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93 <br /> lot size. He continued that with very few <br /> exceptions, there have been no subdivisions with <br /> designated open space. <br /> Brown asked if the steep slopes and wetlands were <br /> taken out and Stancil responded no. <br /> Reid asked if that included transition areas. <br /> Stancil responded that it included everything in the <br /> County's jurisdiction. <br /> Brown stated that the exclusion of unbuildable land <br /> and the "zilch" figure do not really reflect what is <br /> being discussed. Stancil responded that the open <br /> space determined from the survey was only that <br /> designated on the plats as open space. <br /> Jobsis stated that the County residents have <br /> attended many public hearings, TAC meetings, <br /> Planning Board and Board of Commissioners' meetings <br /> and have heard presentations and discussions many <br /> times. The rural residents have indicated many, many <br /> times that they feel that they have been the <br /> preservers of the open space and do not want the <br /> people from the towns telling them that they <br /> don't know how to preserve open space and being <br /> forced to do so by the government so that the people <br /> from the towns can ride out and look at the land. <br /> They value the land and have maintained what is <br /> beautiful about it much more than those who live in <br /> towns have done. They have been out in force for <br /> many years saying that they want the minimum <br /> restrictions; that they basically believe in a <br /> beautiful countryside and they want to maintain a <br /> beautiful countryside. They do not think that the <br /> only way to do that is by cluster developments and <br /> open space as defined by the County, but, they are <br /> willing to consider that as an option not a mandate <br /> and would like to keep the percentages around 33%. <br /> Jobsis continued that the plan that came from the <br /> latest public hearing indicated that and so, the <br /> rural residents did not feel compelled to come out <br /> in force. She felt that they had spoken loud and <br /> clear and it would not be wise to assume that they <br /> have no opinion on these issues; they have a very <br /> strong opinion. <br /> Bob Strayhorn, rural resident and farmer, spoke from <br /> the audience in appreciation of the comments made by <br /> Jobsis noting that she was correct in her belief of <br /> how the rural community felt and how it had spoken. <br /> Barrows, representing Little River Township, stated <br /> that she had heard some of the same statements as <br />