Agenda - 04-19-1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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M • 2 community parks. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS Chair Shirley E. Marshall read a statement from the League of Women Voters. This statement is made a part of these minutes and is printed below: "The League of Women Voters of Chapel Hill/Carrboro commends the Board of County Commissioners for their support of long-range planning for parks and recreation facilities in Orange County. Orange County has been very fortunate to have residents who were good stewards of the land. However, with changing patterns in agriculture, this loyal stewardship will, in some areas, slip out of local hands. In view of the rapid development brought about by the growth of the Research Triangle Park and stimulated further by the extension of 1-40 through Orange County, it is crucial for the future of this area that resource management decisions be addressed now. These decisions should include identification and regulation of areas impacted by expected public and private investment and acquisition of land for public use, through donation or purchase. The League believes that the County Commissioners are promoting public understanding and participation in this planning effort. Citizens were given the opportunity to express their views and desires at township meetings. Citizen' s input continues to be encouraged at public hearings such as tonight' s The League of Women Voters of Chapel Hill/Carrboro supports the goal set forth in the Master Park Plan: "To provide the citizens, elected officials and staff of Orange County a 20 year course of action that adequately addresses the needs of all citizens within the community regardless of age, sex, race, handicap or income, and provides economically attainable timetable for acquiring, developing and administering recreation and park resources, programs and facilities. The League therefore urges the County Commissioners to adopt the Master Park Plan. " TED LATTA stated that he has come out in opposition to the Park Plan because it is being considered for the CIP bond package and he feels it is not a good idea for the county because the needs of the schools and an adequate and clean water supply outweigh the needs of the parks. He is not saying drop the parks. The plan can be handled through Recreation and Parks and through small appropriations to the county budget without going with a bond for six million dollars to get it started. BARRY JACOBS ,Chairman of the Planning Board, explained that although the Planning Board has not voted on the Plan that they have generally worked to support it. A few recommendations that have been made include (1) that the park plan include some work with Hillsborough in an effort to preserve portions of Occoneechee Mountain and (2) those lands that are currently under County ownership that would not be flooded by a reservoir on Seven Mile Creek be designated due to their unique natural characteristics. They encourage that passive and active recreation be part of the plan. He presented statistics contained in a newspaper article which points out that the responsibility for developing parks and recreation in North Carolina is at the County level and not the State as is the case in other states. JEAN FORREST asked what would happen if a person does not want to sell their land for a park when a site becomes definite. Chair Marshall stated that a site would not become definite if a person did not want to sell their land. No one will be forced to sell their land for a park.