Agenda - 02-16-1993 - III-F - Laserfiche WebLink

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23 .6 1 the record of this meeting by reference. He mentioned that he cannot 2 conceive of this area supporting a light rail system. He is concerned about 3 the water. The Durham pipeline was built for emergencies and the golf course 4 does not constitute an emergency. Education, not housing is the number one 5 concern in North Carolina. He feels the process should have started with 6 information on making the area urban. He feels that this property could be 7 used for an equestrian community. 8 BILL BRACEY, Conservation Chair of the Orange/Chatham Sierra Club, made 9 reference to newspaper articles stating that some have been incorrect. He 10 feels that the terms rural character and density neutral have been misused. 11 He stated that the Sierra Club did not endorse University Station. They do 12 endorse the idea of cluster development and rural villages that preserve open 13 space and facilitate mass transit and hope that appropriate zoning will be 14 put in place to allow this. He asked that the Board of County Commissioners 15 take this opportunity to aggressively pursue innovative planning options, 16 especially including transferable development rights. Strict agricultural 17 and very large lot zoning can prevent the sprawl that sewer lines, transit 18 corridors, etc. will cause if allowed. He hopes that those who oppose this 19 project will consider joining one of the conservation groups to preserve some 20 of the natural areas in the county. 21 CINDY IDOL stated that they moved to University Station Road from 22 Woodcroft because they wanted to live in the country. She is strongly 23 opposed to the proposed University Station development and particularly the 24 rezoning of that section of land which would allow for smaller lots. She 25 hopes the Board of County Commissioners listen to what the people have to say 26 and that something good comes from this. If this development goes, she hopes 27 that the best of all the knowledge the people have assimilated is put 28 together for the good of all. PATRICIA ANDREWS read a statement which 29 has been made a part of the record of this meeting by reference. She is 30 against the amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and to the creation of a 31 newly designated category of Open Space. She feels that the economic, 32 environmental, logistical and educational issues are very different than 33 they were several years ago when the University Station village was first 34 introduced. She expressed concerns about the schools and the carrying 35 capacity of the roads. She questioned what will happen to this area if the 36 venture fails. She is against any amendment or category changes or other 37 loopholes which would make it possible for urbanization to take place in this 38 area. 39 PAUL ANDREWS spoke about seven concerns. He feels that the density is 40 too high. The density bonuses are too generous. The developers have 41 proposed a golf course community, a suburban subdivision and village density 42 or three developments for the price of one. He is concerned about the 43 overcrowded roads and schools. Dense urban development leads to groundwater 44 contamination. His fifth concern is open land. University Station will not 45 preserve rural open land. Most all studies show that developments of this 46 kind are a liability to local governments. He feels that this is actually 47 two developments with a University Station North and University Station 48 South. He suggested that the county adopt a policy of not extending water 49 and sewer to rural areas. The affect has been to rejuvenate growth in urban 50 areas and preserve the rural areas. He feels that high density growth will 51 follow water and sewer. 52 BOB HALL, Director of Research for the Institute for Southern Studies,