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. • <br /> U0781 <br /> JUJ <br /> Members of the pbbnning Board and County Commissioners, <br /> My name is Eric Schopler. I want to make a atatement to this group <br /> from two points of view: First from the perspective of a resident of Bingham <br /> Township for the past 11 yrs; and second as a memIter of the faculty of the <br /> LING Medical School in CHapel Hill who uses the medical school flying facilities <br /> at Horace Williams and at RDU7-I-would like- to explain why-the proposed airport <br /> and it's industrial development goes against the best interests of botH <br /> Bingham Township and the aviation needs of CHapel Hill and Orange County, <br /> For Bingham Township the creation of the proposed airport and industrial <br /> concentration would completely and irrevocably alter the agricultural and <br /> residential nature of the Township for which it's now zoned. The office,warehouse, <br /> and Motel complex would stimulate further spin-off of development which would <br /> substantially overburden Highway 54 and the use for which it was just recetnly <br /> rebuilt. THose of us who live in Bingham recall how long it took to widen this <br /> road just 10 yrs ago, and how costly that was to the tax payer. The proposed <br /> , <br /> complex would require further widening of 54 at a much higher cost, unnecessary <br /> if the airport was located near an existing mass transportation through-fare. <br /> In addition, such a development could not be provided with adequate <br /> fire and police protection from the present volunteer fire department and <br /> understaffed Sherriff's Office. The industrial use and development would also <br /> impose an encroachment on the Cane Creek and University Lake watershed. <br /> The proposed airport complex is equally unOsatisfactory from the perspective. <br /> of Chapel Hill. It has become clear that the growth of Chapel Hill requires that the <br /> heavy aviation use of Horace Williams be transferred to another site. It is equally <br /> obvious that both C H apel Hill and the County will need a feeder airport to <br /> RDU, one that will meet FAA standards for a commerical airport, including <br /> facilities for instrument landing, adequate mass transit access, and be <br /> located where it will enhance existing industrial development.The Buck Mountain <br /> airport will meet none of these needs, while laying heavy, unnecessary additional <br /> burdens on the tax payer, <br /> • <br />