Orange County NC Website
13 <br /> memorialized in a 24-page zoning ordinance containing conditions to address areas of impact or <br /> concern identified by the Planning Department. <br /> The Planning Board reviewed the Efland Station Master Plan on November 4, 2020, hearing <br /> comments from staff,the applicant and other interested parties. <br /> The Planning Director and the Orange County Planning Board unanimously recommend <br /> approval of the Efland Station Master Plan. <br /> II. Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation ("DEAPR") <br /> Orange County Commission for the Environment Review <br /> The DEAPR reviewed the Efland Station Master Plan providing scant comments in two letters. <br /> The first letter, dated October 13, 2020, described the use and condition of the subject property <br /> today noting the existence of two ephemeral streams on site that flow south toward the Seven Mile <br /> Creek. The letter indicated that protecting these two tributaries is in the public interest and <br /> recognized that the applicant's site plan protects the streams by placing them in open space. <br /> DEAPR staff suggests that a conservation easement may be appropriate for this open space area if <br /> the landowner desires to retain ownership of the area. Under such an arrangement, the county <br /> would maintain the sensitive area. <br /> The second letter, dated October 20, 2020, indicated that there was a historic resource on the <br /> subject property which has collapsed and no longer possesses any physical integrity. <br /> DEAPR staff made no other comments and raised no other concerns. <br /> The Commission for Environment reviewed the Efland Station Master Plan on January 11, 2021. <br /> The DEAPR staff report consisted of a list of environmental concerns apparently gathered from <br /> community input. No staff analysis of these concerns was provided. The applicant was not <br /> permitted to speak and no formal presentation was allowed about the Efland Station Master Plan <br /> or the 1000+pages of materials on the topic. <br /> Much of the board discussion focused on a letter prepared by a member of the commission in <br /> opposition to the project and apparently circulated to DEAPR staff and other board members in <br /> advance of the meeting. The applicant was not provided a copy of the letter in advance of the <br /> meeting. A slightly revised version of that letter was adopted by the Commission for the <br /> Environment in recommending denial of the project. <br /> The Commission for the Environment failed to consider the many environmental benefits of the <br /> Efland Station Master Plan made apparent in our letter to the commission attached hereto. <br /> III. Orange County Economic Development Review <br /> Economic Development Staff prepared a report entitled "Potential Economic Value of Efland <br /> Station to Orange County: Forecast of Jobs&Benefits and Annual Property & Sales Tax Revenue <br /> Projections"which has been provided as a part of the overall packet. The report concurs with the <br /> applicant's assessment that Buc-ee's will provide $1,000,000 in needed tax revenue and 200 good <br /> jobs in Phase I plus additional revenue and jobs as Phase II develops. <br />