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52 <br /> Matt McDermott said he and his wife have lived for 24 years off of Lawrence Road. He <br /> said that investment 101 is to find that one component that holds undeniable value. He said that <br /> this site, and what would make it more valuable in the eyes of an investor, is publicly provided <br /> water and sewer. He said that the applicant wants it and has leveraged a relatively new general <br /> statute to get it. He said that Hillsborough struggles with water and sewer. He said that <br /> Hillsborough elected has a smart growth agenda. He said that if further concessions are made by <br /> the applicant for approval, that it is just the cost of doing business for them. He said that if this <br /> request is approved, any changes desired by the applicant will be outside of a public forum and <br /> they will have to live with the result. He asked the Board to demonstrate that they are financially <br /> responsible. He asked them to demonstrate that they are good stewards of Orange County <br /> taxpayers' dollars and vote no. <br /> Hart Edmonds said this project is not a philanthropic enterprise. He said anyone would <br /> be in favor of providing athletic fields for the youth in the community. He said that the testimony <br /> from the fields supporters has reminded him of the movie "Field of Dreams." He said this is built <br /> on the notion that if you build, they will come. He said it is built on speculation. He said there is <br /> no purchaser for the K-8 property, and he does not imagine there can be a high school with no <br /> cafeteria or with a sports program with no showers. He asked the Board to vote no. <br /> Vicki Hill said she lives in the Little River Township. She said what she is heard from the <br /> developers has been confusing. She said a lot of people had to look into the information <br /> themselves, and they are here tonight as a group. She said the application does not meet the <br /> goals in the 2030 plan. She said she has heard the planning department say that the rezoning <br /> request is consistent, but she has heard that the proposal doesn't meet all of the goals. She said <br /> there is a discrepancy there. She said they have heard a lot of discrepancies through all of the <br /> meetings they've attended. She said there is a need for organized sports for children's mental <br /> health. She said they need access to sports. She asked if the groups build the facilities, will the <br /> high school have access to the ball fields. She said that the Town of Hillsborough has said that it <br /> would be a financial hardship, but they are being forced to, they will have to. She said that the <br /> neighbors have said they have shallow wells and asked what is going to happen when you have <br /> those facilities put in. She asked the Board to vote no. <br /> Robin Barnhill said for many reasons already mentioned, this spot zoning request is not <br /> in the best interest of the public. She asked them to vote no. <br /> Jane Guede said she has lived in Orange County for 50 years. She said this rezoning is <br /> a terrible idea. She said they are being asked to sign onto an elephant in a shoebox and it also <br /> seems to be a pig in a poke. She said they have heard about wells and septic for the fields, but a <br /> charter school would demand that the town provide water lines. She said she is very concerned <br /> about water lines, water rates, and long-term damage to environment and water supply overall. <br /> She said they've heard about turning lanes, if there will or won't be, but it depends on what <br /> NCDOT says. She said that turning on Lawrence Road is already horrendous. She asked them <br /> to vote no. <br /> Robb Minton said he and his family have lived on Wingate Drive for 25 years. He said <br /> Hillsborough is known for its rolling hills, lush green forests, walkable trails, rivers, rich history, <br /> residents note reasons for coming there include a peaceful lifestyle and sense of community. He <br /> said those reasons alone bring tourism and a real tax basis. He said that these rural values are <br /> consistent with the land use objectives. He reminded the Board of the reasons why the Town of <br /> Hillsborough voted against this rezoning plan. He said one is the Comprehensive Plan Summary, <br /> Section 5 says adapt policies to move the community towards sustainability. He said that this is <br /> not part of that. He said that section 6, says to promote land use values while protecting natural <br /> resources. He said that this application is not part of that section. He said that section 9 focuses <br /> on pollution prevention and waste reduction. He said that this project does not meet this. He said <br /> that section 11 says to protect their water supply, and he added that no one has mentioned a <br /> hydro-geographic survey. He said there are residents that depend on wells for their water supply, <br />