve Herman said that he was not satisfied with what has been done here. He agrees <br />with everything that Betsy Kraus said. He feels that the additional conditions in the resolution are <br />trivial and do not address the real issues that were brought to the Commissioners' attention at the <br />October 3`d meeting. Most specifically, the neighbors are concerned about the plan to build a state <br />maintained standard road that will involve considerable cutting into the earth berm which is the main <br />protection of the neighborhood from the noise on I-40. He suggested that the road be built to class A <br />private road standards and not public state maintained road standards. He said that the neighbors do <br />not agree with the findings of the acoustical engineer because it is common sense that if trees are cut <br />down, the noise through the property will increase. Regarding the conservation easement, he said <br />that the stream should have a stream buffer of at least 100 feet plus an additional width that accounts <br />for slope. He made reference to the formula in the zoning ordinance. He said that the stream buffer <br />should be around 150 feet wide to adequately protect the stream according to existing standards. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to <br />postpone this item to the meeting on March 6t" and that the Planning Director respond to the <br />suggestion of having a Class A private road instead of a public road. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />cam. Orancle County Position on NACo Support of Oil and Gas Exploration in the Arctic <br />National 1Nildlife Refuge <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Barry Jacobs that the staff <br />draft a letter to Jane Hague of NACo, with a copy to Ronald Christensen (Chair, Public Lands <br />Steering Committee} apposing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The letter will be faxed <br />on February 26t" to Jane Hague and Ronald Christensen and a cover letter will be faxed to Peg <br />Reagan, Executive Director of the Conservation Leaders Network. <br />Commissioner Jacobs would like to be sure that the letter includes some expression of <br />support for the alternative of energy conservation and investment in alternative energy sources. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />10. REPORTS <br />a. Efland Sewer Extension Policy <br />The Board was to receive a report on issues surrounding policies regarding extensions of <br />the Efland sewer system. However, this item was postponed to a future meeting. <br />11. APPOINTMENTS -NONE <br />12. MINUTES -NONE <br />13. CLOSED SESSION <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Carey to go into <br />closed session "To consult with an attorney retained by the Board in order to preserve the attorney- <br />client privilege between the attorney and the Board," NCGS § 143-318.11 (a}(3} and "to consult with <br />an attorney employed by the Board in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the <br />