Agenda - 09-06-2012 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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65 1 "On behalf of?? Crabtree Home Building, we would like to express our concerns 2 regarding the proposed zoning change along Old NC 10 and Orange County. Several years 3 ago, we chose to develop a small community that would complement the current character of 4 Old NC 10 and would be important to the long-term land use plan and current zoning. The 5 neighborhood is called Weldon Ridge and consists of nine homes, each built on one-acre lots. 6 Those would purchased property in our neighborhood did so because they wished to live in a 7 rural Orange County neighborhood. The proposed zoning changes, which would allow 8 numerous enterprises to be established on this rural residential road are simply not consistent 9 with the character of Old NC 10 and will significantly compromise the charm and appeal of this 10 part of the County. As a homebuilder, we chose this area in part because of the current zoning 11 and long-term land use plan. If non-residential entities are allowed to be mixed among homes 12 along this road, this will seriously compromise home values and severely diminish the desire for 13 future homebuyers to purchase properties in this part of the County. 14 I would strongly suggest that the County Commissioners, in conjunction with the 15 Planning Board, retain the current long-term land use plan and current zoning for Old NC 10. 16 Sincerely, 17 Gail Crabtree" 18 Jon Arvik is a retired research scientist and a resident of Weldon Ridge. He said that he 19 and his wife hope this is their final home in rural Orange County. He said that this zoning 20 change will cause significant noise and air pollution. He said that the last 30 years of his career 21 included growth studies in urban, suburban, and rural areas, as well as environmental 22 management. This experience has led him to express his concerns. His primary concern is the 23 EDE-2 zoning. The commercial operations that will be permitted here will result in high rates of 24 particulate, which cause increases in cardiac and respiratory diseases. He is also concerned 25 about traffic, which could triple or quadruple. 26 Ray Hackney lives in Weldon Ridge. He said that he is concerned about the safety of 27 their children. In the neighborhood, there are seven children under the age of 8 and more on 28 the way. The proposed rezoning would bring businesses that could present some hazards for 29 their children. He urged the Board to reconsider these changes. 30 Chris Kelsey lives along Old NC 10. He spoke to Amendment#3. He said that this is a 31 beautiful, quiet, historic, rural residential road. He said that Craig Benedict has indicated that it 32 has been proposed by the Planning Department to retain the rural residential zoning along this 33 road. He wholeheartedly agreed with this decision. However, it is still proposed to change the 34 land use classification along Old NC 10 to EDE-2, which allows a number of non-residential 35 enterprises. This inconsistency will lead to future tension and discord. Furthermore, the 36 Durham long-term plan calls for the same area in yellow to be residential. This is a discrepancy 37 between the zoning, the land use plan, and Orange County's plan and the City of Durham's 38 plan. He said that EDE-1 would allow government, real estate, banking, and other commercial 39 enterprises to be added haphazardly among rural residential neighbors. 40 Christi Kelsey is a stay-at-home mom and she lives in Weldon Ridge. She has three of 41 the seven children mentioned before. She spoke against the zoning change in this rural 42 residential area. She said that she grew up in the city where she could easily walk to 43 commercial industry and she did not feel safe. She said that she moved to Orange County to 44 get away from this.