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Approved 1/11/2016
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<br />OC Board of Adjustment – 11/9/15 Page 30 of 48
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<br />farmers. Stephanie’s from Kansas, she comes from generations of mid-western farmers. We fully understand and appreciate the 1
<br />true nature of farm life, I know we don’t think our ten acres qualifies us as farmers, we love maintaining our garden, egg laying 2
<br />chickens and flock of guinea hens and we very much value our goal of stewards of the land. We dream this would be the final 3
<br />move of our lives, we’re that happy with the area. I have an incredibly hard time understanding how we, the residents of Morrow 4
<br />Mill, are to be convinced of this proposed event barn would not only have zero negative impacts on our way of life but will 5
<br />somehow enhance our community. It’s the word I just really can’t get over, enhancing. Each and every event, as Amanda was 6
<br />saying, will introduce up to 250 strangers to our tightly knit neighborhood, 150 vehicles on our country roads, many driving at night 7
<br />after having consumed alcohol. I like to go for runs, I like to bike, sometimes we don’t get home ‘til after dark because we work so 8
<br />late when I get some exercise, the thought of so many cars and the potential danger will make us reconsider. How’s that 9
<br />enhancement? In addition, the noise levels we’ve talked about. General disorderly behavior is not something that can be avoided. 10
<br />My wife and I love to sit out on our back deck, we’ve done so with other neighbors, too. The sun goes down, enjoy the sounds of 11
<br />the forest and country surroundings we’ve worked so hard to attain. All that will be changed by this proposed project. Chirping 12
<br />crickets will be replaced by the sound of base, which I learned a lot about tonight. And the enjoyment of falling asleep with our 13
<br />windows open will be taken from us. Again, I don’t understand how that can be considered enhancement, or harmonious. If you 14
<br />spend any time at all driving through Morrow Mill area or talk with the residents there, we’re proud to call it home, you’ll quickly 15
<br />discover that this area is in no need of enhancement. It’s truly a unique and special place to live and its uniqueness will not benefit 16
<br />at all from this proposal. If anything, it will negatively and permanently change the lives of dozens of people who cherish the area 17
<br />for its rural splendor and not it’s money making potential. It’s because of all these things I’m whole heartedly against this proposal. 18
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<br />Karen Barrows: Thank you Brian. Thank you Stephanie, for coming up. 20
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<br />David Rooks: Margaret Wilkman. 22
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<br />Margaret Wilkman: Thank you, I’ve been sworn. 24
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<br />Karen Barrows: Ok. 26
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<br />Margaret Wilkman: My name is Margaret Wilkman, my sister and I bought the property on Morrow Mill Road, in August of 1999. 28
<br />We have lived there for the past 15-16 years. Never in the time we have lived there have 150 cars gone by our house at any time 29
<br />of the day or night. This would be a major change. This proposal is not in harmony with the neighborhood, it adds no value to the 30
<br />neighborhood, and it certainly doesn’t increase our well-being or the well-being of our animals. Thank you for your time and 31
<br />attention. 32
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<br />Karen Barrows: Thank you. 34
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<br />David Rooks: Elizabeth Hilborn? 36
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<br />Elizabeth Hilborn: I have been sworn in. I’m Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn. I’m a licensed veterinarian in the state of North Carolina and I 38
<br />am Board certified in preventive medicine, a public health specialty. I’ve been practicing in public health for over 20 years, I’m 39
<br />here to testify about the potential adverse effects of this venue on the neighborhoods’ public health and safety. I’d like to point out 40
<br />that this neighborhood is very unique, not only is it quiet and many neighbors have talked about this, but it’s attracted a large 41
<br />concentration of horse farmers and other domestic livestock facilities. There are over a dozen horse farms and domestic livestock 42
<br />facilities within 1 ½ miles of this proposed venue. It’s really important to understand that horses are prey animals, and they 43
<br />respond to disruptions in their environment with fight or flight responses. If they’re enclosed in stalls, or barns, they may strike out. 44
<br />If they’re out in a larger space they may run, run through fences, injuring themselves or others. Run into traffic. We had a really 45
<br />good example of the effect of environmental noise on a horse farm adjacent to this site. The horse barn included a thorough-bred. 46
<br />Now, thoroughbreds are known to be more sensitive animals, flighty. The instance that happened at the barn at Valhalla, the 47
<br />fireworks on the night of Saturday September 26th. Loud repetitive noises. The horses spooked, they raced all over the pasture 48
<br />making deep grooves in the pasture, sliding around and the thorough-bred attacked the other horse. Injuring it to the point where it 49
<br />needed medical attention. I’d like to point out this is adjacent to the facility. A sensitive horse like that could react again like that in 50
<br />the future, in that manner to loud episodic noises. Being startled by lights, other activity. Adjacent to the proposed site is also a 51
<br />domestic livestock facility. This poultry operation produces eggs for the family. It’s well established in veterinary literature that 52
<br />poultry production is decreased with environmental stress. Noise, chronic stress reduces egg laying and increases early mortality 53
<br />among the birds. I’d like to move away from the livestock itself, into the public health aspects. When horses are frightened they 54
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