Agenda - 05-17-1994 - VII-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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MAY-10-1994 14:41 FROM ORANGE CTY COMMISSIONERS TO PLANNING 7 h 4 1 UN PUBLIC lawn W" opm I! CISIf W Columns 2 3 Michael Warner, an Orange County resident, indicated that he supports 4 the need for open space. However, the real issue is density. He opposes 5 allowing two units per acre, which would quadruple the present density 6 allowances. Re feels that this proposal would destroy the rural character of 7 orange County. He indicated that the typical density in rural Orange County 8 is approximately 7 houses per 100 acres. The density in the Town of 9 Hillsborough is 71 units per 100 acres. The Town of Chapel Hill is 147 houses 10 per 100 acres. He indicated that the current land proposal would allow up to 11 two units per acre which is 200 houses per 100 acres. If the 304 was 12 subtracted from the 100 acres it would allow 200 houses on 70 acres. He 13 suggested a proposal be adopted that requires open space and allows septic 14 systems using: the present Land Use Plan. 15 16 Robert Grill, architect and planner from Greensboro, indicated that the 17 roads in the rural portions of the county are currently underutilized. The 18 proposed development will not appreciably impact on these roads. It will 19 increase traffic, however, the roads are certainly able to handle it. There 20 will be left turn lanes added to help traffic move along. He indicated that 21 current traffic counts indicate that approx 1500 to 2000 cars a day travel on 22 Old NC 10; approximately 1000 to 1500 on New Hope Church Road; and 23 approximately 400 on University Station Road. He indicated that additional 24 traffic resulting from this development would be 3000 to 6000. They estimate 25 that 3000 of those cars will travel south on Now Rope Church Road or Hwy. 86; 26 an additional 254 would travel east on Hwy. 10; and, 154 would go west on Hwy 27 10. 28 29 Dr. Leon Lucas, with N.C. State University, addressed the issues of 30 turf grass and open space. He commented that the majority of turf grass is 31 used in hose and golf courses. Turf grass stabilizes soils, improves water 32 infiltration, removes sediment from water., and cools surrounding areas. He 33 indicated the State has established zany regulations in the use of this turf 34 grass in order to avoid sedimentation. Tests have shown that when fertilizer 35 and pesticides were applied according to best management practices, no 36 problems were detected. Turf grass is considered to be an excellent 37 biological filter system.. Re stated that he fools that well maintained golf 38 courses should be -considered as open space. 39 40 Roy Roth, an Orange County resident, spoke against this proposed 41 amendment saying that it would negatively impact 'the school system, increase 42 automobile traffic, devastate rural open space and increase the tax burden of 43 orange County residents. His comments in their entirety are in the permanent 44 agenda file in the Clerkys office. 45 46 Robert Griffin, a resident of the Town of Chapel Hill, asked that the 47 open space designation be based on long term planning rather than on the short 48 term development interest. He requested that a small group of scientifically 49 trained citizens be appointed to study this issue before any development is 50 started. 51 52 Martha Lorantos, a resident of Orange County, spoke in support of long