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36 <br /> From: Andrea Riley <br /> To: Buckhorn Study;ocboccCalgmail.com;Renee Price;Jamezetta Bedford;Jean Hamilton;Sally Greene;Amy Fowler; <br /> Mark Dorosin;Earl McKee <br /> Subject: [EXTERNAL MAIL!]Orange County Planning Department Outreach Meeting regarding the Buckhorn Area <br /> Plan/"Study" <br /> Date: Sunday,May 23,20214:41:07 PM <br /> Attachments: Questions for May 17,2021 Orange County BAP Outreach Meeting.doc <br /> Commissioners, <br /> If the Orange County Planning Department believes that the Public outreach meeting that was <br /> held on May 17, 2021 was enough to restore the public trust in the Planning Department it is <br /> sadly mistaken. The presentation seemed to be another attempt at face-saving after all of the <br /> department's repeated lies, obfuscations, misrepresentations, manipulations, and omissions <br /> about the Buckhorn Area Plan, a woefully inadequate plan that has recently been retroactively <br /> and disingenuously repackaged by the department as a"Study". <br /> The information presented at the Outreach Meeting misrepresented the sequence of events that <br /> took place regarding the presentation of this plan to the public; it glossed over the fact that <br /> there was no meaningful data in the plan regarding environmental, social, or traffic impacts on <br /> the area; it omitted the fact that there existed a previous understanding among the BOCC <br /> members that there would be no build out or development below(south of)West 10 Road; <br /> and it failed to invite a representative from the Mebane Planning Department to participate in <br /> the Q & A of the meeting, despite the fact that this plan is a joint plan of Mebane and Orange <br /> County. <br /> For a more accurate presentation about the Buckhorn Area Plan, see the podcast interview of <br /> Janine Zanin on WHUP at https://whupfm.org/episode/3-d-news-5-17-21/. Tune in around <br /> minute 24:33 to hear Janine explain what the BAP is and outline what the procedural and <br /> inherent problems are with this proposal. <br /> The directions for participation in the county's Outreach Meeting were vague and confusing to <br /> those of us who wanted to contribute. I, for one, could not figure out whether I had a choice <br /> between clicking on the "raise hand"button and the Q&A button, or whether I should use <br /> both, so I clicked on both. The result was that I was first in line and called on for the first <br /> question in my Q & A: this question was read aloud by the moderator; Craig Benedict gave a <br /> rambling and vague answer; and then the moderator moved on to the next person who had <br /> raised his hand.Neither my second or third question was read nor answered, nor did I have a <br /> chance to comment or have another chance to participate. (The Q &A option seemed to be <br /> blocked after the meeting started; my three questions are attached.) <br /> There is a high likelihood that there were others who also were confused about the procedure <br /> for participating, and that there were additional people who did not get a chance to be heard. <br /> We are asking that there be another meeting held—one that is more widely publicized and <br /> competently organized, with clear directions for participation—so that more voices can be <br /> taken into consideration before the BOCC receives the FAQ and comments presented by the <br /> Planning Department. <br /> It has come to the public's attention that there has been a request from the county for an <br /> outside, impartial evaluation of the Orange County Planning Department to be conducted. We <br /> applaud this decision. It is our hope that ALL OF THE MATERIAL AND COMMENTS <br />