Agenda - 05-02-1994-IX-I - Laserfiche WebLink

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r` LETTERS TO FCRUM That Rolland, PAGE 4 Nobody says it like Rolland Wrenn. THE CHAPEL HILL HERALD THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1994 She could be a comedian, with her ability and wit to make people laugh, EDITORIAL _ or maybe she could be a politician (an honest one). She has a true knowledge of what government is all about, more importantly,just what it should Put water first be about! I know — she could be a "stand-up politician!" We all know most politi- Orange County should hold tight on new watershed regulations. A proposal for off-site cians are just a big joke anyway. But, septic easements would only allow more development — and potential pollution — near drinking- whatever. water supplies. When it comes to protecting drinking water, the The only problem is that county officials now think Health-care plan requin public can either pay now or later. The Carrboro they rushed through the changes, which including We're with Harry and Louise on aldermen's recommendation this week that the county zoning Orange County's last two unzoned townships, Hillary's Health Security Act. Some- commissioners resist tinkering ith the county's new body has to explain her awesomely g Y' Little River and Cedar Grove. watershed regulations is right on the money. complicated plan, with wildly In addition to the amendment allowing off-site septic unreal- istic costs to freedom and purse. At issue is an amendment to allow off-site septic P easements, the county also wants to reduce setbacks, After reading Elizabeth Mc- � easements in all Orange County watersheds except permitting septic systems and structures closer to water Caughey's searing article in the New University Lake. In the short term, that means property supplies than now allowed. Republic (2/7/99) the only conclusion owners whose land did not perk would be allo%ved to While we support emergency-case easements for to be drawn is: Only a couple of flow- buy the rights to drain their sewage onto a neighbor's property owners with failing systems— and indeed even er children from the '60s, with Yale ` property. In the long run, it means more houses being law degrees, and plenty of hubris, built near water supplies than might otherwise be supported the extension of water and sewer into the PP 1; would have the arrogance to want to possible. rural buffer to help the Piney Mountain neighborhood — force us to make huge sacrifices and Opponents concede no one's talking about subdivisions allowing such easements throughout the watersheds give government absolute control t in the watersheds. But the proposed amendments remain seems unnecessary. t over our lives. troubling because they seem to backtrack on protecting County staff argue that there would be relatively few It's government bureaucrats — not s the community's most important resource. such easements and that the proposed amendments the consumer, who will decide who r The surest method of maintaining water quality, would provide the flexibility needed to encourage cluster gets care, when and by which doctor. s unfortunately, is also the most expensive. A government developments. The latter is a worthwhile goal and one Clinton/Gore claim "government is this paper has supported in connection with open space. broken" and say they intend to "rein- 1 simply buys the reservoir and all the land that drains vent it."They believe we won't notice into it, thus preventing the kind of development whose But even the most progressive development schemes that we are being old to sacrifice our a runoff— from cars, lawns and other uses— threatens must take a back seat to protecting the quality of a g f P g q y freedoms, as health care is turned 2 water quality. community's drinking water. In addition to the over to our broken government. t; Short of that, governments protect water supplies aldermen, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority also Congress sensibly exempted them c through zoning. The watershed ordinance that the opposes the amendments. selves and federal workers from Hill- H county commissioners adopted last year does that by The commissioners took an important stand for ary's monstrosity! Ask Rep. Price if he I, limiting development near water supplies and the protecting drinking-water quality when they adopted the thinks individuals should be pros- s, streams that feed into them. new regulations. They should leave them alone. ecuted for the crime of seeking better h