Agenda - 02-23-1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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18 sympathize with the current government's need to try to reach out for some more property. He did not feel it is appropriate to use the method of swap to do this. He felt that if the Amberly project is approved, it will set a precedent that the County will not be able to overcome. It will allow development to come in and affect adjoining property values and cause land value to be reduced as density is increased. He felt any project proposed for the watershed should be kept under a moratorium until the watershed study is completed. He expressed the desire that OWASA take a more protective stance in terms of being the real advocate for water and not a land swap. Mr. Dan Okun encouraged water management. He noted that develop- ment will be taking place but asked that it not be allowed to take place in the watershed. University Lake Watershed is not only supplying water for Chapel Hill but will be a water supply for the entire southeastern region of Orange County. The only way to protect the watershed is to prevent development in the watershed. He urged that a good example be set as a portion of Chatham County is also in the University Lake watershed. Mr. David Lange stated he is a Calvander resident and opposes the land swap. He noted that everyone who spoke has been in favor of protection of the watershed. He indicated also that he could understand that Carrboro has a legitimate interest in expanding. He expressed the feeling that there is a lack of a principal argument in favor of the swap itself. He noted that the linkage between these two propositions does not depend on any principled argument advanced thus far by anyone. He noted that the linkage seemed to be grounded in political expediency, and he submitted that this is insufficient to justify the swap which is proposed. He asked for a reasonable affirmative base for the swap rather than political expediency. Ms. Helene Ivey encouraged watershed protection and suggested a County-wide bond issue to buy property for development. Mr. Larry Reed expressed concern with the location of this public hearing in view of the fact that the majority of the citizens affected would be nearer Chapel Hill High School as a meeting place. He spoke in favor of joint planning but strongly opposed the proposed land swap. He inquired why the County could not maintain extraterritorial jurisdiction over the area and give Carrboro the right of courtesy review. He noted that the swap would create "taxation without representation" . He indicated he felt the swap goes against the Joint Planning Agreement. Mr. Skip Mendler stated that the watershed needed to preserved at all costs. He expressed the concern that Carrboro has no direction in which to grow. He felt that Calvander, Carrboro and all the surrounding areas have interdependent relationships that must be preserved. Future focus-the need to plan far ahead-is a fact. Perhaps it is not true that large urban development will continue to occur. He encouraged communi cation and cooperation for joint planning affects everyone, not just Calvander and Carrboro.