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puke gniVersitg <br /> DURHAM <br /> NORTH CAROLINA <br /> 27706 <br /> SCHOOL OF FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES TELEPHONE(919)684-2421 <br /> OFFICE OF THE DUKE FOREST <br /> Comments for Joint Area Hearing April 6, 1989 <br /> • On June 29, 1988 the attached comments, prepared by the Duke Forest <br /> Advisory Committee, supported the recommendation of Orange County Planning <br /> Staff to incorporate a limited 400 foot Rural Buffer Zoning strip and a 100 <br /> foot vegetative buffer along the southern side of the Blackwood Division of <br /> the Duke Forest. The concerns expressed at that time remain important. <br /> Please note that we have always supported proper use of reasonable zoning to <br /> protect important and sensitive areas including portions of the Duke Forest. <br /> The University's objection to the proposed PID zoning of the Forest does not <br /> conflict with this position. <br /> Relative to the current proposal to remove the Rural Buffer designation <br /> and portions of the 100 loot buffer, several additional issues arise which <br /> could affect the long term viability of that portion of the Forest as an <br /> outdoor laboratory. The recent report of Duke's Land Resources Committee <br /> has classified portions of the Blackwood Division in both Class I, Permanent <br /> 1 <br /> Research Forest, and Class II, Research Project Land. Though continued use <br /> of Class II land for teaching and research purposes is likely and <br /> redesignation of this area as Class I land is possible, development <br /> pressures which will increase as the result of the removal of sections of <br /> the Rural Buffer Zoning and the limited 100 foot vegetative buffer may <br /> jeopardize continued use of this land for academic purposes. As has been <br /> stated in the past, the stability and permanence of any buffer zoning or <br /> other measure adopted to protect environmental or aesthetic considerations <br /> or to accommodate academic uses of the Duke Forest is of utmost importance. <br /> Secondly, several areas in the Blackwood Division, including Bald <br /> Mountain, Blackwood Mountain and Meadow Flats, are designated and protected <br /> as sensitive plant communities for non-manipulative research by the Forest's <br /> management plan. They have also been suggested for inclusion in the Natural <br /> Heritage Areas by the State of North Carolina, and are noted for their <br /> significance in the recent Inventory of the Natural Areas and Wildlife <br /> Habitats of Orange County. North Carolina. <br /> In addition to the often noted potential for increased recreational <br /> pressure, vandalism or intrusion by motorcycles or four-wheel drive <br /> vehicles, each of which can damage fragile habitats, let me cite one example <br /> of a specific development impact which could threaten the Meadow-Flats - -. . _ <br /> wetland ecosystem. Should either residential or commercial uses of land <br /> develop north of Eubanks Road and east of Old N.C.86 to such an extent that • <br /> the quantity and quality of run-off entering Meadow Flats change <br /> significantly, the viability of that swamp forest and its native flora and <br /> fauna could be placed in jeopardy. Similarly, it would be inappropriate for <br /> a sanitary sewer easement, designed to serve the area, to follow any route <br /> which would traverse that section of the Forest. Also, extensions of water <br /> lines and easements for electric service or road widenings which do not 1 <br />