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Wendy Jacobs said that Hildegard Ryals, Chair of the New Hape Creek Advisory <br />Committee, could not be here, but sent them a resolution that is in the packet. The Durham <br />County Commissioners have put a reservation on this land for 120 days when this plan is <br />approved. The Durham City Council is also expressing support for this plan. She hopes that <br />Orange and Durham Counties can work together, as in the Little River Regional Park. They <br />think that the developer is going to wait out the 120-day period and then basically move forward. <br />She asked far the Board's support to protect this property. <br />Doug MacKinnon conceded his time. <br />Susan MacKinnon said that she would like to add that this area has archeological <br />remnants on it with a trading path and an old coach route. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the staff is already working on this and Environment and <br />Resource Conservation Director Dave Stancil is the point person. He said that the County <br />would be glad to work with Durham. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis praised the efforts of this group. If this property is not preserved <br />now, it will be lost forever. He is fully supportive of this. <br />Chair Jacobs asked staff to came back with a report in December. <br />Commissioner Carey asked about the statement that Durham County has placed a <br />reservation on this. Jeff Fisher said that the reservation is in part of Durham County's ordinance <br />and when they are going through the site plan review, if the county sees that this tract has <br />significance for open space preservation ar a school, it says that there is a cooling off period for <br />120 days to give the county an opportunity to get an option on the property or to purchase the <br />property. The issue here is that there is an existing contract between Duke and Crosland. They <br />have asked far two years to raise money to purchase the land, and if they do not raise the <br />money, then they will not appose the development. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the gentleman with 60 acres and who will not give <br />the conservation easement if the development occurs. She asked if he would give an easement <br />if the development does not occur. Jeff Fisher said that this gentleman hired him as his <br />attorney and submitted a letter today to Durham County that put this in writing and requested <br />that some other things be done on the site plan in the event that it goes through. Commissioner <br />Gordon asked far a copy of this letter. <br />b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br />{These matters were considered when the Board addressed that item on the agenda <br />below.) <br />3. Board Comments <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he and Commissioner Gordon represented the Board <br />at the Senior Center Planning Group and the group is moving along nicely. Last night there was <br />supposed to be a site review in front of the Chapel Hill Town Council. They are talking about a <br />build out time of eight months. The plan is to keep the center at 25,000 square feet. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis thanked Chair Jacobs for adding to the agenda for the <br />upcoming DOT meeting an item regarding the I-8511-40 overpass in Hillsborough. There have <br />been many accidents here, especially with trucks that have dropped their cargo. There is <br />something wrong with this overpass and the trucks cannot handle it. There have not been any <br />deaths yet, but there have been serious injuries. He asked that before the meeting with DOT <br />that the County Commissioners put a resolution together asking DOT to take the strongest <br />possible action in doing an assessment of this overpass. He said that it has to be something <br />other than speed. <br />Chair Jacobs asked John Link to get the Board a report on the latest accident, which <br />involved animal fat. He heard that it went into a stream. <br />