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6 <br /> The Mebane Planning Board voted to adopt the plan and amend the Mebane Comprehensive <br /> Land Development Plan. This was before ANY PUBLIC INPUT HAD BEEN RECEIVED ON <br /> THE PLAN. The public information session was scheduled for the following day and the lucky <br /> few who received notice (only those landowners who owned land within the proposed future <br /> growth areas), only received a few days' notice of what was happening before the planning <br /> board took a vote. <br /> Orange County has essentially initiated an effort to get out of its responsibilities to its citizens by <br /> bringing in the City of Mebane to do its dirty work. The plan is simple, advertise this as prime <br /> Mebane industrial development land, and then get Mebane to annex it through the less <br /> protective utility service agreement that we have with them. Then you don't have to deal with <br /> messy public input or the opinions of your incorporated towns. At a time when respect for the <br /> rule of law is at risk all over this country, I am certain Orange County can do better. <br /> Patricia O'Connor read the following statement: <br /> Good evening board members; <br /> My name is Patty O'Connor and I live on Squires Road, directly across from the Medline <br /> Warehouse. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak this evening—my comments <br /> are about the Buckhorn Area Plan. <br /> My principal concern about the BAP is the speed with which a very complex plan seems to be <br /> unfolding. I say this in light of the recent zoning changes and annexation of properties by <br /> Mebane, specifically on the south side of West Ten Road. Two parcels on the south side of <br /> West Ten Road have been rezoned from Residential/Ag to M2. One property was sold to <br /> Medline and rezoned at the end of 2019—their plans to develop it are not immediate but most <br /> definitely in the forecast. The second property, The Neyer property, close to the intersection of <br /> Buckhorn, was just recently rezoned and two warehouses, totaling 500,000 square feet, is in <br /> the works. This means a definite 1.7 million square feet of warehouse space with its <br /> accompanying truck and car traffic on a quarter mile stretch of a 2-lane country road; a road <br /> that has a middle school, a soccer field, a church and multiple residences. When the Medline <br /> parcel on the south side is developed, a small, wooded community (mine) will be embedded in <br /> a rural industrial park. <br /> We really have NO idea what the impacts of this development, its traffic congestion, noise and <br /> water run-off will be on the community and home property values. Because of this, I would like <br /> to go on record as being opposed to approving the BAP in its current form and would like to <br /> request that the BOCC allow time for more thoughtful discussion and public engagement before <br /> making any kind of recommendation on this plan. <br /> When I purchased my home, with due diligence I researched the surrounding zoning. I was <br /> comfortable living across from the road from industrial development—I am not comfortable <br /> being surrounded by it. Zoning is in place to offer some protection to property owners and I feel <br /> the rug has been pulled out from under me. My way of life will be sorely impacted and my most <br /> important investment put at risk. Please plan thoughtfully and carefully. Preserving the rural <br /> character of our area is important. Development, other than a string of warehouses, is possible <br /> for this area. <br /> Catherine Matthews read the following statement: <br />