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

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4 Finally, the current UDO specifically calls for the retention of Efland's rural character. It is hard to imagine a development that is in greater contradiction of that goal than Buc-ee's. I am counting on the Commissioners, to be faithful to the past promises you have made to this county and your constituents. Alison Jones said she is a life long resident of Orange County, and lives near the proposed Buc-ee's site. She expressed concerns about the size of the project, as well as the possible environmental impact, which has not yet been completely studied. She cited the impact on the Eno River. She urged the BOCC to deny the rezoning request. Tim Spruill said he is a hydrologist, and has lived in Efland over 20 years. He said the current zoning specifically prevents a travel center, such as the one proposed. He said he is concerned about the negative impact on the water supply, and the review process from the Planning department. He said this project is irresponsible and wrong for Orange County. He cited the BOCC's commitment to the Efland/Mebane area and to curbing climate change, and said voting to approve would be in violation of those commitments. He urged the BOCC to keep the current designation, and vote no to rezoning. Megan Doherty said she is a sustainable studies student at UNC, and a resident of Chapel Hill. She said she is stunned and disappointed by the proposal. She said North Carolina is known for two good universities, Duke and UNC, and does not want to add Buc-ee's to that list. She said the State is committed to the Paris climate accord to curb climate change, and this proposal is not aligned with that commitment. She urged the Board to stand with the residents expressing that the proposal be denied. Asher Skeen said he lives in Carrboro, and urged the BOCC to vote no the rezoning request. He discussed the poor working conditions at Buc-ee's for its employees. He said the company has sociopathic numbness towards Buc-ee's employees, with shifts lasting 10 hours and no true breaks. He said work life balance does not exist, there are no raises, and managers bully and bash on staff members. He quoted several reviews from Buc-ee's employees and asked that the proposal be denied. Hope Horton said she is resident of Cheeks Township, and this proposal stands in the way of the kind of development the County needs and deserves. She quoted various positions that members of the Board of Commissioners have taken on economic development being in line with environmental stewardship and the culture of the community. She said this proposal violates many of these statements, and is not worth what Buc-ee's is asking the County to sacrifice: clean water, sustainable future, quality of life, etc. She urged Commissioners to vote no on the proposal. Mary McLaughlin said she is a newer resident of Mebane, and moved here due to an attraction to Orange County's commitment to the environment and its residents. She said she is concerned that Buc-ee's focused more on the number of cars that travel through the area, rather than the community and character of the area. She said it makes no sense to disrupt the community and traffic patterns, for the sake of underground gas tanks. She said she uses Ben Johnston Road, and the traffic changes proposed will make her ability to travel home more difficult, and she will have to use the highway more to get to and from work. She urged the BOCC to consider the impact to the Efland community when making its decision. Bill Riley said he is a 30-year resident of Efland, and does not support the rezoning request. He said he attended the Orange County Planning Board meeting in November 2020 on the proposal, and felt there was no discussion between the board and the applicant and that public input was merely tolerated and not incorporated into the process. He said the speed of the decision made him feel that the attendees' concerns were not listened to. He said the BOCC should postpone any decision until neutral parties can do greater research, and the experiences of other communities that have hosted Buc-ee's can be considered. He said this is a decision to make substantial changes to a fragile area in a rural community.