|
- - . Orange Water and Sewer Authority 3
<br /> "riE
<br /> J UR�%k IL "IL E B L
<br /> The OWASA Newsletter July - August, 2000 Volume 9, No . 3
<br /> ITUM
<br /> EXTENDED STONE QUARRY IS THE BEST
<br /> OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE WATER SUPPLY
<br /> by Peter C . Gordon , Chair of the OWASA Board of Directors
<br /> In recent months , the Orange County, Carrboro and policies to protect those lakes from pollution . With 5-acre mini-
<br /> Chapel Hill governing boards have been considering a mum lots as the primary development standard , the local wa-
<br /> crucial issue for the future of our community : what will tershed protections adopted by Orange County and the Town
<br /> be our next water source? of Carrboro are some of the best anywhere .
<br /> A safe , healthy water supply is one of the most basic needs for �To date , two of the three local governments have approved the
<br /> quality of life and public health in any community. Therefore , land use plan change which is needed for the quarry reservoir.
<br /> decisions on long -term water resources should involve intense ; Most recently, on June 29th , the Orange County Board of f
<br /> analysis and deliberations . (Commissioners approved the land use plan change . Earlier in
<br /> ,June , the Chapel Hill Town Council gave its approval .
<br /> So it is natural and right that there has been extensive public (The land use plan amendment does not lower the watershed 's
<br /> discussion of the proposal to extend the Stone Quarry as a fu - development standards , but is requested only so that the exist-
<br /> ture water source . As many citizens are aware , the extended ing quarry can be extended subject to conditions and require-
<br /> Stone Quarry/Reservoir has been under consideration for sev-eral years , having been first proposed in 1988 . ments that would be finalized in a County permit. )
<br /> We on the OWASA Board of Directors believe that the pro- The Carrboro Board of Aldermen has planned further consider-
<br /> cess of scrutiny and debate has strengthened the quarry/ I ation of the quarry- related land use plan change in August.
<br /> i reservoir plan so that it will both meet future water needs
<br /> and do so in a way that is just and fair to homeowners in the If the three boards each approve the land use plan changen , the
<br /> quarry area. Orange County Commissioners would consider a Special Use
<br /> -- .. .. .-----.--- - ---------.-----.----_ - -- - --- - - - ---...... application for the extended quarry/reservoir at a later date .
<br /> The OWASA Board considered several possible sources of Through a Special Use Permit , the quarry extension and reser-
<br /> water, but only two seem viable : using an extended stone quarry voir would be legally bound to the County's requirements and
<br /> to store excess water that would otherwise spill over the dams conditions . None of those controls could be changed without
<br /> at University Lake and the Creek Reservoir, or getting water the CouPty Commissioners ' permission .
<br /> from Jordan Lake . The best option became clear to us as we r- — — - --- --
<br /> considered future water quality as the key factor in our choice . , We look forward to further discussion and work with the
<br /> Carrboro Board of Aldermen as the next step in consideration I
<br /> The University Lake and Cane Creek watersheds , which col - iof the quarry/reservoir. The quarry extension involves complex ;
<br /> lect the rainfall that feeds the lakes , total about 60 square miles j issues , and we deeply appreciate the many hours and hard
<br /> of relatively undeveloped land primarily in Orange County. Ourwork that the governing boards have devoted to the extended
<br /> local governments have already adopted proactive land use ( quarry reservoir proposal . I
<br /> WHAT IS THE
<br /> Trg QUARRY RESERVOIR ?
<br /> If the three local governing boards approve
<br /> the plan , the American Stone Company
<br /> ' would extend its quarry to the east so that it
<br /> will eventually connect with OWASA's ex-
<br /> GGG
<br /> � , .
<br /> isting Stone Quarry Reservoir, which holds
<br /> only about 200 million gallons.
<br /> 41
<br /> ���tyir,s "�i , ?f, i f lt `t
<br /> 4 sY Y N j �r k r v,» , " ,� +M iY �7 '� - The quarry extension , and existing quarry
<br /> . Sy � + F7itti aira '• T'�� tl art d- til f � P1i , f ,�' ,
<br /> would combine with OWASAs old quarry
<br /> ��^4'f.,t 1*f
<br /> :- � -�� � � ? -1 � �� •� reservoir to create a 3 billion gallon reservoir
<br /> �,� � � �� •m i r ,. � s„ a��� s ,� ' + � , to ,�.� r£ a {7 on land to be wholly owned and controlled
<br /> by OWASA. Quarrying would end by the
<br /> year 2030, a condition to be made legally
<br /> binding by the County Special Use Permit.
<br /> (CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)
<br /> • Why is the Stone Quarry Reservoir needed ?
<br /> on page 2 : • Mitigation Plan covers well repairs , noise and blasting limits, property values , wildlife habitat,
<br /> dust control, the deadline for ending the quarry operation and other items .
<br /> Orange Water and Sewer Authority 400 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro 9684421 www. owasa. org
<br />
|