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AMBERLY HEARING PAGE 4 <br /> Opponents of Amberly have been called "elitists" . But , <br /> it won' t wash . Amberly is the opposite of "affordable <br /> housing" . It proposes luxury estates surrounding a polo <br /> field and "equestrian center" . It is not elitist to be <br /> concerned about water quatity. The wealthy can always buy <br /> safe water , imported or domestic . Ordinary folk are <br /> dependent on what comes out of the tap . <br /> --Development and Taxes. <br /> At least one alderman is quoted as favoring Amberly <br /> because it will increase Carrboro's tax base . But , <br /> residential development increases demand for services at a <br /> greater rate than it produces tax revenue . Where are the <br /> examples of towns which develop and lower their taxes? In <br /> NC or elsewhere? Development means higher taxes, sooner and <br /> later . <br /> I do not oppose justifiable tax increases. But , it is <br /> irresponsible to pretend that further development , Amberly <br /> and others, will not lead directly to higher taxes. <br /> --Amberly and Precedent . <br /> I 've heard some unusual views on precedent in <br /> discussing this development . I 'm told the Town Attorney was <br /> asked to discuss how approval could be granted without <br /> setting a precedent . But , what happens tonight will be <br /> (, precedent , make no mistake . It will affect how other such <br /> decisions are made by developers, officials and others. <br /> The Board has been proud that it has never rejected a <br /> request for voluntary annexation . If it annexes tonight , <br /> that record will stand. If it doesn' t , it will set the <br /> precedent that annexation decisions will be carefully <br /> weighed in the interests of all rather than being simply <br /> automatic . If it increases density in the land currently <br /> zoned one unit per two acres, it will set a precedent in the <br /> watershed that is the opposite of what is needed. And the <br /> opposite of what has been promised--consideration of lower <br /> densities. This decision will be a precedent--that is it <br /> will "go before" many others--however this Board may wish it <br /> wouldn' t . <br /> --Amberly and Joint Planning. <br /> It is unfortunate that the Amberly decision seems to <br /> hahave become tied up with the negotiations over the <br /> agreement on joint planning with our neighbors. Those talks <br /> are difficult because there are real differences over how <br /> development should proceed. The discussions have been hard <br />