Agenda - 11-01-1993 - VIII-A - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

a.( LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 111 OF CHAPEL HILL/CARRBORO,NC P.O. Box 3397 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27515-3397 August 23, 1993 STATEMENT BY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CHAPEL Hill/CARRBORO TO ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC HEARING ON ZONING AND WATER SUPPLY WATERSHED PROTECTION ORDINANCE TO PROTECT ALL, OR A PART OF, 10 WATERSHEDS. The League of Women Voters of Chapel Hi11/Carrboro is in favor of the proposed zoning and watershed standards. We support the watershed standards being in- corporated into the Orange County Zoning Ordinance because they involve restric- tions pertaining to lot size, land use, and impervious surface coverage. Orange County has had a long history of protection of its water supplies and had one of the earliest Watershed Ordinances in 1981 and has updated it several times since then. Citizens of Orange County have taken the responsibility to having good water and its protection. Citizens have also believed in conservation, particularly when it was caused by drought times. Orange County lies at the headwaters of two rivers of North Carolina so that means we may expect low flow at times. Conservation habits should be a part of water usage patterns which could save money in the long run. Both Conservation and Protection of Water Supplies save money for citizens. The League of Women Voters of NC worked for the passage of the 1989 Water Supply Watershed Protection Act and for Water Supply protection across the state. The organization believes good protected water is in the best interests of public health for the citizens of this state and that government has that responsibiity. It is time for Cedar Grove and Little River Townships to be zoned even though they are mostly agricultural residential. This can also give citizens an opportunity to express their opinions when undesirable uses such as mining or gravel pits apply for permits closeby. It so happens that the vast majority of Cedar Grove and all of Little River Township are located in protected watersheds. Our position statement is "support for stringent controls to protect the quality of current and potential drinking-water supplies, including protection of water- sheds for surface supplies and of recharge areas for groundwater". We believe that the Protected Watershed Overlay Districts set of regulations will prevent and reduce pollution from future development by runoff that would enter drinking water supplies. We urge the County Commissioners to pass these proposed amendments to Orange County Zoning Ordinance. Signed: •