Agenda - 08-24-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4019 Stonercreek Rd. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 September 24; 1992 Mr. Donald Willhoit Orange County Board of Commissioners P.O.Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Mr. Willhoit: I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of Orange County, about the proposed change in the rural character of the area southeast of the Town of Hillsborough, and the potential development of this land into a densely populated island of uncertain growth and impact within Orange county. This area is now commonly know as the University Station development. I am opposed to the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the land use plan - which could result in the University Station (CP- 1--92) development - which was discussed at the August 24, 1992 public hearing. I am particularly opposed to a plan which is being driven in order to meet deadlines imposed by owners of land options. I strongly request that the Orange County Board of Commissioners maintain this area as R -1 Rural Residential, Agricultural Use, & Resource Conservation and that this area not be considered for designation as Ten -Year Transition, and hence projected for change from rural to urban. To me, the latter would provide a blank check for undesirable, high - density development. Once this change is made, many undesirable actions could ensue - leading.to an eventual annexation of the area into the town of Hillsborough, which to me, is a very undesirable eventuality! I recognize that the development plan proposed as University Station by the Kenan Amerivest Cogswell Group is only a proposal at this time, and that a definitive plan would have to be presented later along with a rezoning request - possibly in November, 1992. However, I feel that any action taken in the near future to change the rural character of this land will open the door to many, even unknown possibilities. Not even considering what these unknown, future possibilities may be, I do want to comment on the plan as presented at the August 24 hearing. I find it unacceptable for the following reasons: 1. TRAFFIC: Mr Cogswell paints the picture of University Station as a serene community with residents staying within the village, and commuters using bus or train transportation to get to work. Nothing could be further from the truth. The plan calls for 1326 units, with a mixture of apartments, condos and single houses. (Remarkedly, the plan keeps changing, is seems, depending upon what can be tolerated.) With each of the now proposed 1326 units having one to two automobiles, the development will have something like 2000 vehicles. As one speaker noted during the hearing, there are essentially three exits /entrances from /to the development: University Station Road, Old NC 10 or New Hope Church Road. The latter would be the primary access to Rt86 & I -40, leading to Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Park or Raleigh, and is our main concern. Assuming 60% of these vehicles would use the New Hope Church route, and they would be leaving /entering during a 2 -hour commuting period, e.g. 7--9 in the morning, a straight forward calculation shows that there would be one vehicle passing stoneycreek Rd. - or the new school - about every 6 seconds! I have a difficult time entering New Hope Church Rd. today from stoneycreek Rd. because of a severe curve in the road which limits the visibility to 50 -75 feet! This potential increase in commuter traffic - along with trucks going to & from the "village ", and golfers to & from the new golf course -- will make the traffic situation impossible and extremely dangerous. Please come and visit the site and make your own conclusions. Please consider this substantial increase in traffic - carefully!