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18 <br /> Beverly Ferraro said she also lives on Billabong Lane, and she echoed the <br /> comments of the two previous speakers. She said accessing the school via Merin Road <br /> seems overwhelming, at best. <br /> Sally Council said the concept is not new to her, and she commended the Board on <br /> some of its priorities for this land. She said preservation of the natural landscape is key, <br /> and she is pleased the Board is including this. She said there is also great concern to <br /> provide preservation to the neighbors who already live near this land. She said the <br /> residents have always been committed to a natural buffer space to protect themselves from <br /> traffic, clearing, and new construction. She said the last 5 years have shown immense <br /> change and growth surrounding her home, and this is the first time she seen the school site <br /> be proposed to butt up against Billabong Lane. She said there appears to be no original <br /> buffer left. She said accessing the school from Merin Road would be an awful idea. <br /> Sally Council asked if the difference between open space and preservation of <br /> headwaters could be explained. <br /> Craig Benedict said the headwaters tract would continue to be owned by the <br /> County, but it would be for preservation purposes. He said the other, darker green, area is <br /> a jointly owned by Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County, and connecting the two areas <br /> together would allow passage of a lot of animals in that general area. <br /> Sally Council asked if this would be preserved intact, or if there would be clearing. <br /> Craig Benedict said it would be 100% preserved, but a road can go through it, if <br /> necessary. He said the goal is full preservation of wetlands, plus stream buffers. <br /> Myra Dotson said she has been distressed to see the development around the <br /> landfill. <br /> John Roberts said there have been some legal issues recently along Merin Road, <br /> and the County has to redo the gravel driveway from Billabong up to the Greene Tract, <br /> which gives the County southern access. He said it is not a public road. <br /> c. Orange County's Proposed 2019 Legislative Agenda <br /> The Board considered the Legislative Issues Work Group's (LIWG) proposed 2019 <br /> legislative package and any other potential items for inclusion in Orange County's <br /> legislative agenda package for the 2019 North Carolina General Assembly Session; <br /> consider approval of the 2019 Orange County Priority Legislative Issues document; and <br /> consider approval of the Other Orange County Legislative Interests document. <br /> Greg Wilder, County Manager's Office, reviewed the following background <br /> information: <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> The 2019 North Carolina General Assembly "long session" convened on <br /> January 30, 2019. The Board of Commissioners has historically appointed a Legislative <br /> Issues Work Group (LIWG) to work with staff to develop a proposed legislative package for <br /> the County. Based on the work of the LIWG, the BOCC has then reviewed and approved <br /> packages of legislative items to present to Orange County's legislative delegation. <br /> Commissioners Renee Price and Mark Dorosin are serving on the 2019 LIWG and have <br /> worked with staff on the proposed 2019 legislative package, which consists of the two <br /> attached documents, in preparation for the Board's March 11, 2019 Legislative Breakfast <br /> meeting with Orange County's legislative delegation. <br /> As the LIWG considered its approach for this year, the Group decided to keep the list of <br /> priority legislative issues short and focused, aiming for five to seven legislative priorities. <br /> The group ultimately identified seven legislative priorities, acknowledging that the full Board <br />