Agenda - 05-24-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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umseseueseels,,.... MS. JOYCE BROWN, a resident of Orange County, spoke in opposition to a Regional Airport. She praised the efforts of citizens in joining forces and pledging to stand together. She also mentioned that the previously mentioned poll indicated that the #1 priority of Orange County citizens was to control growth and development. She asked that in considering plans for economic development the Commissioners consider that the need for expansion has limits. The citizens and Commissioners need to carefully research what the people actually want before going forward with any future plans. MR. JAMES JACKSON, a property owner in Site 11, spoke in opposition to Orange County building a regional airport. He stated that if the infrastructure was • improved, the County could attract the type of industry needed. Because the County is at the headwaters of Cane Creek, Jordan Lake and the Neuse River, they do not need to put a landfill in the county. He requested that rather than a new landfill, that there be a requirement countywide for the separation of garbage so that the county can recycle and sell the recycled waste. He stated that North Carolina is #1 in the number of individuals who live in rural, non-farm housing arrangements. For every house seen, there is another one in the woods. He suggested scraping the telephone system because of poor quality service, as well as the expense of long distance charges for almost every call. He pointed out that he purchased $60,000 worth of building materials in Burlington because calling there was not long distance and he could shop around on the phone for the best prices. MR. JAMES YANKASKAS, a resident of Orange County and member of the 1987 Orange County Issues Task Force expressed disappointment in the actions of the Commissioners in allowing themselves to be influenced by a well organized lobby group. Airports are controversial issues which bring both positive and negative affects to the communities in which they are located. By voting prematurely on the remaining site the democratic process was short-circuited. The individual citizens, which the democratic process is committed to hear, were not given an opportunity to express themselves at a Public Hearing. These citizens have been deprived the opportunity to suggest a better site, or a better way of reaching the goal of having an airport. MS. JANE MADISON, an Orange County resident, spoke in opposition to Orange County having a Regional Airport. She mentioned that she returned to Orange County to live a year ago and in that time the airport issue and the proposed Public Interest District (PID) issue have both threatened to influence the quality of her life. The PID 100 foot buffer would have included the land on which she plans to build on. MS. DIANE BLOOM addressed the issue of the Horace Williams Airport. She is a spokesperson for Citizens for Airport Planning (CAPS), which is a group of concerned citizens who regularly come together to speak out against developments concerning Horace Williams Airport. She was also a member of the Airport Task Force. CAPS feels that it is the Town Councils duty to begin dialogue with UNC to protect the interests . of the citizens. CAPS requested that the Commissioners do whatever possible to prevent any increase or expansion of Horace Williams. The University has instigated several actions, which they have labeled as maintenance actions, that will turn Horace Williams into a much busier, noisier, more dangerous airport. The lengthening of the runway to 4000 feet, which was recently approved by the governor, is one of those actions. CAPS does not believe that this is a maintenance request. It is expansion. Mr. Tom Glista of the FAA in Washington, D.C. , told members of CAPS that extending the runway to 4000 feet will shift Horace Williams from having a runway that most pilots of turbo prop jets would feel was unsafe, to one that would be a welcome site to those pilots. Mr. Glista also stated that many corporations prohibit landing their corporate jets, with CEO's on board, on runways shorter than 4000 feet, and