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school would be a generator of low density, car dependent residential development in surrounding rural areas. She said that if such mixed use, including residential, is not feasible at this site, then this site is not suitable for the proposed use because it guarantees a pattern of development they would rather not see coming to Orange County. Ken Moore was sworn in. Ken Moore said that he has been part of the North Carolina Botanical Garden for over 30 years. He recently retired into a new position as a part-time teacher for K-5 at the Schoolhouse of Wander at the West Point on the Eno in Durham. He is very passionate about the children. He was very excited when doing the environmental assessment because he saw that there was already an outdoor science laboratory on this site with the vernal pools. He said that this was an incredible resource just waiting to be utilized if it is not eliminated in the process of siting and building the school. He congratulated the County Commissioners for being good stewards in saving what has been saved already. He thinks this is an opportunity to continue saving the valuable biological part of this site. He went to the map of the site and pointed out some of the features. He said that their recommendation is to avoid the forest area when there is already some disturbed area. Craig Benedict said that the hickory forest is being preserved approximately 95%. The reason the fields are not being shifted down to the open space and the pond is not being drained is that they are trying to get synergy with the fields and the recreational activities on the other side. The parking would be central to the activities on both sides. The school board has discussed the pond being an educational opportunity also. They are not saving every tree, but they are saving the vast majority of the environmental lands in this area. Melinda Braddy was sworn in. Melinda Braddy asked if the road would be widened and Craig Benedict said yes and that there will be continuous left-turn lanes. There is also aright-turn acceleration lane that will come into the bus parking in the back. Melinda Braddy said that she lives directly across from the school entrance and she asked if they would be taking any of her land. Craig Benedict said that there is sufficient right-of-way to make the accommodations. Melinda Braddy said that the stream buffer runs under the road and she asked if there would be accommodations made to protect this stream buffer. It was answered that the road improvements begin past where the stream goes through. Carol Ann McCormick was sworn in. Carol Ann McCormick said that she wanders haw many baseball and soccer fields are needed in one place. She understands and supports the need for physical education, but it seems like a lot in one place. She asked about having the baseball field and the athletic stadium as part of the soccer complex. Larry Wiley was sworn in. Larry Wiley owns the property adjacent to the pond and to the highway. There is a beaver swamp across the road that keeps the water backed up all the time and his property floods a lot. He asked if there would be any change to allow the water to drain. He has seen this road four foot deep in water with a hard rain. Chair Jacobs said that he does not know if there is an answer, but he thinks that if there is a school there and if there are problems with the road being obstructed, it will be dealt with.