Orange County NC Website
page 2 <br /> a need. It does not define a problem. It does not address the <br /> myriad of serious questions and problems that should be clearly <br /> obvious to anyone attempting to develop such a proposal . It <br /> fails to address the most fundamental issues inherent in such a <br /> concept. The information presented as cost analysis, cost <br /> effectiveness, and cost benefit is either totally lacking or <br /> indefensible. In short, it would be considered unsatisfactory <br /> even if it was only an academic exercise. One would have to give <br /> it a grade of "F". Clearly it is not an academic exercise. It <br /> is a blatant attempt to gain control of all of Orange County. <br /> The most revealing section of the Master Plan is Chapter 6 which <br /> includes the fold-out maps of each township. When pieced <br /> together they tell the entire story for rural Orange County. One <br /> can see at a glance that the Greenway plan includes practically <br /> every small stream- in rural Orange County. The county would <br /> acquire a strip of land along each stream extending 50 feet from <br /> the bands on each side ( a total of 100 feet plus the width of <br /> the stream) . Recreation trails would be developed along each <br /> strip of land. The strip of land would be declared a public <br /> right of way. Rural Orange County would become an Urban Park <br /> (i .e. , a Chapel Hill Park) . <br /> The plan does not address the total miles of recreation trails <br /> depicted on the township maps. Based on a cursory glance, one <br /> would conclude that the total miles of trail is equal to or <br /> greater than the total miles of roads in the county. This <br /> suggests that those who developed the plan consider the needs in <br /> each case to be of equal priority. <br /> One can get a very crude estimate of the total miles of <br /> recreation trails by using the scale on the map, fixing the <br /> spread the of two fingers and walking the trails as shown on the <br /> map. A method equal to or more precise than the various <br /> analytical methods used in developing the Master Plan. This was <br /> done and an estimated total of 400 to 450 miles of trail was <br /> obtained. Assuming that the strip is only 100 feet wide, <br /> ignoring the width of the stream, this translates into <br /> approximately 5000 to 600:) acres of land, choice land in rural <br /> Orange County. By virtue of the distribution of the strips of <br /> land, as shown on the maps, complete control of all rural <br /> townships in Orange County would be acquired. <br /> This is indeed a large domain aver which the Recreation and Parks <br /> Department proposes to rule. Not only the land but all of the <br /> loyal subjects living within. These subiects should be nice, <br /> courteous and cooperative. They will be admonished, albeit in a <br /> benevolent way, to work hard, pay taxes on time, and be prepared <br /> to respond quickly when the Master Plan calls for new uses of the <br /> people' s land. The Master Plan provides orderly guidance in how <br /> to use ones leisure time to enjoy the serenity and beauty of the <br /> trails. The rural population will not have much opportunity to <br />