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12 <br /> <br />vegetative buffer of bushes intermixed with trees (as proposed) may lessen the daytime visual <br />impact of warehouses, but what about nighttime light pollution? In addition, a short vegetative <br />buffer will in no way lessen the aural impact that this development and the now-exposed highway <br />will have on these residents. In sum, it will permanently diminish the quality of life that our <br />community currently enjoys. <br /> <br />The proposed development of Districts II and III (albeit III has been delayed) will also assault the <br />senses with a landscape stripped of trees and thus will increase the visual and aural pollution that <br />will result from doing so. As previously mentioned, vegetative buffers do not a “sound-blocking <br />forest” make, nor will they acceptably mitigate the unwanted sights and sounds from I-40 that will <br />result from these actions. <br /> <br />The proposals for Districts II and III make no mention of the privately-owned properties that have <br />not yet been purchased by the proposed development. These properties, which can be clearly <br />identified on the development maps, will become completely isolated, and they will either be <br />orphaned as their surroundings are up-zoned and developed beyond recognition, or their owners <br />will be forced to sell their homes and find residence elsewhere. Again, we have people whose <br />lives are likely to be permanently changed for the sake of a developer's anticipated profit. <br /> <br />The developers have not specified what exactly they will be bringing to our community. To me, <br />professional offices that serve the nearby hospital and thus the town of Hillsborough complement <br />our future needs. However, once the properties have been up-zoned, the possibilities are endless <br />and not all positive. <br /> <br />The town does not need more fast-food restaurants or businesses that serve only transient I-40 <br />traffic. Hillsborough already has a corridor full of such businesses. And a large-capacity hotel to <br />be placed in the middle of a rural buffer? These types of development provide only low-end jobs <br />and big profits to the franchises that will swarm these properties if given the chance, as well as <br />increased profit for the developers who will no doubt be tempted by them. This type of lease-out <br />will not serve the immediate community and only harm its current ambiance. <br /> <br />The commissioners have not fully determined what would be "defined and specific uses" of this <br />proposed development. This seems to be the only way that our community can influence or <br />control what goes into the development as it is leased. Therefore, I urge the commissioners to <br />delay rezoning of Districts II and III until a comprehensive list of desired uses is completed and <br />made public so that our community can be properly informed. <br /> <br />The requested changes in zoning assume that adequate resources, specifically water, will be <br />made available for the development. Although Hillsborough currently has adequate water <br />resources for its residents and has made provisions for recently approved projects, how much <br />water is left to provide for this proposal? And will its water needs stymie other better-planned <br />needs for Hillsborough? We do not want to choke off wiser choices in development so that <br />another fast-food restaurant or three can be erected along I-40. <br /> <br />Many of us who live in the immediate community understand that development is a part of our <br />future. However, we want wise development that will serve Hillsborough and enrich the quality of <br />life that we enjoy in Orange County, wise development that complements our anticipated needs. I <br />urge the commissioners to delay any further decisions concerning these properties until all <br />commissioners have had the time to read and deliberate on the impact of this proposal. I also <br />request that no action be taken regarding up-zoning of any property be made until more details <br />are shared about the intended uses of the development. Finally, I ask that the commissioners <br />respect the current quality of life that this community enjoys and seek no harm to befall it by their <br />actions. <br /> <br />43