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Durham. He suggested that maybe the group had the beginnings of a <br />consensus that there is a lower- density development that we want to <br />have in that portion of the planning area. Soldi asked if there <br />was general agreement on the desire to preserve a certain amount of <br />rural open space. <br />Verla Insko said she wanted to try to interpret what she perceived <br />Curtis Bane's position to be. Government shouldn't try to impose <br />outcomes on land owners, that land owners ought to be able to <br />develop without restrictions. Upon reflection, she said she was <br />not sure this was what Bane was saying and he said it was not. He <br />said government had already set up a process for how development is <br />to take place. He said a lot of the things required by government <br />are good. He cited schools, police, and other services that <br />enhance life and thought there should be a certain amount of <br />holding development accountable. He also felt that what the land <br />owner wants to do, especially large land owners, should be taken <br />into consideration by the government. Meg McKean said she had a <br />way of paraphrasing what Bane said and she didn't feel that his <br />position was that different from the rest of the group. What she <br />heard him say was that the land owner should get income from the <br />land, but not that the land had to be developed in a certain <br />fashion. She asked if he could get the money for the condos <br />without the condos, would that be OK with him and he indicated that <br />it would. He mentioned the current tax burden on the property <br />owner and said that future demand for schools, water and sewer, and <br />other services would have to be paid for some way.' Insko said to <br />"let land owners reap benefits" seemed to be a statement everyone <br />could agree on. "Let land owners reap benefits" and "retain <br />current character" were listed as two statements on which there <br />seemed to be group agreement. <br />Lee Rafalow said he,thought he heard Curtis Bane say earlier that <br />he wanted development. Bane said he supported development in <br />certain areas,, but also liked the open space and community park <br />ideas too. Verla Insko asked if the two statements were acceptable <br />to everyone. A short discussion on retaining character followed. <br />Insko said it'seemed to be a quality issue, i.e., people might <br />agree on the statement, but disagree on what it looks like. <br />Rafalow summed up by saying perhaps we should take small victories <br />and celebrate them since there were two statements everyone seemed <br />to agree on. A short discussion ensued with development patterns <br />and densities in North Raleigh being used as an example of how the <br />area could eventually develop without a clear vision. No one <br />wanted to see development of this type in the Stoney Creek basin <br />area. Bob Strayhorn said the challenge was to be able to achieve <br />what the group wanted to see without the land owner being required <br />to make all the contributions. <br />Bob Hall said that the dichotomy was not between North Raleigh and <br />no growth, but the perception of people on one side that their land <br />is going to be taken from them and people on the other side who <br />t <br />14 <br />