Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
11 <br /> said the Planning Board recommended that target shooting occur two or fewer days per <br /> month, which may also be overly restrictive for rural areas. <br /> John Roberts said the County does not have the authority to regulate hunting and this <br /> ordinance does not regulate hunting activities. <br /> Chair McKee referred to the potential cost of signage and noted he has 168 acres and <br /> he would have to put up 400-600 signs. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if this same ordinance has been adopted in Lenoir <br /> County. <br /> John Roberts said no, only some portions of this ordinance were adopted in Lenoir <br /> County. He said the Sheriff offered the Lenoir ordinance as a reasonable model and portions <br /> of it were combined with the Planning Board's recommendations to create the document <br /> before the BOCC this evening. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs suggested returning to a model similar to the Orange County <br /> Hunting Committee, which last met in 2001. He said such a committee could bring together all <br /> stakeholders to discuss issues and proposed resolutions. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said anyone in attendance this evening interested in <br /> participating in such a committee should contact the Clerk's office. <br /> Commissioner Rich commented to the audience that it is certainly permissible to record <br /> the meeting, but noted all meetings are filmed and can be streamed from the County website, <br /> or downloaded at any time. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> Joshua Summey said he is a sixth generation of Orange County and his entire family <br /> enjoys shooting sports. He said is he surprised by this proposed ordinance, as it is onerous, <br /> intrusive and unnecessary. He said the buffer requirements are totally unreasonable. He is <br /> against the proposed ordinance. <br /> Harry Sumner said he agreed with first speaker and this ordinance should not be <br /> passed. He said he liked Commissioner Jacobs' suggestion of a hunting committee. He said <br /> he is disappointed that he only learned about this issue yesterday by happenstance, noting he <br /> does not have the Internet. He said to please notify people that are not in the digital age. He <br /> asked if this ordinance is intended to regulate noise or firearms, and, if it is the former, then <br /> firecrackers should also be listed. He said this ordinance should be dead in the water right <br /> now, until further input is offered. <br /> Heather Florio said she and her husband are new to northern Orange County and they <br /> left their home in Colorado because of such regulations, bringing their multimillion-dollar <br /> business to Orange County. <br /> Phillip Florio said they have many employees who hunt and though the proposed <br /> ordinance does not address hunting, it may end up doing just that. He said some people need <br /> to hunt their land in order to have food to eat. He said there is a lot more work to be done on <br /> this issue. <br /> Scott Jens said he is a retired police officer and he is here to talk about safety and the <br /> buffer zone. He said citizens are their own first line of defense. He referred to the buffer zone, <br /> saying he owns 8 acres, and has a berm. He said building a berm, which would comply with <br /> the proposed ordinance, would cost him $4,500 alone for the dirt and another $2,000 for the <br /> labor. He said the proposed ordinance is discrimination based on lack of income, and he does <br /> not have $6,500. He asked the BOCC to take this into account. <br /> Thomas Warren asked if there is a reason for the proposed ordinance and where he <br /> lives this is not a problem. He said the ordinance seems to be written for a commercial <br /> shooting range. He said the ordinance uses the word "or" between the items in section C, thus <br />