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Item #7 is documentation on the continued refinement of the middle school site. It is a <br />memo that confirms the fact that the school board had been responsive to issues that were <br />raised concerning the biological inventory and the plans are a reflection of that. Also, the school <br />board paid additional money to the original owner of the property to conserve trees that would <br />have been lumbered prior to the school system purchasing the property. <br />Commissioner Brown asked about the pond. Ken Redfoot said that one of the ideas <br />presented in the biological inventory was to drain the pond and shift the fields into the area. <br />Commissioner Brown said it seems you would lose a lovely piece of property, the pond. <br />Ken Redfoot said that they feel that they have awin -win situation with the pond and <br />vernal pools that are protected. He said that they did show the potential use of this piece of <br />property, and the school board agreed that something good could go there, the 5.5 acres. <br />Ken Redfoot pointed out the middle school site on a map and made reference to the <br />comprehensive plan. He said that the middle school is right in the center of a residentially <br />zoned area. It is also in the center of a 10-year and a 20-year transition area. He believes that <br />the school is in the proper location. He showed additional drawings as evidence to show that <br />the school is in harmony with the comprehensive plan. <br />Commissioner Gordan asked about smart growth principles. Ken Redfoot said that the <br />smart growth principles achieved are the synergy between the school and the soccer complex in <br />terms of the site plan, and moving the road onto the soccer site that becomes a connector path <br />to the school and soccer complex. This also saves trees. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the 120 parking spaces allotted for the school. Ken <br />Redfoot said that these are for visitors and staff. This is taken from the Orange County school <br />standards for middle schools. <br />Chair Jacobs said that part of the discussion was that the school system did not want all <br />of this property and that some of the property would be offered or would revert back to the <br />County. He asked what was proposed. Geof Gledhill said that this is not a part of the special <br />use permit process and it would need to come back to the Board at another time. <br />Commissioner Brown asked if there has been any discussion about putting the area <br />nearest I-40 into a conservation easement {the school part). Craig Benedict said that the <br />special use permit would identify that this area will not be developed. Commissioner Brawn <br />thinks it would be a point of pride to put it in a conservation easement. <br />Geof Gledhill said that this could be a condition if the Board is inclined. <br />Commissioner Brown said that her other concern is that the neighbors across from the <br />site came forward before. She is concerned about the impact of this facility. The road is right in <br />front of the five or six homeowners. <br />Craig Benedict said that the applicant has dedicated all of the right-of-way necessary to <br />widen the road on the north side. The questions were whether there would be turn lanes, and <br />there will be for the drop off and the buses. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she respects what the Planning Board does and how it <br />deliberates. She wants the Commissioners to take the board's recommendation very seriously. <br />The two findings that were not made by the Planning Board were the landscape design and the <br />general finding of not being in harmony. <br />Chair Jacobs asked if there was any proposal for additional landscaping on West Ten <br />Road in regards to the neighbors. Craig Benedict said that there is a land use buffer that is <br />required along the road. Moving the entrance to the soccer park and the bus parking will allow <br />an additional strand of trees to remain. To the west of the visitor parking, there will be a <br />required landscape buffer. <br />Public Comment: <br />Libbie Haugh was sworn in by the Clerk. <br />