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<br /> 1 Previous zoning changes have already affected my property,through the arrival of a company
<br /> 2 offering "concrete and asphalt recycling." We have also watched as a small mountain of fill dirt has
<br /> 3 grown alongside and beneath the power high lines. These are occasional, sometimes continuous,
<br /> 4 intense noise pollution caused by heavy earth-moving equipment. Sounds like gun shots, as dump
<br /> 5 trucks slam their tailgates, and the noise of engines and backup warning signals of other heavy
<br /> 6 earthmoving equipment not only lowers our property values, but it degrades the quality of life for all
<br /> 7 near this designated"light industrial"zone.
<br /> 8 Also, in recent years, we have observed many changes along the section of Stoney Creek that runs
<br /> 9 through our property, and none of them were good. We have seen greater sediment loan from
<br /> 10 upstream, increased water turbidity, more frequent and more severe flooding and much more erosion
<br /> 11 from the creek banks. The new mountain of earth and recent tree-clearing in the power line right-of-
<br /> 12 way, within 100 meters upslope from the creek, is likely to exacerbate this. We feel that the further
<br /> 13 proposed changes can only continue to have a similar negative impact on Stoney Creek.
<br /> 14 Further development such as you are proposing, of areas draining immediately into Stoney Creek,
<br /> 15 will create additional opportunity for sheet runoff, flooding, and point source pollution. This will further
<br /> 16 degrade wildlife habitat, destroying aquatic plants, fish, amphibians, mollusks, and crustaceans.
<br /> 17 These are essential components of a health ecosystem. As the stream health declines, surrounding
<br /> 18 habitat also declines. Currently this habitat supports deer and other mammals and a great variety of
<br /> 19 birds, including wild turkeys.
<br /> 20 Stoney Creek leaves our land, flows north beneath Hwy 70, and enters the Eno at the Eno River
<br /> 21 State Park. Ecosystems do not stand alone; they are interconnected. Further degradation of water
<br /> 22 quality, land, and wildlife habitat along Stoney Creek, by connection also affects the Eno River, Falls
<br /> 23 Lake Reservoir, and the Neuse River. Various agencies and entities are entrusted with protection of
<br /> 24 watersheds and stewardship of North Carolina's resources on behalf of the state's citizens. As an
<br /> 25 example, the Stoney Creek Wildlife Corridor was designated for low-intensity use and connects the
<br /> 26 Eno River State Park to Duke Forest(Reference: Stoney Creek Basin Small Area Plan: Chapter 3,
<br /> 27 Pages 12-13—approved by the Orange County Board of Commissioners on August 5, 1996).
<br /> 28 1 can understand the need for controlled development. I can understand the need to expand county
<br /> 29 and city tax bases. What I cannot understand is promoting those goals at the sacrifice of important
<br /> 30 life-giving ecosystems—particularly our watershed system. I implore you to reconsider the changes
<br /> 31 that you propose and to furthermore restrict commercial activities directly adjacent to drainage into
<br /> 32 Stoney Creek and the Eno River. Such activities damage essential and protected watershed
<br /> 33 ecosystems and, by extension, are detrimental to all citizens of the state. Please take this
<br /> 34 recommendation under advisement prior to approving irreversible development in this ecologically
<br /> 35 sensitive area.
<br /> 36 "Environmental Responsibility in County Government"adopted as an Orange County Goal,
<br /> 37 December 5, 2005 is laudable. The goal statement reads as follows: "Perform all County
<br /> 38 governmental functions, both internal and external,with a sensitivity and ethic that promotes
<br /> 39 environmental responsibility and leadership, and an understanding of the actions of government
<br /> 40 activities as they affect the natural and cultural resources of the County, region, state, nation, and
<br /> 41 world."
<br /> 42 Because I must be out of town on business February 27, 2012, 1 cannot attend the second meeting.
<br /> 43 Therefore, in lieu of my in-person comments, I ask that you please enter this letter, imploring you to
<br /> 44 reconsider your proposed plan, into the meeting minutes.
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