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Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. <br />P.O. Box 12000, Raleigh, N.C. 27605 <br />DU <br />Editorial # 7172 <br />Topic: Gravel vs. houses <br />Broadcast date: Thursday, 5/24/90 <br />Tirne: 6:30 pill <br />Presented by Giles Lambertson, Editorial Director <br />Habitat. for Humanity, despite a rather pretentious name, is a <br />down-to-earth organization. It builds modest houses using <br />volunteer help and donated materials. It's an efficient labor of <br />love, a practical way to provide_ new housing for people who <br />can't afford it any other way. <br />But in Orange County, Habitat for Humanity is considered just. <br />another developer. The county planning board ruled so this week. <br />The hoard voted against let.ting the organizaLiion gravel roads <br />in its subdivision. .Against code, you know. In that subdivision, <br />7 houses already are up and 27 more are planned. But only 23 can <br />be built if money is diverted to asphalt.. <br />The ruling strikes us as short- sighted. Or course, the narrow <br />view is what planning boards usually take. They focus orâ–º arcane <br />codes and sLat.ules rather than looking- al. the bigger picture. <br />Well, a broader view is this: Habitat for Humanity is in <br />partnership with the county io provide affordable housing. if <br />p-ravelin- a surface helps that cause, it should he allowed. <br />There is nothing, after all, Lo stop the properly graded roadbed <br />from being paved later. Sometime after people are securely in <br />their new homes. <br />When the decision is reviewed next month, we hope Orange <br />County's comrnissioners see it this way. <br />Dissenting opinion is welcome. Please give name, address and permission for your opinion and name to be <br />used on the air. Respond to the address listed above or call Giles Lambertson at (919) 821- 8730. <br />