Minutes 05-27-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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natural environment is part of why we have all moved here and paid a premium for our property and homes to do so. We realize that you will not be voting on this proposal tonight, but hope that when you do vote, you will reject it. There is a clear consensus in our neighborhood that this proposal should not be implemented. That is the first of my comments. My personal comments—The Falls of New Hope subdivision has existed for nearly 50 years. We first came upon it in 1971 when seeking rural Orange County property to build a home. Driving toward the New Hope Creek on Mount Sinai Road, I spotted Joe's (Joseph F. Matthews, Jr.) sign. Later that day my husband and I met him there and chiefly because he emphasized his intention to maintain the rural character of the community and the individuality of the homes as they were contracted and built, we bought land on the creek. Joe explained plans for the 9 acre "Gardens of the Falls" lying along a bend in the creek just above a natural dam and cascade. Joe wouldn't have called himself a naturalist, but he loved the creek and the quiet rural spaces and the trees and plants that grew there. He expressed that when naming the streets in the community, for example; Falls and Cascade Drives; as well as Caprea Court (goat willow or pussy willow Cedronella (Cedronella canariensis), Celastrus (Celastrus paniculatus) and Charlock, the wild field mustard that grows gold in the meadow along Cascade. As long as he lived, he worked to maintain and expand our park, creating paths bordered by azaleas, camellias, and day lilies. He placed a swing and picnic tables beside the creek for community meetings there. In the beginning, he employed the youngsters in the community to help create winding trails and plant bushes. Years ago our sons worked with him on Saturdays to build those paths and plantings, and both boys grew to love the place as much as we do. We plan to live here until they carry us away, and our estate planning includes the boys living in our house again if they want to. We are not the only retirees planning to remain here forever, relying on the neighborhood to maintain its unique character far into the future. It's important for both personal and economic reasons. Today the nine acre park is still owned and enjoyed by the association members, as designated in Joe's will. He had no wish to commercialize the park area and specified that if we failed to maintain it we would lose it. He strongly emphasized that the rural nature of the neighborhood be respected, and today's residents continue to participate in workdays and association business meetings in the spring and the fall to follow his plans. So when I learned of plans for a solar power plan for the meadow beside Cascade Drive, I referred to Google images, entering solar farm and solar array and similar terms. As I scrolled through them, the first one hundred, then two hundred and more images, it became glaringly apparent that none of them - not one -was in a residential community. There must be a reason for that. I've learned that European countries place solar collectors on every roof or flat surface, using available structures to preserve the green spaces. Friends visiting Germany confirm that. While being first can be a good thing, however, being the first residential community in the County to suffer a solar power plant intruding among its homes is definitely not one of those