Agenda - 10-06-20; 8-a - Minutes

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12 1 2 1 also want us to recognize the privilege that those of us on this call have, including access to 3 technology and access to information. We continue to encounter residents that know little to 4 nothing about the proposed RTLP project and how it will impact their lives. There are residents 5 that aren't aware that they can participate by phone on this zoom call. And people can't call in if 6 they don't know how to get this information in the first place. 7 8 We have been in a state of emergency since March 13th because of Covid-19. Just last month 9 you all, the Board of County Commissioners, extended the state of emergency through October 10 31st. Let us all recognize the significance of that. Shannon Casell, Special Counsel to NC 11 Attorney General Josh Stein, wrote an advisory letter talking about local public bodies 12 conducting open meetings electronically. She recognized that electronic meetings are 13 reasonable for local governing bodies. She did, however state, and I quote, "When meetings of 14 public bodies are not necessary for immediate ongoing governance, I would encourage 15 postponing that meeting until a future time when the meeting can occur in-person". Does a 16 decision on the RTLP project meet this standard? 17 18 Because we are in a Pandemic and in a state of emergency, I urge you to please approach this 19 matter with social responsibility in mind. Please postpone a decision on rezoning until there is a 20 process where ALL voices can be heard, not just those that hold privilege. 21 22 Bryan Brice said the BOCC has an important decision to make about this project, and he 23 wonders if the project is worth the damage that it may cause by proceeding. He said he is 24 concerned about the environment, and wonders if all laws and ordinances will be complied with. 25 He encouraged a moratorium on the project until all environmental issues have been fleshed 26 out, and the applicant can show all permits have been properly obtained. 27 28 Bill Ward voiced concern about the long-term environmental impacts of climate change. 29 He says Orange County has the ability to make a real impact on environmental issues, and thus 30 improve public health. 31 32 Matt Mitchell made the following comments: 33 I'm part of Save Hillsborough. I'm in favor of developing this area, but have serious concerns 34 with the RTLP as proposed. 35 36 Many members of our group were in favor of the Settler's Point project. It proposed a mixture of 37 retail and business development, much of which would have benefitted the surrounding 38 neighborhoods, and would likely have increased property values for many homeowners in the 39 surrounding area. However, RTLP, as it currently stands, presents a very different situation. The 40 size of the development is more than double that of Settlers Point and the buffers are smaller to 41 accommodate such large structures. And most importantly, Settlers Point did not include the 42 rezoning of a residential property to allow for massive amounts of vehicular and truck traffic. 43 44 The impact of this development on local homeowners is a topic that comes up consistently, and 45 mitigation is in no way mentioned by the developer or the county. When the question came up 46 at the last planning board meeting, the developer suggested that this development might 47 actually increase property values. However, it's hard to make that case when they're planning to 48 install their primary access point 30 feet from a resident's property line. Furthermore, the 49 planned buffers are minimal and insufficient to protect the surrounding properties from the 60 50 foot tall monolithic buildings. 51