Minutes 11-17-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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My name is Greg Smith and I am a cosigner of the letter and petition you have received. My wife, Linda, and I have lived in Orange County since 1974 and have been residents of the Thunder Mountain Subdivision in Bingham Township for over three decades. During that time we raised twin daughters who grew up roaming this beautiful property learning about nature and all the intricate ecosystems found within its varied topography. In 1979, we began purchasing several tracts of land adjacent to our Thunder Mountain property. Over the years we have owned approximately 142 acres within the Cane Creek Watershed on the north side of the reservoir. In year 2000 we sold approximately 13.5 acres to Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA), and specified that the land could not be used for residential purposes with the goal of keeping that tract as undeveloped buffer land to protect Cane Creek Reservoir. It was on that land that we sighted a bobcat in the early morning mist and listened to the calls of great horned owls in the evening. That beautiful tract, with a stream and large hardwoods, shares a common corner with our land on Thunder Mountain. We support routing the MST through this property, which we used to own and sold to OWASA. I believe the OWASA property on the north side of the reservoir is an ideal route for the MST because it is one of the most beautiful undeveloped tracts left in this area of Orange County. It is rich in flora and fauna, the topography and ecosystems are varied, and the surrounding private parcels are sparsely populated. Further subdivision is limited by watershed restrictions, deed restrictions, and conservation easements. We currently own multiple tracts within the Thunder Mountain subdivision, and to the west of Thunder Mountain. As long time residents, we have grown to love all of these properties but realize that we are only stewards--someone else will own them in the future. As we have in the past, we will continue to try to make sure that the natural beauty and wildlife of these properties are conserved and protected for future generations. In March 2012, we hosted a community meeting at our home so that our neighbors could learn about the MST and a proposal to route it through OWASA property to our south. That meeting was well attended and we received positive feedback from many of our neighbors following presentations by Kate Dixon, Executive Director of the Friends of the Mountains to the Sea Trail, Rich Shaw from Orange County Parks and Recreation and others. In addition, a number of legitimate concerns were raised by some at the meeting, which we evaluated and discussed with many of our neighbors. On September 18, 2012, our neighbor, Martha Keating spoke before the BOCC in support of the MST and provided the Board with a consensus endorsement by ALL of the five owners of Thunder Mountain property whose lots adjoin OWASA property. I am providing a copy of that statement of support, which contained five caveats which I would like to re-read: "Our five households do not oppose the MST and embrace the potential of having public access to beautiful land that we have been fortunate enough to live near for many years. Our support for this proposed section of the MST is contingent upon: • The location of the trail being placed on the agreed upon alternate routes (farthest from the houses) by the residents closest to the MST. • MST being used as a footpath hike-through section (no bicycles, motorized vehicles, horses, etc.); • MST being open from dawn until dusk, with no overnight camping or fires permitted;