Agenda - 05-25-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

S. r• CHAIRMAN CAREY stated that it is the responsibility of the Commissioners and County staff to ensure that the multiple projects, specifically the Economic Development and the Rural Character Study, do merge with each other and that their goals do not conflict. MR. RON =MIN, a member of SCRAP, presented the Board of Commissioners with several petitions in opposition to the regional airport. He also stated that SCRAP and its process for "factfinding", were professional and in his opinion correct in their results. They organized committees, and consulted with the EPA, FAA, Raleigh- Durham Airport, NCDOT-Aviation Division and the Gulf-Stream Aircraft Co. All of the facts which they used were either direct quotes from the County's consultants' report or were references to quotes which were given to SCRAP from the agencies mentioned. He also mentioned the fact that the citizens did not abandon the fight after their own particular sites were eliminated. He challenged members of SCRAP to remain active in the county process now that the airport issue is dead. Orange County citizens need to be involved to protect this county. He thanked all of the people in the county for getting behind this effort. He also thanked the Commissioners for helping to educate citizens, himself included, during this process. RANDALL POYTHRESS stated that the OMNI organization that is forming is a very good idea. There are so many people who do not stay abreast of what is happening that every means possible needs to be used to keep them informed. He stated that the purpose of the OMNI organization is to promote, maintain and enhance the quality, stability and vitality of the residential neighborhoods of Orange County. To accomplish its purpose the OMNI network will research and take positions on issues affecting any member neighborhood and will collect and disseminate information to stimulate awareness and interest in those issues. Examples of such neighborhoods would be The Trails, Wildwood, The Neighborhood Alliance, Small Voices, and Cedar Grove. The network will work in a positive and cooperative way with Government officials and other public and private organizations to accomplish its goals. A neighborhood will be defined as an ongoing, private, formal and representative organization in a defined geographic area, composed of at least 40 households and accounting for at least 15% of the households in the area, the purpose of which is not inconsistent with that of the network. There will be one voting representative elected, or appointed, by the governing body of each neighborhood, as well as one alternate representative per neighborhood. These representatives will conduct all business of the network. Other persons from the neighborhoods are encouraged to serve on committees of the networks. Charter member neighborhoods will establish the by- laws of the organization. She stated there is a need to work together in this county. MR. WILLIAM HUTCHINS stated that for 30 years he lived four miles from a major reliever airport and it was not a bad place to live. The sound was not a problem and there were no accidents in the 30 years that he lived there. He indicated that he believed that the Rural Character Study was a case of the cart before the horse. The 85 - 40 Highway is going to be the major feature that, in the future, is going to make the difference. Two major interstate roads go through Orange County and he feels a major city will eventually develop where they intersect. There is a need to have a Metropolitan Plan for that future city and from that point a need to have the Rural Character Study. He believes there needs to be an airport every 20 miles from large cities so that high-tech industries will locate in that area. He suggested figuring out where we need an airport (if we do need one) and using that land for a landfill. Residents could be given notice that in the future that land would be used for an airport. This land could be zoned for business and industry.