Agenda - 12-03-2018 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 2 Commissioner Marcoplos arrived at 7:14 p.m. 3 4 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda 5 Eugene Casale said the residents of the Northwoods neighborhood are aware that the 6 North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) wants to run Eubanks Road through 7 their neighborhood, and he is representing himself and his neighbors, who are shocked and 8 opposed to DOT's plan. He said there is great concern about the loss of houses, effect on 9 property values, effects on wells and septic systems, the increase in noise and air pollution, and 10 the loss of overall safety. He said the residents are interested in finding an alternate solution to 11 the problem that DOT thinks it has, while preserving the neighborhood to the greatest extent 12 possible. He said the neighborhood is in an extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), and is seeking 13 support from the County on how to navigate these issues moving forward. He said the 14 neighbors would like to be included in future discussions regarding this item. 15 Natasha Elliot distributed a handout, and said she is the Executive Director of the 16 Central Piedmont Community Action (CPCA). She reviewed the handout, which covered areas 17 of success in providing services in Orange County, such as weatherization and heating and air 18 replacement services for low-income residents. She said the organization is in need of board 19 membership from Orange County, including a low-income individual and a private industry 20 individual. 21 Sheryl Andrews said she is the CPCA Community Block Grant Program Director, and 22 she described the services they provide and the successes of their program. 23 John Hollingworth said he is a Northwood's resident, and is opposed to the DOT 24 proposed widening of 1-40, which will affect their neighborhood. He petitioned the Board of 25 County Commissioners (BOCC) to put this on its agendas going forward and to make it a 26 priority. 27 Waddy Davis said he is a resident of the Northwoods neighborhood, and appealed to 28 the Board of County Commissioners that this item be added to the future discussion of the 1-40 29 widening project. 30 Eric Broo said he is a resident of Northwood's neighborhood, and this proposed project 31 took them by surprise. He said DOT usually comes with more than one option, and the 32 neighbors want to know what the other options are. He said it is not clear what is going to 33 happen, and this proposal is expensive and destructive. He said the neighbors are concerned 34 about the wells and septic systems, but they want to work with the DOT to find a more suitable 35 solution. He said the community will be significantly affected. 36 Chair Dorosin said the Board hears and shares these concerns, and the Board 37 understands that being in the ETJ is a hybrid area and the Board appreciates the neighbors 38 coming out. He said the Board will make sure the neighborhood is informed and included. 39 Commissioner Price asked if the date of the next DOT meeting is known. 40 Commissioner Marcoplos said the meeting was scheduled, but it was the day the 41 Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) water main broke. He said the meeting was 42 postponed until after the holidays. 43 Commissioner Marcoplos said DOT did not have as much information as it should have 44 at the meeting, which was cut short. He asked if Orange County staff would work to help fill in 45 the gaps and share with DOT and the neighborhood, so that DOT comes more prepared next 46 time. 47 Bonnie Hammersley said staff reached out to DOT, but has not heard back. 48 Commissioner Jacobs said he called the DOT board member about this situation last 49 week, noting how unsatisfactory the process had been thus far. He said the DOT member 50 agreed, and promised to make phone calls to improve the process.