Minutes 09-01-2020 Virtual Business Meeting

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4 Uses - Medline will do light assembly and distribution of medical products and lab supplies. Barrister either will not name the tenants of RTLP, or does not have them. Economy- Medline's build-out plan will generate a guaranteed capital investment of$65 million over 5 years. RTLP guarantees nothing. Jobs - Medline is required to create 250 jobs within 5 years. RTLP claims it will create 18 times that many jobs, even though it is also a distribution center. Traffic - Medline's placement allows vehicles to make right turns to access the interstate. RTLP requires every vehicle to take two left-turns onto rural roads not built for tractor trailers. Experience - Medline operates 43 distribution centers across 20 countries. Barrister has a history of stalled projects and speculative development. Environment - Medline's distribution center will be LEED certified and generate up to half of its energy with solar panels. Barrister had to be pushed by the planning board before agreeing to install a handful of EV chargers. Public Perception -When the Board opened the Medline project for public comment, not a single voice rose against it. RTLP, on the other hand, has inspired a community to organize and speak out, with letters, road signs, and hashtags. We are here tonight, not because this is fun, but because we are passionate about finding a project for this site that will allow us all to say, as Commissioner Rich did about Medline in a Daily Tar Heel interview, "It's such a positive company, that fact that we were able to land it here is just amazing," I ask you to consider the very real differences between these two projects, and to help us find another success worth celebrating. Joseph Shore said he lives on Old 86, and his family will be hugely impacted by this proposed development. He said RTL is the wrong thing for this area, and he has literally been losing sleep over this. He said he is very concerned that the Planning Board members do not care about the community, and he is worried about he will get into his driveway. He said he is also concerned about potential ground water contamination, as he cannot dig a new well if there is ground water contamination. He said this proposed project violates the Unified Development Ordinance, and it is wrong for this area. Franklin Garland said he has been a farmer since 1977, prior to the area becoming an Economic Development District (EDD). He said several projects have been proposed, and none have been right for the area, and the current proposed project is the same. He invited the Commissioners to visit his property, as he has done so over the decades. He said to date, only one person has accepted his invitation, and told him he had beautiful land that was going to be ruined. He said he is against this proposed development. Jo Massey said she has lived in Hillsborough for 30 years in Cornwallis Hills. She said everyone wants to help with the tax base, but this applicant has shown no proof of expected success. She asked the Board to build on the charm of the Town of Hillsborough, which has a great deal to offer. She said flooding and run off water will be a huge issue, and will be dangerous for residents. She said there are many children in this area who will be adversely affected. She is against this development, and thanked the BOCC for its time. Myra Gwin-Summers said she lives on Davis Road, two doors down from where the traffic would enter. She said pollution would adversely affect the church and childcare center that are located here, and the childcare center would no longer be able to operate. She said the Church has built this childcare center to help with the church's finances. She said she has grave concerns, and this proposed project is not environmentally just.