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Commissioner Gordon said that she did not know that the special use permit process would <br />even allow a decision to be made the night of the hearing. She does not think this is proper. <br />She hopes that it is taken back to the Planning Board. <br />Commissioner Brown asked about the habitat analysis and page 42 where it says that it is most <br />critical to protect the drainage areas into the vernal pools and the surrounding Dry Oak-Hickory <br />Forest. She asked if this was the case. Ken Redfoot said that the ridgeline is now protected <br />and the drainage is protected as it goes dawn into the vernal pools. <br />Commissioner Brown asked if there were any other recommendations far protection that are not <br />being met and Craig Benedict said no. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that everybody knows that he works for the Orange County Board <br />of Education. He asked if the Planning Board was told that the school board went back and <br />bought the timber rights because the landowner was planning to timber this property. Craig <br />Benedict said that the he did not personally tell the Planning Board. It may have been in the <br />letter that came back from the school board and the applicant. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he just wanted to make this known because it is an important <br />point that someone went beyond the call in preserving the natural habitat. He thinks the <br />Planning Board should have been told this because it is a sign of good stewardship. <br />Commissioner Brown said that she did not know that and asked haw they were going to protect <br />that area when the bulldozers come in and start building. Craig Benedict said that they would <br />have barriers during the process. <br />Noah Rannels said that the Planning Board did have some concerns about the undeveloped <br />area (approximately 5 acres) adjacent to the school. The Planning Board asked about shifting <br />the fields further down to preserve more pine forests. Craig Benedict said that when the plan <br />was taken back to the school board, they said that the alternative was the shifting of the site to <br />preserve the drainage basin and still leave the area open for other potential opportunities for <br />school or County uses. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />At this time, Geaf Gledhill asked Deputy Clerk to the Board David Hunt to swear in Marge <br />Limbert. <br />Marge Anders Limbert spoke on behalf of The Village Project, Inc. She read a prepared <br />statement from James Carnehan from The Village Project. Before green building must come <br />green siting. Ecologically, it is preferable to build on land that has already been disturbed or has <br />the greatest amount of disturbance. In the case of this site, this previously disturbed land <br />includes even the pond, aman-made feature. She said that the current proposal does not <br />adequately recognize the most important habitats on the site. They urge the County <br />Commissioners to consider leaving the pine forests intact and building more on the southern <br />part of the property, even including filling the pond if necessary. They support the <br />recommendation of Mr. Moore and Ms. Buck, who did the environmental assessment, to <br />preserve the northern portion of the soccer facility. They also urge that shared parking be <br />utilized. She said that they wonder where the smart growth planning was in the selection of this <br />site. This site is isolated from other activities. She suggested increasing residential density as <br />well as encouraging employment within walking distance of this new school. As it stands, this <br />