Agenda - 05-02-1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 even the next fifty years. Without a plan, the County will not be a very attractive place and people will not want to come to a place without green space and recreational facilities. She noted that there are a lot of people who have been silent before who have not spoken out and that she represented many people who have not come to the public hearings but who strongly support the plan and she thinks it is an excellent plan. GEORGE CHOCKLEY from Cedar Grove Township stated he is not against recreation, swimming pools or any form of recreation but is against the master plan for rural Orange County. He stated that rural Orange County is going to be developed in the next fifteen to twenty years but the plan, if approved, will be implemented as soon as feasible which will throw the burden of cost on a sparsely populated rural Orange County. He suggested waiting until the area becomes more populated to implement the plan because there will be a base to draw from. JAMES R. SMITH spoke in opposition to the entire Master Plan. He is not opposed to the idea of swimming pools or parks and swimming pools in the schools. He emphasized that although the Master Plan has been studied, very little attention has been given to the details of the plan. He noted that when the plan is evaluated using a set of criteria that it fails in the technical and pragmatic approach, cost analysis and organization and management. Assumptions were made that determined the numerous contributing factors which influenced the needs and are neither stated or discussed. There is no supportive data or discussion of utilization rates or current or proposed facilities. Alternative approaches, if any were considered, are not discussed in the plan. He asked that the Board study the Plan before accepting it. CAROL RIGGS submitted a petition with 531 signatures. The petition read as follows: "We the undersigned taxpayers of Orange County N.C. hereby petition the Orange County Board of Commissioners to dispose of the proposed Parks and Recreation Greenway program which is totally unacceptable. The Greenway plan is too expensive and invades the rights of land owners in Orange County. We the people of Orange County demand that the elected Commissioners condemn the proposed Greenway plan immediately before any further tax dollars are wasted. " MINERVA KENYON , member of the Tree Board, spoke in support of designated and managed places for recreation space. Parks have trees and they are important to the whole community. TERESA LOCKLEAR read a statement which asked the Commissioners what the basis of their assumption was that gave them the power and authority to tell the people how they can and cannot use their property. LAURENCE GIRRARD talked about land that had been in the family for generations. He expressed concern about the proposed community park in the Caldwell area and noted that the circle on the map landed on 140 acres of Miller property. He stated that the money could be used for better things in Orange County. He is opposed to the Plan. He distributed a copy of his statements to the Board Members. BEN LLOYD stated he does not oppose parks or swimming pools and that the decision to delete the greenways was a good decision. He made reference to the tax rate and noted that the schools have dire needs. He stated that the County cannot afford to spend money at this particular time on parks and recreation. He made reference to a contract to put sewage to his house and indicated that this line should be run before money is spent on parks and swimming pools. He is against the plan at this time but will support it when and if the time comes that Orange County can afford it. HERVEY MCGIVEN spoke in support of the Master Plan. He feels it is a farsighted effort by the County to address the needs that will exist in the future. He also supports the flexibility provided in the plan for implementing certain aspects of the plan. The plan should go to referendum