Orange County NC Website
week that NCDOT had already submitted the encroachment agreement. He said that the 800-feet is <br />going to be paved. The staff is recommending that they need to work with the developer and NCDOT <br />and try to identify the money to pave the rest of the road because of the safety issues. <br />Commissioner Carey said that he understands this and he encouraged the staff to work with <br />NCDOT to pave the rest of the road. He asked how we would get this back into the 2003 secondary <br />road paving plan and if it would require NCDOT's new law that allows it to condemn property to get the <br />right-of-way. He asked if this would require a certain amount of property owners along the road to agree <br />to pay for the condemnation. <br />Geoff Gledhill said that NCDOT will have to either condemn the right-of-way that it does not <br />have, or acquire it voluntarily or otherwise. The Administration needs to talk with NCDOT and figure out <br />haw the money issue works. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that it is unbelievable that a DOT official was at the meeting on <br />December 2"d and heard all of the concerns and did not do anything about it. <br />Public Comment <br />Bob Johnson made reference to the yellow document and said that it is really not surprising <br />that companies and individuals that make a lot of money out of paving projects would be in favor of a <br />paving project. He said that any lay person that would drive down the road and see where they are <br />proposing the end of the pavement to be would see that it is a dangerous situation. He urged the Board <br />of County Commissioners to drive down this road and see how dangerous it is. He said that the current <br />end of pavement is far safer than what is being proposed. He said that the morning after the Board of <br />County Commissioners' meeting on December 2"d, they woke up and found Arthur Minnis Road being <br />graded for paving. He said that the Tuscany Ridge developer, Bill Byrd, had hired the contractor to do <br />the grading. He said that Mr. Byrd knew about all of the concerns of the citizens and the County <br />Commissioners and still contracted to begin paving. He said that it is clear that Mr. Byrd has no intention <br />of being a good County citizen and he is here to make as much money as possible. He said that it was <br />frightening that the Planning Department has come here in favor of this paving project without <br />addressing the safety issues until tonight. He said that he agrees with Commissioner Jacobs' proposal <br />to segregate Tuscany Ridge and the paving project. He said that the citizens should decide when it is <br />paved. He said that NCDOT has the right-of-way for all of the land except far one or two parcels. He <br />urged the Board of County Commissioners to not allow 800 feet of road to be paved and endanger <br />Orange County citizens. It should not be about money, but the safety of the citizens. <br />Chair Brown said that she had received many calls about the paving of this road and she did <br />drive out and speak to the crew an Arthur Minnis Raad. She said that she agrees that it would be <br />dangerous to end the pavement where it is proposed to be ended. She spoke to Mr. Byrd and said that <br />the Board has a recommendation to include him in working with the community, NCDOT, the Board, and <br />staff to come up with a reasonable solution. She asked Mr. Byrd if he would be willing to do this. <br />Bill Byrd said that they have indicated their willingness to work with the Planning Department <br />and NCDOT on making the paving of the entire road a reality. He said that it is not their desire to pay for <br />this section of road. It will cost them $130,000 ultimately. However, they have been facing this condition <br />on their final plat since June and they are facing business commitments from others. He said that they <br />are mare than willing to work with everyone and came to a conclusion. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve <br />the plan to have the Planning Director, County Manager, and County Attorney work with NCDOT, the <br />Tuscany Ridge developer, and representatives of the Arthur Minnis Road community toward the goal of <br />having the remaining unpaved segment of Arthur Minnis Road paved as part of the 2003-2004 <br />Secondary Road Construction Program. <br />Chair Brown asked that Commissioner Jacobs and Commissioner Halkiotis be on this <br />committee since they have both worked with NCDOT. The motion includes this and the Commissioners <br />are not appointed, they are just volunteering to be on the committee. This would prevent every meeting <br />from being public. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS <br />