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15 <br /> Page 2 of 2 Matthew Edwards <br /> Orange County Planning Board (REQUIRES DISCLOSURE STATEMENT) <br /> Please list the work/volunteer experience/qualifications that would add to your expertise <br /> for this board. <br /> Other than training as an attorney, I do not have any particular qualifications. <br /> What unique perspective can you bring to the Orange County Planning Board? <br /> Sometimes the most helpful perspective to bring is one unfettered by previous experience. I do <br /> not have any preconceptions about how things should be done and I have experienced the <br /> power of this position in my work as an IP/Patent attorney. Oftentimes, because I do not have <br /> the same level of technical background as my clients, I am more willing to ask questions as I am <br /> not afraid of looking stupid . This fosters a discussion that in turn can lead to alternative paths <br /> that may not have been visited if I had known or thought I knew the answers. <br /> What do you see as the responsibilities of this board, and what do you hope to <br /> accomplish if appointed? <br /> From an outsider s perspective, it seems that the responsibility of this board is to recommend <br /> measures that will allow the county to grow and develop in a way that is in step with the general <br /> desires and beliefs of the county s residents. For example, Orange County prides itself on <br /> preserving nature, environmental concerns, etc and this board should help in the development <br /> and recommendation of plans to the BOCC that are in step with those beliefs. <br /> If appointed, I hope to contribue to the development and recommendation of just such plans, <br /> ones that balance the County s need for growth with the values that we all have as residents. <br /> What do you consider to be be the most important issues facing Orange County related <br /> to growth? <br /> I think the most important issue facing Orang County and its growth is that many, many people <br /> move to this county from our Triangle neighbors to live in a place that is more peaceful. Most of <br /> us enjoy nature and like to live in communities that are not a stonesthrow from commercial <br /> entities. The problem with this is that because we as residents tend to not like <br /> industry/commerce in our backyards, the residents have higher property taxes than the <br /> surrounding counties. I understand that the work of the Economid Development board is to try <br /> and develop our economy by increasing the commercial prescence, which will ultimately take <br /> some of the pressure off of residential property taxes. But this will be a difficult line to walk, as <br /> while no one likes to pay higher taxes, many residents also want to maintain the setting we <br /> have in Orange County. <br /> What role should the Planning Board take in guiding and regulating growth? <br /> I think that the Planning Board should keep as it s guiding principle the reasons that people <br /> choose to live in Orang County. If we all wanted to live in highly developed, commercial and <br /> industrial areas,we would live in Wake or Durham county. But we do not, and in fact, many of us <br /> have moved from those counties to escape those types of areas. I think the Planning Board <br /> needs to consider the values and desires of residents in the communities near to any proposed <br /> developments. <br /> How would you, as a member of the Planning Board, contribute to the implementation of <br /> the Board of Commissioners' adopted Goals and Priorities? <br /> Unfortunately,the linked filed is from 2009,so I do not believe the goals and priorities stated therein are the same as <br /> those for the current year. <br /> Other Comments: <br /> This application was current on: 4/7/2014 11:04:36 AM Date Printed: 4/8/2014 <br />