Agenda - 02-22-1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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15 Vern Miller, Little River Township, expressed concern that the citizens have not been heard; he felt if this had been the case, the subject of greenways would have been deleted from the proposal after the November, 1987 public hearing since greenways was the point of opposition at that time. Mr. Miller continued that he felt that the Plan should be tabled until such time as the budget could be brought under control where taxes would not have to be continually raised to take care of present expenditures. Josephine Barbour, Eno Township resident, expressed concern that the Eno River State Park which consists of 1200 acres in Orange County and 800 acres in Durham County, had not been listed by any of those speaking about local or area parks . She expressed concern that her family property has been under the threat of condemnation for the past fifteen years and have been through three court battles in order to preserve that family land. She stated that the land can be condemned from a health standpoint or the welfare of others . She indicated that the public meetings she had attended did not address funding and when the question regarding funding was asked, she was told that it was not being discussed. She stated that trails along the river were discussed as long ago as fifteen years and the width of those trails was thought to be fifteen to twenty feet wide. Those trails actually have to be fifty feet wide in order for rescue vehicles to be able to access them if necessary. Later on, this same linear park was to become a part of the mountain to the sea trail. Ms . Barbour expressed concern that to build the trails outside of the floodplains would include removing trees in order to provide fifty foot trails and this would not be preserving but destroying land and the habitat for wildlife. She expressed concern with security noting that in the past that police officers had told citizens to "know their neighbors" but how could one know their neighbors when the land is open to the public. She concluded with the concern of how to keep people on the greenways and away from private property. Stewart Barbour expressed concern that condemnation would take place in order to acquire land for greenways and gave the following statement from the Eno River Group to the Board of Commissioners : "Few doubt Eno River should be saved, Few think Eno can be saved, A few think a state park will save Eno River, A few think a greenway will save Eno River, A few think a mountain to sea trail will save Eno River, Many think a park, greenway, mountain to sea trail will indeed save Eno from a much needed reservoir at Cabes