Orange County NC Website
170 <br /> DRAFT <br /> 110 we really do need the schools and the support system and the recreational activities to support these wonderful <br /> 111 developments going in. Thank you very much. <br /> 112 <br /> 113 Henry Nadworny: Lawrence Road neighborhood resident since 1998. 1 am very happy with it. The growth is not <br /> 114 something I'm happy with the planning and positioning of where these projects lie and I think it is stopping the properties <br /> 115 more than they accommodate. I think there is plenty of other choices that could be made more wisely. I have not <br /> 116 researched available properties, but I believe in the area,there are larger potential positioning ....requirements for the <br /> 117 project, I am not that familiar with whether they need the water or whether it needs the sewer or not. I've heard different <br /> 118 things change as this went on. From the meeting last week to this week, I hear now they are going to pay for the turning <br /> 119 lanes.What those turning lanes accommodate, I still don't agree with,that that is not going to stop the flow of things <br /> 120 because you have so much going into this, not just at school times but weekends and at night and they are going to <br /> 121 stagger the drop off...I just don't see that flowing.With other projects like the 76 townhomes on the other side of me <br /> 122 going in, and the studies that were done through Covid to say,we saw this many cars, I don't think those figures are <br /> 123 correct. I don't have the knowledge to tell you that you are wrong with thinking that a turn lane will take care of it. I do see <br /> 124 historical homes being attacked that people have purchased in this area knowing the zone is residential and now all of a <br /> 125 sudden,we can just try and change that by saying it's not residential anymore,we are going to put a business in there. <br /> 126 What give you the right to say that that's okay for me and not you and you've changed things that have been in place for <br /> 127 years. I see not having water pressure anymore, I see runoff issues, I see water collection flowing into the drinking water <br /> 128 , so now we are going to have tennis court runoff,all the runoff on this...I heard walking trails, I don't see walking trails in <br /> 129 there, I just see them taking all the trees out. It was a walking trail and park facility and made for everybody to have fun <br /> 130 and go play tennis and all,that would be great, but you are stuffing a school on top of it and you are into the watershed <br /> 131 and killing the area around it.What about the two historical sites that I don't see anybody addressing that they are going <br /> 132 to need to lose road frontage. I don't know if you are voting on this tonight....I don't agree,thank you. <br /> 133 <br /> 134 Amber Bickford: I am a STEM professional, a mother of a 12-year-old, and a resident of Orange County.As a STEM <br /> 135 research professional,with 25 years'experience in biotechnology, I can assure you that our 21 It Century needs STEM <br /> 136 education at the high school level. We need critical thinkers, creative thinkers, problem solvers, and people that work <br /> 137 collaboratively. These are skills that are needed to address the many critical challenges of the 21 st century, including <br /> 138 climate change, and sustainability, something that is very important to this community, as you well know.Why not here in <br /> 139 Orange County where the Lawrence Road project directly addresses the UDO and aligns with the greater community's <br /> 140 ideas?On April 51h, you heard Joey Webb, West Triangle High School Leader, explain to you the innovative academic <br /> 141 programming that he has led at multiple schools.You learned that West Triangle High is committed to the social and <br /> 142 emotional well being of the student body and the willingness to collaborate with the broader education community.This <br /> 143 is the benefit of charter schools in your community. Steps from here where we sit tonight as a charter school here in <br /> 144 Hillsborough that is actually been recognized by DPI for its academic growth most importantly the greatest academic <br /> 145 growth for socio-economically disadvantaged children and will be working with DPI in the Fall to provide this <br /> 146 programming which will be a benchmark and cornerstone for all public schools in the state.This is a real example of <br /> 147 equity in education and how charter schools' partner with public schools in the community despite what you may have <br /> 148 been told.As I stand here tonight, this is the 16th anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre and between April 5 and <br /> 149 tonight, you have a room full of parents that want social, emotional programming, access to athletic programming, <br /> 150 organizations,fields, because our kids are at risk. I am an alumni of Virginia Tech, I had 3 family members on the <br /> 151 campus that day and quite frankly the violence in our schools and threat to our schools every day has not improved, it's <br /> 152 gotten untenable and uncontrollable.Just since April 51h,two schools in our area, have either been in lockdown because <br /> 153 there's a weapon on site or the threat of one. Parents in this community want better, and Orange County can do better. <br /> 154 Our kids are hurting, they need a sense of belonging and programs that support their well-being and social and <br /> 155 emotional well-being for our community. If you rezone Lawrence Road,this will be available to our community. The <br /> 156 fundamental change is not coming from the federal government or the state, its coming from decisions that you have to <br /> 157 make tonight, at a local level. <br /> 158 Ms. Bickford presented the Board Chair with a petition supporting the project. <br /> 159 <br /> 160 Kathleen Harper: I've lived in Hillsborough since 2008 and my husband and I have 2 children in Orange County schools. <br /> 161 1 respectfully request that the planning board vote no on the Lawrence Road rezoning.The proposed development does <br /> 162 not align with the county's comprehensive plan in which land use should be coordinated with other plans including utility <br /> 163 and infrastructure and limited water resources should be managed wisely.The town of Hillsborough leadership has told <br /> 164 the developer during several meetings during the last year and a half,that it would be difficult to meet the water and <br />