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16 <br /> 1 they see a water tower—either a blue one on the right, or a white one on the left..... and they <br /> 2 think "oh, this is Orange County, NC... it's cute" and then they see it.... A food swamp right off <br /> 3 the exit. Then they exit 40, drive north and a mile later they run into a second food swamp. Is <br /> 4 this how we want people to experience Hillsborough? Is this how we want people to experience <br /> 5 Orange County? <br /> 6 <br /> 7 We are sitting here today in a county building in Hillsborough. Most people who need to visit <br /> 8 these county offices where you spend so much time will be exiting on the very 1-40 exit we're <br /> 9 speaking about, and will be immediately greeted by the result of the decisions you make about <br /> 10 this land. Do you want a food swamp to be people's first impression of Orange County? ! <br /> 11 certainly don't. Unfortunate decisions were made in the past that resulted in one food swamp off <br /> 12 of 85.... Let's not allow that to happen again off of 1-40. <br /> 13 Thank you. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Franklin Garland said he has the largest truffle orchard in the country, and his property is <br /> 16 adjacent to District 1, which will directly impact his business. He said his business brings a <br /> 17 great deal of agritourism to the County. He said he received two different conflicting notices <br /> 18 from the planning department; one stating he is impacted by the development, and the other <br /> 19 stating he is not. He said this is a poor location, and he is against this project. <br /> 20 Sherry Appel said she formerly worked on planning issues in Maryland. She said if done <br /> 21 right, this may work; but if not, it may be a potential development disaster. She said it would be <br /> 22 a far better project if the tenants were known, and piecemeal development is not a good idea. <br /> 23 Simona Dunn said she is not supportive of any development at this time with this project, <br /> 24 and agreed with many of the other speakers. <br /> 25 Kevin Nicholson said he is against this project because it is within a mile of his family <br /> 26 farm, and he is concerned how it will affect his farm status and his neighborhood. <br /> 27 Bud Shelton said he served in the Navy in the 1950s, and moved to North Carolina <br /> 28 thereafter. He said it is important to consider the pristine area in which we live, but to also <br /> 29 consider the employment needs of future generations. He said to carve out the good and <br /> 30 eliminate the bad. <br /> 31 Dave Skanga said he is a homeowner in the Cornwallis Hills neighborhood. He said it is <br /> 32 understood that development of some sort is going to happen, but this proposed project is a raw <br /> 33 deal. He said he is against the project, and asked the BOCC not to act hastily. <br /> 34 Commissioner Jacobs asked about the digging of the water and sewer at end of Davis <br /> 35 Road. <br /> 36 Michael Harvey said that is an emergency water line, and is independent of this project. <br /> 37 Jim Parker, Developer, said he is representing Old 86 Partners, and he has heard from <br /> 38 residents tonight, and at other meetings, about their concerns. He said he has lived in this area <br /> 39 for 35 years, and has supported the desires and direction of both the Town and the County. He <br /> 40 said they are here because of 1-40, and because the County adopted the three EDDs years ago <br /> 41 when this road was created. He commended the Planning Department for its thorough, fair and <br /> 42 neutral efforts. <br /> 43 Jim Parker said they have responded to what the EDD asked for, which are the same <br /> 44 uses that were in the land use plan to begin with, or were added by the elected bodies. He said <br /> 45 this is not a rushed project. His company became aware of one parcel of land four years ago, <br /> 46 and since that time they have been working with landowners to assemble the 274 acres. He <br /> 47 said they have put together the third part of the puzzle, which is site ready development. He <br /> 48 said site ready development requires good transportation; utilities; and a mass of property that <br /> 49 will attract tenants. <br /> 50 Jim Parker said, if approved, this opportunity could attract some large economic <br /> 51 development users, with an optimistic $6 million tax benefit to the County. He said $3 million <br /> 52 would not be bad either, and property taxes may not go down, but would likely level out. He <br /> 53 said there is no desire to compete with Daniel Boone or downtown Hillsborough. He said this is <br /> 54 an interstate development. <br />