Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
10 <br /> 1 calculate the cost to upgrade the infrastructure without the developer's projections? The <br /> 2 developer isn't investing their money on roads. The town, county and state will be expected to <br /> 3 invest our tax dollars on road infrastructure as 18-wheelers tear up roads not designed for them. <br /> 4 And the Planning Board's contention that Davis is a `connector road' doesn't mean it's designed <br /> 5 to handle that volume of traffic proposed by the developer. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 It seems the developer's contribution is promised improvements on the tax base through <br /> 8 employment. Has the developer provided documentation to prove this? What does '4500 global <br /> 9 jobs' actually mean? Similar developments have employed less than 10% of that. Is a <br /> 10 warehouse the best use of that space in order to increase tax revenue? The capital investors <br /> 11 may not care how much tax revenue the development brings but we do. Speaking of investors, <br /> 12 the developer should be able to show us how they will make money. Who's lined up to lease <br /> 13 space? A capital investor would expect assurances like this before they agree to invest. Why <br /> 14 shouldn't we? <br /> 15 <br /> 16 And if the developer is so eager to start building why haven't they provided a construction <br /> 17 schedule as required for zoning a Master Plan? Do they have a history of incomplete <br /> 18 construction development in another state? How many projects have they completed in a <br /> 19 reasonable amount of time besides constructing their own offices in Kentucky? They should be <br /> 20 proud to provide details of their successes. Don't they want us to have faith in their intention to <br /> 21 complete this project? <br /> 22 <br /> 23 When a developer has so little skin in the game, their intent may be to do as little as possible <br /> 24 with their money while compelling the town or county to invest taxpayers money to improve the <br /> 25 infrastructure with false promises of an increased tax base. The developer can go a long way <br /> 26 towards good faith by answering these questions. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Ellen Mayer said she lives within 1,000 feet from this projected development. She said <br /> 29 she supports development, but not this project. She said she is opposed for many of the <br /> 30 previously stated reasons. She invited the Commissioners to visit her property. <br /> 31 <br /> 32 Bob Bundschuh said he understands the BOCC has not received the full packet of <br /> 33 information, but he has great concerns with this project. He said traffic problems are being <br /> 34 underestimated, and it will be a big issue. He said the Planning Department staff has even <br /> 35 acknowledged this. He said the neighborhood is not opposed to development, but there must <br /> 36 be a better plan than the one that has been proposed. He echoed several previously mentioned <br /> 37 concerns. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Christine Poole read the following comments: <br /> 40 I'm with Save Hillsborough. Many of you who have travelled on Old NC Hwy. 86, not far off <br /> 41 Interstate 40, know the beauty of the thick forests and rolling hills along this road. You <br /> 42 understand why it is a designated Scenic Byway. Starting at Exit 261 from 1-40, you are now on <br /> 43 a historic road less known as "The ScotsWelsh Heritage Byway" dating back to the 1700's. Prior <br /> 44 to its being mentioned in historical records, this was a Native American trail and was also used <br /> 45 by early Settlers. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 The following is taken from the NC DOT description of this road: "This Byway travels through <br /> 48 Orange County along trade roads used by American Indians and early backcountry pioneers. <br /> 49 The king of England gave much of the land along this byway to 18th century Scotch-Welsh <br /> 50 settlers. Generation after generation has lived and farmed this land, each leaving its own mark, <br />