Agenda - 02-16-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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18 1 These incidents happen regularly. Even in the last decade, with improved monitoring and 2 enforcement, there has still been an average of nearly 70 per month across the state. With a 3 project of this scale, it will not be a question of if there will be an incident, but when. 4 When a leak occurs, Orange County will spend resources on enforcement and staff, but 5 it will also have jeopardized the health of thousands of residents through groundwater 6 contamination. Contamination could also include AFFF or firefighting foams, which have proved 7 to be impossible to remove from groundwater and can only successfully be filtered out through 8 costly reverse osmosis treatments. Unfortunately, there are several examples in our state to 9 demonstrate how difficult it is to sell property with contaminated wells. With 70 acres of 10 impervious surface, stormwater runoff will be a significant issue. Not only will volume, velocity, 11 and warmer temperatures have detrimental impacts on the surrounding streams and aquatic 12 life, but that stormwater will carry toxins from leaking gasoline and surfactants from the car 13 washing stations. 14 Lastly, I'd like to remind the board of the environmental injustice issues this project 15 would pose. This area of Efland is on the cross sections of two census blocks. In one block, 16 approximately 51% of the population is a minority, in the other, 66%. This is a majority minority 17 community. In terms of income, one block is classified as approximately 56% low-income. This 18 same community has already been burdened by 3 other underground storage tank incidents, 19 possibly contaminating their water supply and health. The project threatens the health of the 20 surrounding communities and the environment, and should not be approved. 21 22 Avery Gall said she is opposed to the Buc-ee's Efland station. She reiterated concerns 23 raised by previous speakers. She said this station will pollute Orange County water and air, and 24 opposed Orange County's own stated values. She urged the Board to find more sustainable 25 options, and please vote no. 26 Mindi Ramsey said she is a medical professional, mother of 2, and lives less than a mile 27 from proposed development. She said the project will offer a short term gain at the cost of long 28 term losses. She raised environmental concerns, and said he only way to guarantee the water 29 supply is to not put anything in it. She bring Buc-ee's here violates commitments made by 30 Orange County, and will cause integrity into questions. She said she is also concerned about 31 the reduction of resident control and voice, should the zoning be changed. She said this is a 32 Texas based company that has no interest in supporting NC. She said she is also concerned 33 about traffic. She said she is a proponent of development, but Buc-ee's is not the answer. She 34 urged the BOCC to vote no to rezoning. 35 Amelia Covington said she is a field organizer with Climate Action NC, and is speaking 36 in opposition to the rezoning request. She said if Orange County is committed to fighting 37 climate catastrophe, it needs to transition from fossil fuels, and this is a proposal of the past. 38 She said there would be immediate environmental implications of this gas station, due to 39 placement near Eno watershed. She said the cost to local habitats and communities is not 40 worth it, and urged the BOCC to Listen to the concerns of nearby residents. 41 Kim Tesoro said there is an extremely limited job base in Efland, and the opportunity to 42 be employed locally at $15/hour, with benefits, is life changing. She said it is an opportunity to 43 earn an Orange County living wage, and the County should hold these jobs as important. She 44 said the Efland Station project includes 5 charging stations and a comfortable area to wait. She 45 said Buc-ee's has built a strong following around its brand, and is known as a clean family 46 oriented place to stop. She said Buc-ee's offers the opportunity to present local artisans on its 47 shelves, encourages overnight visitors, and is exactly the opportunity the Chamber of 48 Commerce seeks. She said the existing laws and restrictions will address all previously 49 mentioned concerns, and she urged the BOCC to vote yes to the rezoning request. 50 James McAdoo II said he is a lifelong resident of Efland, and his family has had land 51 here for over 100 years. He said he raised a family here, and Efland has not changed in 48