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68 <br /> 1 Craig Benedict said that no new residential development could happen in EDE-2. Any <br /> 2 existing residential development such as the mobile home park would be a legal non- <br /> 3 conforming use. <br /> 4 Commissioner McKee asked about the impact of the high speed rail on the crossings. <br /> 5 He asked if these crossings would be closed. <br /> 6 Craig Benedict said that he would give formal responses at a later time. <br /> 7 Commissioner Gordon reiterated that she would like to have the links to the information <br /> 8 sources and the questions asked by the citizens should be answered formally. <br /> 9 Commissioner Gordon asked about the thinking for changing the zoning in these <br /> 10 residential areas. <br /> 11 Craig Benedict said that all through the Eno Economic Development Small Area Plan <br /> 12 and going back to the mid-80's, Area 2 was designated as a commercial, non-residential node. <br /> 13 For 30 years, those two areas have been intended for non-residential activity. It was actually <br /> 14 changed so that there could be mixed uses and residential development allowed. <br /> 15 Commissioner Gordon said that it would be helpful if some alternatives to the proposed <br /> 16 zoning are given for the Planning Board and the County Commissioners to consider, along with <br /> 17 the pros and cons. <br /> 18 Commissioner Yuhasz said that everyone needs to recognize that change will occur and <br /> 19 the alternative to changing some residential areas to commercial use is to maintain exactly the <br /> 20 same kind of residential to commercial tax base that the County currently has. This has been <br /> 21 damaging to the County's ability to provide the services that people want without having an <br /> 22 exceedingly high property tax rate. He said that the County is trying to get a handle on the <br /> 23 property tax rate that every resident of Orange County has to pay. In order to expand the <br /> 24 commercial tax base, the County needs to expand opportunities for commercial enterprises to <br /> 25 locate in the County. <br /> 26 Mark Marcoplos said that a couple of people mentioned that they thought the Planning <br /> 27 Board let them down a few years back and did not warn the citizens about things happening in <br /> 28 the neighborhood. He said that the Planning Board had the information when the staff brings it <br /> 29 at the appropriate time. He said that they only got this information a couple of months ago <br /> 30 before the last public hearing. <br /> 31 A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner McKee to <br /> 32 receive this proposal, refer the matter to the Planning Board to return to the Board of County <br /> 33 Commissioners for action by September 6, 2012 and adjourn the public hearing until September <br /> 34 6, 2012 in order to receive any written comments between now and the Planning Board <br /> 35 recommendation. <br /> 36 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 37 <br /> 38 ***************************************** <br />