Minutes 01-05-2021 Virtual Public Hearing (continued to 01-12-2021)

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13 thing as never having a spill. She said she wishes she could rescind her affirmative vote, and urged the BOCC to vote no. Geri LaPlaca said she was shocked as she read the details about this proposed project. She said Buc-ee's is an ugly addition that could destroy the unique aspects of this area. She said the world is at a critical time period in history, and the County must commit to reducing fossil fuels. She said the light, noise, air and water pollution will have severely negative impacts. She urged the BOCC to explore sound development, and vote to deny this request. Carol Stanton said the Buc-ee's project goes against the Orange County commitment to sustainable development. She said this tract of land is large enough to accommodate mixed uses: affordable housing, shops, offices, perhaps a drive in movie theater or roller skating rink. She said the Buc-ee's gas stations are huge eyesores, and do not benefit those who live in Orange County. She said this land should not be sold to out of state people who are litigious, with poor employment conditions. She said Buc-ee's has the "soul of a 7/11 and the footprint of a Walmart". She highlighted many concerns stated by previous speakers. She said she moved to Efland 20 years ago, and she hopes to live out her life here without seeing a Buc-ee's from Texas. She urged the BOCC to please vote no. Edna Tan's daughter spoke against the Buc-ee's development, saying it is a bad idea to have Buc-ee's, as it will be bad for humans and animals. She said animals play a big role. She said she and her siblings visit their aunt and uncle every year in Efland to study salamanders: counting egg nests, and observing salamanders in their natural habitat. She said she and her siblings get to hold the adult salamanders and learn about their skin, and can only use their eyes at a museum. Her brother said children need to experience animals in their natural habitats, and salamanders are very important to an ecosystem, and to humans as pest control. He said salamanders are beautiful creatures, at risk of extinction. He said humans are not the only species on this earth, and we are charged to respect our environment. He urged the BOCC to protect the environment, children's opportunities to learn, and to please vote no to 120 gas stations. Erica Cartmill thanked the BOCC for listening to all comments. She urged the BOCC to vote no to the rezoning proposal. She said the area around the Seven Mile creek serves as an animal corridor. She said her family's farmland backs up to the site, and it feels like paradise. She said she sees animals like salamanders and owls, which are disappearing at fast rates. She said the creek is a lifeline for species. She said the Commission for the Environment voted no on this project, and the risks of this project are too great. She highlighted several of these risks, and urged the BOCC to find more creative and sustainable possibilities for the site. Linda Smith said she is a new resident of Orange County, and moved here for the rural environment, pasture land, and the beautiful night sky. She said she and her husband plan to keep a small footprint on this environment. She said pollution is an insidious thing, and it easy to miss its harmful changes, until it is too late. She said Buc-ee's will cause damage: contamination, light pollution, sleazy images around the Beaver logo, density of automobiles, and loss of lovely grassland and trees in the Mt Willing Rd area. She said traffic congestion will increase in the already hazardous interstate area. She urged the BOCC to keep Buc-ee's in Texas, and vote no on the rezoning request. Christine Peckman said she has lived in Efland for 20 years, and 5-6 days a week she visits the post office, buys animal feed in Efland, goes to Missy's for milk shakes, and other local businesses. She said the Efland shopping market is more of a convenience store, and a full grocery store would be wonderful. She said she is invested in Efland, and is not anti-growth. She said Buc-ee's would literally be adjacent to the town, which has the potential to be a quaint vibrant town. She asked if the BOCC would want to live next to such an unpleasant development. She said Buc-ee's will increase crime rate, and become a haven for drug and sex trafficking. She said it will be hard to limit parked tractor-trailers, and responsibility to enforce will fall to local law enforcement. She said if the BOCC chooses to rezone, it will throw the