CFE Agenda 01112021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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#tic TRIANGLE LAND CONSERVANCY a-MM, December 11,2020 To Orange County Board of County Commissioners,Planning Department,and County Managers Office: Triangle Land Conservancy is a member of a coalition of nonprofit organizations and government agencies working to conserve the Upper Neuse watershed by protecting the land that filters water for drinking. Since its inception in 2006,the Upper Neuse Watershed Protection Program and its partners have conserved over 10,000 acres of land and more than 115 miles of stream because we know that what happens upstream matters. The proposed 100-acre Efland Station,with approximately 500,000 sq. ft.of building area and 120 gas pumps and associated runoff,would occupy parcels that drain into two tributaries of Sevenmile Creek.This creek is a primary tributary of the Eno River and the Upper Neuse watershed,which feeds into Falls Lake and provides Raleigh's drinking water. Safeguarding clean drinking water is part of the mission of Triangle Land Conservancy and is one reason why we take such an interest in the Upper Neuse watershed. The impacts from the project during and after construction will have detrimental impacts on Sevenmile Creek,part of the State-defined Upper Eno Watershed,a class WS-I1 watershed with High Quality and Nutrient Sensitive Water designation, serving as a public water supply for Hillsborough residents.The streams on the property lay within the Upper Eno Protected Watershed,and within the Upper Eno Critical Watershed immediately after leaving the property. Toxic run off and pollution of waterways are a concern with any gas station,but the location of this enormous Buc- ees station in one of our most sensitive waterways can only lead to problems downstream for Orange County and adjacent communities.The areas around the tributaries,wetlands,and ponds in the project site must be explicitly protected as an extension of the site's open space. We understand that stormwater controls are being proposed to help mitigate runoff issues.However,two of the stormwater controls on the plan are located within the designated"Preserved Green Space Area."Control structures of this magnitude would require significant disturbance,which is the antithesis to land being"preserved."These "preserved"areas should not include stormwater controls,roads,utilities,or any other disturbance but should be left as natural buffers to the obvious impacts the adjacent project would have.The potential runoff issues, as well as the necessary fuel storage to support 120 gas pumps and the potential for storage failure,are of utmost concern. Triangle Land Conservancy shares the Board of County Commissioners'goal to"create,preserve, and protect a natural environment that includes clean water,clean air,wildlife, important natural lands,and sustainable energy for present and future generations."In order to serve that critical goal while embracing the community values of Orange County,we ask that you uphold the current zoning designations that were carefully identified in the Unified Development Ordinance. Current zoning districts were assigned to meet the need for sustainable growth,while upholding citizens'rights to a healthy environment and drinking water. Rezoning requests such as the Efland Station project should only be granted if the proposed change would definitively improve the lives of citizens and preserve the environment.It is clear that the proposal fails this test, for this reason,Triangle Land Conservancy is opposed to the proposed Efland Station. Respectfully, Sandra Sweitzer Executive Director P�O, PA�q Mou cRo�+4