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

Browse Search

28 1 Commissioner Greene expressed appreciation to the Applicant for being willing to 2 reconsider some of the plans, and having further discussions. 3 John Roberts said the BOCC can propose conditions, but must give the Applicant time 4 to review the conditions, and have the item brought back at a subsequent meeting. 5 Chair Price asked if it is appropriate for a Commissioner to make a motion for approval 6 or denial. 7 James Bryan, County Attorney's Office, said yes, that is appropriate should the Board so 8 desire. 9 Michael Harvey reviewed the conditions that he has heard raised this evening: the 10 realignment of Ben Johnston Road; the possibility of reducing the scale of the Buc-ee's; the 11 possibility of 10 EV Charging stations going live on day 1; additional information from County 12 staff on the application of the principles of the Comprehensive Plan; and additional information 13 about water. 14 Commissioner Fowler echoed Commissioner Dorosin and Commissioner Greene's 15 comments about the scale of Buc-ee's, and said there would need to be a significant reduction 16 in scale for her to be willing to support the rezoning request. She said she read every letter, 17 took phone calls, and listened to all discussions on this project. She said she understands Buc- 18 ee's interest in the site, and the zoning change is suited to their needs, but this type of project is 19 not allowed under existing zoning. She said she knows the County needs to renovate schools, 20 support fire and public safety, needs additional commercial tax revenue, etc. She said it is 21 unclear if this would be new revenue or replacing revenue. She said she would really like to 22 see development on this land, but she has many concerns that this proposal is not aligned with 23 the Comprehensive Plan, or land use goals, and the 2017 resolution to reduce greenhouse gas 24 emissions. She said the BOCC is charged to meet the needs of the present generation without 25 compromising the needs of the future generations, and this project does not meet the definition 26 of sustainable. She said this project does not decrease carbon emissions, and makes it easier 27 to continue the use of fossil fuels. She said she is concerned about water consumption, as this 28 project will use 15% of the available resources, which will impact what other projects can come 29 online in the future. She said she is also concerned about all the local residents who use well 30 water. She said this project will disrupt transportation, and people's ability to get where they 31 need to go. 32 Commissioner Fowler said the project would need to be 1/3 the size or less for her to 33 consider it. She said she would also want to discuss the height of the project, as well as many 34 other things. She said, as this project stands, she would vote no. 35 Commissioner McKee said the BOCC is voting whether or not to approve a zoning 36 change, not a project, but as Buc-ee's is the only project, it is joined at the hip to the rezoning 37 question. He said some people will never accept this project, and some people will, regardless 38 of any concerns. He said he currently falls somewhere in the middle. He said he is focused on 39 the human aspect of this project, and the equal access of opportunity. He said he does not 40 know if this is the best project for this parcel, but there have been multiple parties interested in 41 the parcel in the past, but the Applicants have all walked away to adjoining counties. He said 42 one previous applicant has now attracted two major pharma companies to their project in Wake 43 County. 44 Commissioner McKee said one of the reasons he ran for Commissioner in 2010, was 45 due to an anti-business and anti-commercial view he saw being expressed by the a 46 Commissioner at that time. He said that Commissioner stated that Orange County would 47 become the "bedroom community of the Triangle", which is all well and good if one makes 48 $100,000. He said not everybody can afford the taxes on expensive homes. He said for him 49 this boils down to jobs and revenue for the County. He related a story about paying his taxes, 50 where he ran into a woman who was facing a decision about selling a car in order to pay taxes. 51 He said this is not unusual, and Orange County is losing some of its long-term, low-income