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9 <br /> meeting. I was not aware of the BAP, the plan that is being considered between Orange County <br /> and the City of Mebane, until this last November. This plan has, before any public discussion or <br /> comment, unofficially already been implemented, with the construction of Medline. In its current <br /> form, it is a poorly thought-out plan that has in my opinion, severely ignored physical and <br /> biological impacts on the primary water-supply for Hillsborough (the Eno River and the <br /> contributing tributary, Seven Mile Creek) and on groundwater that provides local well-water <br /> supplies and baseflow to Seven Mile Creek. Extensive creation of impervious surfaces will <br /> ultimately severely damage Seven Mile Creek and potentially cause siltation and flooding issues <br /> downstream. Most of the land within the Plan boundaries is in agricultural or rural residential <br /> use. The BAP will create difficulties for people who live in these areas, which have been <br /> previously zoned for these uses, by changing the zoning to industrial use categories. If the <br /> development extends south of West Ten Road, this will violate the existing agreement <br /> (WASAMBA) between Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough, which is intended to limit urban <br /> expansion into rural areas. Mebane should honor this agreement before the BAP is ever <br /> approved by the BOCC. There are multiple social, business, infrastructure, agricultural, traffic, <br /> and environmental issues that will impact people who live in the area, as well as others in <br /> Orange County. All of us, including you, the board of commissioners, need more time to <br /> adequately evaluate and discuss a more rational, inclusive and generally acceptable Buckhorn <br /> Area Plan. <br /> The Orange County Planning Department must stop trying to manipulate the BOCC and the <br /> public by keeping its plans under wraps until the last minute, much like what happened with the <br /> Buc-ees Efland Station plan. It is supposed to be a democratic process. <br /> I absolutely do not support the Buckhorn Area Plan in its current form-it is badly inadequate and <br /> is a breach of public trust in the system. I strongly urge the Board of Commissioners to allow <br /> much more time for public input and discussion, in order to ultimately produce a more broadly <br /> acceptable and perhaps even good plan before approving. <br /> Thank you for your consideration. <br /> Jared Cates said he lives a mile and a half from Area E of Buckhorn Area Plan. He said <br /> he works with a lot of Planners, and has always appreciated the Planning profession for <br /> engaging the community. He said the AICP principles for planners places the highest priority <br /> on responsibility to the public, and giving the public the opportunity to participate. He said most <br /> planners have held that in the highest regard, insuring community engagement, bringing <br /> information to the public, and being a sounding board. He said the current situation is really <br /> confusing. He said he has never heard of the BAP, yet thought he had done his due diligence <br /> when buying property. He said when the Mebane Planning Department passed the BAP he <br /> reached out to Jesse Day, Director of Piedmont Triad Regional Council, and expressed concern <br /> over the process. He said Jesse Day also expressed concern. He said this process is bad and <br /> undemocratic, and asked the BOCC to pump the brakes to allow input from community. <br /> b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda <br /> below.) <br /> 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> Commissioner Fowler said the Chamber of Commerce is leading a 10-week series on <br /> Covid, and she gave opening remarks at the first session last week. She said she attended the <br />