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22 <br /> rate commercial development. He said the Greene Tract is the largest forested area, and while <br /> unofficial, it should be acknowledged as a park that is set to turn into development. He said he <br /> is sad that the local governments did not follow through on recommendations from previous <br /> teams to turn Greene Tract into both development and a park, because 167 acres should be <br /> enough to do both. <br /> Karen Reid said this is the culmination of years and years of planning. She thanked the <br /> three municipalities. She said the issues of conservation and buffers for community and <br /> headwaters are important, but she urged commissioners to move forward with the proposal and <br /> continue having critical dialogue going forward. <br /> Bishop Larry Reid said he lived through the Greene Tract being proposed as a landfill. <br /> He said he has much to be thankful for that they have moved on from that, but the Rogers <br /> Road community has still suffered greatly because of the landfill. He said this mistreatment can <br /> be rectified by allowing the property owners to have a say in decisions. He urged the Board of <br /> County Commissioners to please move forward. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he has been involved in this conversation for 12 years now <br /> and it was going on long before he got there. He said he hopes it will not continue long after he <br /> is gone. He said many promises were made, but not kept, and the BOCC has tried to rectify <br /> this in recent years. He said he appreciates Reverend Campbell's comments, which were <br /> eloquent and true. He said he has heard no conversation about selling the land to commercial <br /> development, and does not believe for one minute that the local governments will sell it to <br /> developers. He said assigning only 20% to affordable housing is not acceptable. He said the <br /> BOCC can lead, follow, or get out of the way. He said the county cannot get out of the way as <br /> it is a landowner, so it needs to continue to lead. He said this is a concept plan, and it is not <br /> meant to decide where every road and stop sign should go. He said the community can be <br /> involved in making those decisions later. He said this plan needs to proceed. <br /> Commissioner Richards thanked staff for the presentation, and said she is concerned by <br /> lack of trust from the community. She said the county has proven itself to be committed to <br /> affordable housing and conservation. She said accusations and misinformation from the public <br /> are troubling. She said staff doubled the preservation area, and the reconfiguration is meant to <br /> connect the two preserved areas so they are contiguous, and the Rogers Road community has <br /> been able to speak for itself. She said as a citizen, she went to many meetings at Rogers Road <br /> and they are speaking clearly for themselves. She said she will support moving forward. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton thanked staff and community and elected officials for all the <br /> years working on the Greene Tract. She said it has been 20 years of work towards this point. <br /> She said it is an important process to hear the voice of the Rogers Road community but also <br /> the voice of all of Orange County. She said she struggles with how and why the decision is <br /> timed. She said there was public engagement/community outreach on November 7t" and 8t" <br /> where questions and accusations were raised, and also confusion that staff has not had the <br /> time to respond to. She said there is information on the website, but staff has not been able to <br /> respond to the questions people have asked and staff has not had time to address due to the <br /> vote on November 16t". She said the lack of trust and transparency hurts the County's ability to <br /> do things in the long run. She suggested delaying the vote to December 14t" meeting. She <br /> said she does not want to delay process, and is committed to seeing this property used to the <br /> benefit of residents, and can still move this forward but do it in a way to allow people to have <br /> questions answered. She said the municipalities and the county are committed to getting this <br /> done and can do it in a way that is more transparent. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she believes in good faith that all are trying to move towards <br /> what the community needs. She said she want to reserve green space, but there is a dire lack <br /> of affordable housing. She said her main complaint is also about the process. She said she <br /> first learned that this item would be on the agenda last Monday, and feels the BOCC should be <br />