Agenda - 04-06-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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6 1 2 Orange County has essentially initiated an effort to get out of its responsibilities to its citizens by 3 bringing in the City of Mebane to do its dirty work. The plan is simple, advertise this as prime 4 Mebane industrial development land, and then get Mebane to annex it through the less 5 protective utility service agreement that we have with them. Then you don't have to deal with 6 messy public input or the opinions of your incorporated towns. At a time when respect for the 7 rule of law is at risk all over this country, I am certain Orange County can do better. 8 9 Patricia O'Connor read the following statement: 10 Good evening board members; 11 12 My name is Patty O'Connor and I live on Squires Road, directly across from the Medline 13 Warehouse. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak this evening—my comments 14 are about the Buckhorn Area Plan. 15 16 My principal concern about the BAP is the speed with which a very complex plan seems to be 17 unfolding. I say this in light of the recent zoning changes and annexation of properties by 18 Mebane, specifically on the south side of West Ten Road. Two parcels on the south side of 19 West Ten Road have been rezoned from Residential/Ag to M2. One property was sold to 20 Medline and rezoned at the end of 2019—their plans to develop it are not immediate but most 21 definitely in the forecast. The second property, The Neyer property, close to the intersection of 22 Buckhorn, was just recently rezoned and two warehouses, totaling 500,000 square feet, is in the 23 works. This means a definite 1.7 million square feet of warehouse space with its accompanying 24 truck and car traffic on a quarter mile stretch of a 2-lane country road; a road that has a middle 25 school, a soccer field, a church and multiple residences. When the Medline parcel on the south 26 side is developed, a small, wooded community (mine) will be embedded in a rural industrial 27 park. 28 29 We really have NO idea what the impacts of this development, its traffic congestion, noise and 30 water run-off will be on the community and home property values. Because of this, I would like 31 to go on record as being opposed to approving the BAP in its current form and would like to 32 request that the BOCC allow time for more thoughtful discussion and public engagement before 33 making any kind of recommendation on this plan. 34 35 When I purchased my home, with due diligence I researched the surrounding zoning. I was 36 comfortable living across from the road from industrial development—I am not comfortable 37 being surrounded by it. Zoning is in place to offer some protection to property owners and I feel 38 the rug has been pulled out from under me. My way of life will be sorely impacted and my most 39 important investment put at risk. Please plan thoughtfully and carefully. Preserving the rural 40 character of our area is important. Development, other than a string of warehouses, is possible 41 for this area. 42 43 Catherine Matthews read the following statement: 44 When will enough be enough? Hello County Commissioners. My name is Catherine Matthews 45 and I hope you remember me from the Buc-ees provocation. Thank you for efforts to prevent 46 Buc-ees from becoming a welcoming symbol in rural Orange County and thank you for this 47 opportunity to address you again this evening. 48 49 Just as a reminder, I live in Efland, have lived here for 20+ years and my street, Chestnut Ridge 50 Church Road, runs north to Mt. Willing to the Interstate to what was once the future home of