Agenda - 09-05-2023; 8-a - Minutes

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53 1 and no one has looked into what is going to happen to their wells if this project is approved. He 2 said that the Town of Hillsborough has already denied their request for water usage for the 3 schools. He said that in view of climate change, the earth is heating up. He said this is not a good 4 idea at all and asked the Board to please vote no. 5 Charlie Clouse noted petitions against the development. He said that there is one with 6 1,257 signatures that oppose the rezoning. He said that he also has a Carolina Tarwheels, a club 7 of over 500 bicyclists, that are against the proposed development. He also said there is opposition 8 from the New Hope Audubon Society. He said that the developer's attorney said that a lot of the 9 homes in that area have water and he said that needs to be looked at because there are very few 10 homes in that area that have public water. 11 Scott Czechlewski said he is the CEO of the Hillsborough's Chamber of Commerce and 12 that his comments were on behalf of the Board. He said that the applicant created a plan that fits 13 within the scope of a development deemed appropriate for this site. He said that everything to 14 approve this charter school has complied with all state and local authorities. He said that the 15 charter school has been approved to be placed in Orange County by the State Board of Education. 16 He said that it is their opinion that the application complies with the Orange County 17 Comprehensive Land Use Plan. He said that the parcel is in the 20-year transition area, meaning 18 that the county intended for this area to evolve. He said the athletic fields are sorely needed. He 19 said there is a significant shortage of baseball, softball, tennis, and pickleball courts in the area. 20 He said that is why this project has strong support from the HYAA and Orange Tennis Club. He 21 said there will always be traffic fears with any new development, the developers' commitments 22 will help alleviate those concerns. He said that many proposals for this property have been made 23 for this parcel over the last 15 years and all have been denied. He said the area youth will be 24 served in many positive ways. He said that it's time that a project that meets the guidelines of the 25 UDO and the Comprehensive Plan is approved, and the Hillsborough Board of Directors hopes 26 that the Commissioners will agree with professional planning staff that recommended this project. 27 Scott Gastona said he came to Hillsborough 40 years ago to raise quarter horses. He 28 said he learned from Ted Abernethy, Moses Carey, Steve Halkiotis and others. He said at one 29 point he was approached and asked to run for the school board. He said he did not because he 30 did not have a dog in the fight. He said now he does, his community. He asked the Board to look 31 at the legacy of the commissioners before them. He said once Moses Carey was asked about 32 the school system and his words were "blood and treasure." He said it was the Board's obligation 33 to think about the future and to solve the problems of blood and treasure. He said this is his first 34 Board meeting in 30 years and he has been very impressed. He said that this is a deliberative 35 body. He said there are two sides, and they really have something to deliberate. He said there 36 was a soccer company in a trailer on 15-501 years ago and it turned into Sports Endeavors. He 37 said there were a lot of arguments to turn that into a business over the years. He said to think 38 about the Sportsplex. He said that this is about the kids and asked them to solve the problems. 39 Carol Tuskey said she was moved to attend the meeting thinking of the needs of birds in 40 her community. She said she heard that someone was complaining that bird poop was destroying 41 their porch, so they destroyed the nest. She said that broke her heart. She said she can't 42 understand why people don't care enough about the birds. She said for years she has been trying 43 to encourage the birds to come to her yard. She said that she has about 2.5 acres and she sees 44 less and less birds. She said that she does a bird count every day. She said she no longer sees 45 turtles and if there are any, they will never have a chance in crossing Lawrence Road. She said 46 there has been a decline in her bird count and especially a decline in migratory birds. She said 47 she wished that people would care more about the plant, the birds, and the wildlife. She said she 48 loves her neighbors and has a cute groundhog in her yard. She said she does not want to live in 49 a city-like environment. 50 Brandon Welch said he has lived off Lawrence Road since 2011. He said he takes issue 51 with the project mostly on environmental grounds and rural character. He said he has witness