Orange County NC Website
12 <br /> required to put in plants which would have to be removed if <br /> the proposed greenway was approved. He noted that while the <br /> taxpayers of Orange County recognize the need for public <br /> facilities and the upgrading of those facilities, they do not <br /> feel that the needs and wants of rural Orange County have <br /> been fairly represented by the Planning Department nor the <br /> Recreation Department. He expressed concern with the cost of <br /> the preparation of the Plan and noted that at the <br /> informational meeting held in Cedar Grove that all those in <br /> attendance unanimously agreed that all proposals within the <br /> Plan should be dropped. He continued expressing the concerns <br /> of the rural community of Cedar Grove such as funding, <br /> individual landowner liability, property damage and the <br /> feeling that the rural property owners are being treated <br /> unfairly by the Board. He concluded asking that the rights <br /> of property owners in rural Orange County be protected. <br /> Chair Marshall asked that the Recreation Director consider <br /> seeking a wider representation on the Recreation & Parks <br /> Advisory Board perhaps similar to that of the Township <br /> Advisory Councils . <br /> Barbara Burger expressed concern that the public seek help <br /> from the Commissioners in the stewardship of land in Orange <br /> County. She indicated she felt that now is the time to <br /> implement the Master Recreation and Parks Plan in order to <br /> safeguard the rural landscape. She urged the Board to accept <br /> and approve the Plan. <br /> Tim Blake, resident of Bingham Township, asked how the total <br /> acreage for parks and greenways compares with the State <br /> average of park allocation per citizen. He indicated he felt <br /> there was no need for a district park and greenways in <br /> Bingham Township and listed those parks (Carrboro Community <br /> Park, Jordan Lake, Kerr Lake, Falls Impoundment) already in <br /> place. He felt the majority of the users would not be Orange <br /> County tax payers. He indicated that he felt there would be <br /> very little donation of land and no help from civic <br /> organizations in maintaining the greenways. He expressed <br /> concern with property damage and the idea of a state-wide <br /> greenway linking the mountains to the ocean. He asked that <br /> careful consideration be given to this aspect and that all <br /> landowners be treated fairly in the deliberations. <br /> Gene Williams, resident of Bingham Township, White Cross <br /> Community, stated that all of the residents of the White <br /> Cross Community are totally opposed to the greenways system <br /> being proposed. He asked why the citizens of Orange County <br /> had not been sufficiently informed of the proposed greenways <br /> system. Chair Marshall responded that it is very difficult, <br /> no matter how much it is advertised in local newspapers and <br />