Minutes 05-27-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Pete Hallenbeck: Ok, thank you, Mr. Rooks. Is there additional evidence that you would like to enter? David Rooks: There is. Michael Harvey: Mr. Chairman, before we continue, may I ask anyone coming to speak obviously speak directly into the microphone as humanly possible so that we can insure the recording picks up everything. Pete Hallenbeck: Very good, thank you. Alright, well Mr. Rooks, I know everybody's got questions. I know people would like to talk, but I think it would make sense to get all the information out there first. So if you would like to present any evidence, please go ahead and do so now. David Rooks: What we have done is—the neighborhood opponents have sort of organized, and I'm trying to organize that organization and present it to the—to the board in the most expeditious way possible. I would first of all ask that, of the folks in the audience who are— live in the adjoining neighborhood who are not planning to speak, but are nonetheless opposed to the project, would you please stand. Mr. Chairman and Mr. Chairman and council, I tender all of these folks to be cross examined as opponents to the project. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, at this point we are going to start with our first witness, who is a resident— Bob Cantwell. He is going to make a presentation: and then after that we are going to have two expert appraisers testify; and then following that, we are going to have a group of residents come and testify to you, summarizing their views. So we will at this point call Mr. Cantwell. And I ask that he confirm that he is — his name and that he has been sworn. Robert Cantwell: My name is Robert Cantwell, I have been duly sworn in. Nice to see you all. The speaker provided 3 printed appraisals and read the following statement: Statement to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, May 27, 2014. My name is Robert (Bob) Cantwell. My wife Lydia Wegman and I live at 5704 Cascade Drive, where we have been for twenty-three and a half years. Our property is immediately contiguous with the proposed solar development, which, should it be approved, will be almost literally in our back yard. I am a supporter of solar energy. I accept the principle that landowners have the right to use what they own and to prosper from it. But the exercise of that right will likely affect the health, wealth, and well being of everyone nearby in one way or another. That's why we're here. We live in many environments, local and global; reverence for one implies reverence for the other. Consistency does not require that we accept an installation which jeopardizes property values and quality of life, and which is grossly incompatible with the character of the neighborhood--not when there are better alternatives. In any case it will not advance the cause of solar energy to allow an Arizona company, without any feeling for life on the ground here in North Carolina, to go wherever Google Earth tells them to go. The Unified Development Ordinance of Orange County states that in order to grant a Special Use Permit, the County Commissioners must find that "the location and character of the