Minutes 09-01-2020 Virtual Business Meeting

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