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39 <br /> February 23, 2012 <br /> {Orange County Commissioners} <br /> Dear Commissioner <br /> I received a letter dated February 10, 2012, notifying us of two scheduled neighborhood <br /> meetings. I have attended the first meeting. Regarding proposed changes,that letter states, in <br /> bold print, "Your property is not impacted...". I must respectfully differ with the statement that <br /> what you propose will not impact my property at 4411 Hwy 70 E, Durham, NC 27705, located <br /> immediately west of the Duke Energy and Piedmont Energy high lines. All activities adjacent to <br /> one's property logically affect that property as well. <br /> Previous zoning changes have already affected my property, through the arrival of a company <br /> offering "concrete and asphalt recycling". We have also watched as a small mountain of fill dirt <br /> has grown alongside and beneath the power high lines. There is occasional, sometimes <br /> continuous, intense noise pollution caused by heavy earth-moving equipment. Sounds like gun <br /> shots, as dump trucks slam their tailgates, and the noise of engines and back-up warning signals <br /> of other heavy earthmoving equipment not only lowers our property values, but it degrades the <br /> quality of life for all near this designated "light industrial" zone. <br /> Also, in recent years, we have observed many changes along the section of Stoney Creek that <br /> runs through our property, and none of them were good. We have seen greater sediment load <br /> from upstream, increased water turbidity, more frequent and more severe flooding and much <br /> more erosion from the creek banks. The new mountain of earth and recent tree-clearing in the <br /> power line right-of-way, within 100 meters upslope from the creek, is likely to exacerbate this. <br /> We feel that the further proposed changes can only continue to have a similar negative impact <br /> on Stoney Creek. <br /> Further development such as you are proposing, of areas draining immediately into Stoney <br /> Creek, will create additional opportunity for sheet runoff,flooding, and point source pollution. <br /> This will further degrade wildlife habitat, destroying aquatic plants, fish, amphibians, mollusks, <br /> and crustaceans. These are essential components of a healthy ecosystem. As the stream health <br /> declines, surrounding habitat also declines. Currently this habitat supports deer and other <br /> mammals and a great variety of birds, including wild turkeys. <br />