Planning Board - 081920 Agenda Packet

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From: Karen Fernandez <ksmithfernandez@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2020 4:41:47 PM To: Perdita Holtz Subject: [EXTERNAL MAIL!] Research Triangle Logistics Park Development Proposal Karen Smith Fernandez 3902 Ode Turner Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Ms. Holtz, I am writing in regard to the application to develop the Research Triangle Logistical Park south and west of the I-40 and Highway 86 intersection in Hillsborough. First, thank you for your skillful facilitation of a contentious meeting on August 5. I appreciate that the planning board members are volunteers and regret that not all of my neighbors were able to contain their emotions appropriately. I was not able to speak that evening and so am writing to the planning board via your email instead. I have written to my commissioners and will attend the future virtual meetings on this topic as well. I attended the Planning Board meeting of August 5 where the developer presented their proposed plan to the board and where several of my Orange County neighbors along Davis Drive, Ode Turner Road and Highway 86 expressed their opposition to this development. I, too, oppose this particular development in this location for the following reasons: 1) Reputation. Currently Orange County enjoys the reputation of a livable community with services that support both the reputation and the reality of being a livable community. This development which consists of several million feet of warehouses does not fit with our reputation or reality particularly in light of the fact that the lessors or purchasers of the warehouse facilities will be largely unknown. I understand that there are restrictions in place for the classification of this zoning district, but they do not appear to be so restrictive as to deter animal research or chemical research or other activities that may or may not “fit” the Orange County ethic. The vagueness of the usage, along with the appearance and impact of this huge warehouse complex seem out of place in our County. 2) Fit. Although not generally opposed to the zoning of this area as described in the Future Land Use Management Plan, I don’t feel that this type of development is the right fit. Not only am I concerned for the Town of Hillsborough and Orange County “brand” or reputation as described above, but I think we can do better in finding a project that is more aligned with the citizens of the County and Town. I understand that the developer projects 4500 potential new jobs, but these will be individuals and businesses from out of area largely, providing no direct service or benefit to residents. Storage, research, transportation, manufacture – any of these are possible, none of these are secured. With no ability to regulate the types of businesses that would use large warehouse spaces, we really don’t know who we are inviting into the neighborhood/county/town. We do not know what skills will be needed for these jobs, what types of jobs they will be or any other details. In fact, without knowing who the tenants of the warehouses will be, how can we be certain of the projected 4500 jobs becoming available. Many of these jobs will be taken, not be residents, but by individuals outside of the area who will commute. How does that specifically help the residents that you serve? If there are positive impacts, it would be helpful to have them spelled out for the citizens. 3) Traffic. 4500 cars/trucks per day. 200 cars/tractor trailers per hour. These are the numbers the developer’s traffic engineer gave in the presentation. The increase in traffic onto Davis Road, currently a residential street, due to the DOT requirement that the planned service road NOT be used for I-40 access is more than this street and neighborhood can tolerate. That, in combination with the need for some part of this traffic to access I-85, meaning that the traffic flow north on I-86, down Churton and 102