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A. GORDON NEVILLE <br /> 2120 GLENALDEN DRIVE EAST <br /> MEMPHIS, TN 38138 <br /> February 22, 1990 <br /> Mr. Marvin Collins, Planning Director <br /> Orange County Planning & Inspection Dept. <br /> 306F Revere Road <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> Dear Mr. Collins: <br /> As Orange County landowners (7 . 115 . . 9A) , my family and I are most <br /> concerned about the proposed new University Lake Watershed rezoning <br /> from two acre lot sizes to five acre lot sizes . <br /> The Nevilles have owned 281 acres west of Carrboro for over 200 years <br /> and even before the University was founded in 1798 . Our ancestors <br /> gave land to the original University campus . <br /> Now, the University and/or the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Board of <br /> Aldermen/City Councilmen are trying to run us entirely out of the <br /> county. It appears that they would prefer us to sell our active farms <br /> to a developer who will build high density apartments and shopping <br /> centers . Then, all that paved-over land would really have some <br /> polluted run-off plus far less green space/tree environment. <br /> This new zoning law will erode the future value of all Southern Orange <br /> County farmland and totally eliminate the incentive for young sons and <br /> daughters to return to the farms to make a living and continually <br /> provide for your natural rural buffer zone. <br /> Because we are so near Chapel Hill, we have always made our farm <br /> available for UNC students, professors and sight-seeing school <br /> children to enjoy the rural setting for picnics, outdoor parties, and <br /> just scenic beauty. Do you want to destroy these rural opportunities? <br /> This new approach of continually changing the zoning laws does not <br /> allow or encourage farm families to make long-tern investment <br /> decisions . Farmers have to plan buildings, fencing, and livestock <br /> enterprises in 30-40 year increments . These changes which occur too <br /> fast, become dictatorial ! ! <br /> Many long-term farmers have a total feeling of "helplessness" because <br /> a majority of the political decision-makers are not farmers and have a <br /> difficult time understanding the farmer' s plight and economic future. <br /> It seems that the Planning Commission is much more concerned about <br /> trying to maintain a rural look than how farmers will make a living. <br /> Numerous small farmers (under 30 acres) will not be able to provide <br /> their children with land to build on in Orange County. That ' s a sad <br />