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Approved & T23 165 Hillsborough that is actually been recognized by DPI for its academic growth most importantly the greatest academic 166 growth for socio-economically disadvantaged children and will be working with DPI in the Fall to provide this 167 programming which will be a benchmark and cornerstone for all public schools in the state . This is a real example of 168 equity in education and how charter schools ' partner with public schools in the community despite what you may have 169 been told . As I stand here tonight, this is the 16t" anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre and between April 5 and 170 tonight, you have a room full of parents that want social , emotional programming , access to athletic programming , 171 organizations , fields , because our kids are at risk . I am an alumni of Virginia Tech , I had 3 family members on the 172 campus that day and quite frankly the violence in our schools and threat to our schools every day has not improved , it' s 173 gotten untenable and uncontrollable . Just since April 5t" , two schools in our area , have either been in lockdown because 174 there ' s a weapon on site or the threat of one . Parents in this community want better, and Orange County can do better. 175 Our kids are hurting , they need a sense of belonging and programs that support their well - being and social and 176 emotional well - being for our community . If you rezone Lawrence Road , this will be available to our community . The 177 fundamental change is not coming from the federal government or the state , its coming from decisions that you have to 178 make tonight, at a local level . 179 Ms . Bickford presented the Board Chair with a petition supporting the project . 180 181 Kathleen Harper: I ' ve lived in Hillsborough since 2008 and my husband and I have 2 children in Orange County schools . 182 1 respectfully request that the planning board vote no on the Lawrence Road rezoning . The proposed development does 183 not align with the county' s comprehensive plan in which land use should be coordinated with other plans including utility 184 and infrastructure and limited water resources should be managed wisely . The town of Hillsborough leadership has told 185 the developer during several meetings during the last year and a half, that it would be difficult to meet the water and 186 sewer requirements for one or more schools at this site . If the rezoning is approved , the Town of Hillsborough , by law, 187 and the NCDA to provide water and sewer to the schools , even if that means denying other water and sewer to other 188 town priorities . If the developer decides to provide the schools with wells and septic , which was mentioned as a 189 possibility earlier this month , will the septic fields take the place of the ball fields ? I do support recreational fields . I want 190 fields for HYAA and more courts for tennis and pickleball players but not this way . Not by forcing the town of Hillsborough 191 to provide water and sewer to schools on the opposite side of the county from where the most growth is predicted , or by 192 sacrificing the ball fields to build a large septic field in Durham ' s Teer Quarry protected water shed . At the end of the day, 193 given these infrastructure concerns , this site is not a good site for schools . Also concerning , the applicant team 194 suggested on April 5t" that West Triangle High School would be well situated to absorb some of the anticipated growth of 195 Orange County Schools . According to their charter application however, West Triangle intends to establish matriculation 196 agreements with the Expedition school and several charters in Durham . If finalized , these agreements would grant 197 priority enrollment to students from these charters . With approximately 40 students matriculating from the Expedition 198 school and the possibility of more than 100 students from Durham charters , few seats may remain for students not 199 already enrolled in a charter. Please ask the applicant to provide an explanation of their current pending and planned 200 articulation agreements as it relates to the school ' s ability to absorb growth in Orange County Schools . The majority of 201 anticipated growth in Orange County Schools is predicted to take place in the Western half of the county, near Mebane . 202 The Lawrence Road parcel is situated between Hillsborough and Durham . This proposal does not benefit the Orange 203 County school district and it does not benefit Orange County at large . Please vote no on the rezoning and please keep 204 this area rural residential . 205 206 Rachael Price : My husband and I own the Rock House which is a historic property at the corner of Business 70 and 207 Lawrence . Tonight, I would love to bring 3 concerns of ours to the board and the developer. First, when my husband and 208 1 moved into our home , we both commented on how dark it is at night and how nice it is to clearly stargaze while being 209 so close to downtown Hillsborough . I believe that this project with all its required lighting , including all those with the 210 athletic fields , will create a tremendous amount of light pollution for the residents in the surrounding neighborhood . In 211 addition , the light pollution will also disrupt migrating birds as this area is on a major migration route . I propose that the 212 board take this into consideration in deciding if this is the right location for this particular project . If you decide to allow 213 the rezoning , then an evening curfew be put on all lighting and after- hours activities . Second , my husband and I both 214 work in Durham and drive Business 70 almost every day to and from work . What I appreciate about Business 70 is that 215 you clearly leave Durham , there is space between the two towns and that you clearly arrive into Hillsborough . I believe 216 that Hillsborough has done an impeccable job maintaining and cultivating its historic charm and this sets it aside from our 217 neighboring cities . I worry that this project will begin the urban sprawl of business that will take away from Hillsborough ' s 218 uniqueness . I would hate for Business 70 to become another 15/501 , a corridor of business that runs Durham right into 219 Chapel Hill . I believe that this project is not only about the rezoning of this particular parcel of land but represents the