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46 <br /> May 21, 2012 <br /> [LETTER MAILED TO ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> AND COPIED TO OTHERS] <br /> Dear Commissioner: <br /> First, I'll thank you for your service to the citizens of Orange County. At times, your job as <br /> County Commissioner must be a daunting task. You are charged with balancing the various <br /> interests of the citizens of a very diverse county. Economic development and the protection of <br /> the environment are always in a state of tension. Regarding those issues, I know that some <br /> decisions are much more difficult to make than others. All decisions must be made with <br /> integrity and with an adherence to common sense and in the spirit of the longer term good of <br /> all citizens and the long-term protection of our delicate environment. <br /> Today, I write to you concerning the Eno District zoning regulations, both those existing <br /> presently and the recently proposed changes. First of all, I am not anti-Gorilla Materials; <br /> however, I feel that this business was located in an inappropriate place. This is not the fault of <br /> the owners of Gorilla Materials. It is due to a mistake caused by zoning changes made in 2008. <br /> For reasons that have become apparent, noisy EDE-2 activities with increased heavy vehicle <br /> traffic flow should never be allowed to exist next to rural residential areas. These type <br /> companies should also not be permitted to operate on steep slopes adjacent to <br /> environmentally sensitive watershed areas such as the Stoney Creek Wildlife Corridor. <br /> For thirty-one years, I have owned and operated a business. I am for economic progress and <br /> sensibly directed and controlled development. I am pro Gorilla Materials—in the right location. <br /> For the past six years, I have also served as a trustee managing the operations of another <br /> business. This second business operates heavy equipment and machinery, often located in <br /> environmentally sensitive (watershed) areas, and often near residential areas. Being cognizant <br /> of the environmental problems that might result from our operations, and being aware of how <br /> our operations might negatively affect and disrupt the lives of our residential neighbors, we do <br /> everything possible to mitigate the damages that we might cause to the environment and to <br /> people. <br /> Page 1 of 3 <br />