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point that I want to bring up is that this was a project that was initiated by you as <br /> Commissioners, along with your Economic Development staff. You've handpicked three <br /> excellent developers from Orange County, all are intimately familiar with the culture and values <br /> in this County, and we're confident that they're going to deliver a good project. The last point I <br /> want to make is that the Chamber would encourage the developers to include as many local <br /> businesses as possible in this project. We're confident that they're going to do that in <br /> conversations that we've had with them, both publicly and privately, they've expressed a similar <br /> sentiment. That's really all I have tonight, I want to thank you all for your time and <br /> consideration. On behalf of the Chamber, we ask that you would approve the rezoning of this <br /> project. <br /> Don Collins: I'm a direct property owner. I own property that directly adjoins this particular <br /> property that is under discussion at two points. I own two properties. My thing is <br /> congratulations, this thing has been years getting off the ground. I've had a sign on my property <br /> for years for lease. If I've had one call, I've had a hundred from the Winston-Salem and <br /> Greensboro area that says that this is probably one of the prime locations in the country for this <br /> type of thing. Their comment was that it's near to the interstates, so I congratulate these people <br /> for getting something rolling like that. Just go up there on Sunday morning, I used to do it, and <br /> you can't hardly get through the place. Now, maybe something will get going, and I'm for it <br /> 100%. <br /> James Carnahan: I'm a resident of Carrboro and I have been sworn. I wanted to clarify the <br /> purpose of the materials that I submitted at the previous public hearing. Those materials <br /> consisted primarily of information about the phenomena known as global warming, or climate <br /> change— a phenomenon that is a consequence of carbon dioxide emissions primarily resulting <br /> from human activity. A number of those consequences are dire. The point of submitting them is <br /> not so much that I or any of the others who have been working on this could say specifically for <br /> sure that this or that consequence is going to happen over the next ten years or in the next two <br /> generations hence, but that the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is continually <br /> accelerating, and a number of the indicators of the change in average temperature of the planet <br /> are also speeding up. The point is that, for many of us, a lot of the worse consequences that <br /> are possible given this planetary activity may not happen in my lifetime or even in the lifetime of <br /> the youngest person in this room, but that as long as we continue on the path that we're on, we <br /> are accelerating the possibility that these things will happen sooner rather than later and that we <br /> are compromising the prospects for future human beings on this planet to enjoy the quality of <br /> life that we now enjoy and would like our children to enjoy. And the fact of the matter is, at least <br /> in my opinion, none of our policy documents reflects climate change as something that gives us <br /> guidance in the kind of land use, and transportation, and economic models that we want to see <br /> in this County. And we have a three- or four-decade history in this County of a very prudent <br /> approach to development that is supported by a really strong environmental ethic. And now, <br /> what we're looking at is one of the most significant phenomena taking place now on the planet. <br /> And what that says to me is that until we've completed a carbon emissions inventory for the <br /> County and until we have set goals and until we know the kind of land use models, and <br /> transportation models, and economic models that we want, it's totally inappropriate and <br /> imprudent to approve this project. <br /> The Clerk then swore in some additional citizens that wished to speak. <br /> Joe Phelps: I just had a few comments and maybe a suggestion later. I'm not really for or <br /> against the project. One of the things that concerns me, I agree with most of the people that I <br /> think it could be a great thing for the County, but I'd want to make sure that we look at <br />