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38 <br /> items that are not currently available. She thanked the developer and the Board and asked them <br /> to support the proposal. <br /> Marita Matigue waived her time to speak. <br /> Carol Rigsbee said she owned the property across from the parcel. She said she supports <br /> the first four paragraphs of the rezoning to commercial. She said it will make it more usable and <br /> bring in more tax money. <br /> James Davis said he has spent most of his life in the White Cross area and lived there for <br /> 75 years. He said his family has been in the area since the 1800s. He said he has seen change <br /> and it predominantly has been positive and beneficial. He said this change will be beneficial and <br /> will give a wider variety of goods available. He said it will not put people out of business. He said <br /> he had a small cattle farm down the street, which he believes will not be negatively impacted by <br /> the rezoning. He asked the Board to approve the rezoning. <br /> Marvin Davis said he has lived in White Cross for 21 years, has owned property, and <br /> graduated from the Orange High School. He said he served as a city manager throughout North <br /> Carolina for 35 years. He said that Bingham Township is growing, and the request is to meet the <br /> needs of a growing community. He said that he feels this application does just that. He said the <br /> census shows a growth of 13% over 20 years in the area. He said that population is about 71% <br /> of the population of Hillsborough. He said the economic investment will serve as a retail option <br /> for the 6,972 persons for goods they currently cannot get in White Cross. He said that businesses <br /> have separated and occurred in a reasonable way. He said that there is about a 6-9 year <br /> separation between the businesses and has served the community. He said the professional <br /> planning staff has recommended it and he encourages them to approve it. <br /> Amanda Griffin said she lives in White Cross. She said there are seven homes on her <br /> street and she is representing several neighbors. She said they are concerned about the <br /> application. She said this structure would be the largest structure in the area and almost four <br /> Bravo's Markets would fit in the building. She said that they feel this application does not conform <br /> to the Comprehensive Plan. She said that it allows them to circumvent the commercial maximum <br /> acreage. She said that her area is supposed to only have 20 acres of commercial available and <br /> that this puts it at 24.3 commercial acres because they are outside of the 20 acre maximum with <br /> this rezoning. She said that it sets a dangerous precedent. She said if developers can get <br /> conditional zoning approved then what is the point of the limited commercial nodes at all. She <br /> asked the Board to deny the application. <br /> John Griffin said rural Orange County remains a sanctuary from the suburban sprawl from <br /> the Triangle. He said that the 2030 Comprehensive Plan speaks to maintaining this. He said that <br /> every neighboring county is saturated with Dollar Generals at intersections. He said Orange <br /> County has none. He said this would set a precedent for rural Orange County. He said there is a <br /> ton of literature from across the country that speaks to the social and economic costs of corporate <br /> box retail. He said they offer non nutritious processed foods, low pay, single use products that fill <br /> the landfill, and a heightened opportunity for armed robbery. He implored the Board to join the <br /> Planning Board's rejection and vote against oversized, out of character, and predatory retail in <br /> Orange County. <br /> Lynne Jaffe said she had been living and working in Orange County for 40 years. She <br /> said that the word rural becomes less meaningful, with constant pushing. She said she doesn't <br /> have a problem with inviting retail to the area but she has one with Dollar General. She said it is <br /> not a good business to invite into the community for all of the reasons that have been stated. She <br /> said there is a Dollar Store and a Food Lion right down the street. She said the idea of <br /> convenience for a few items will devour the county if they keep saying yes. She said that this is <br /> not the best option for White Cross. <br /> Cory Oliver said he has lived in the White Cross area for 6 years. He said White Cross <br /> has some businesses and resources that his family supports, but they must go 8-12 miles to get <br /> groceries. He said they must go to Mebane, Eli Whitney, and Pittsboro to get goods. He said <br />