Orange County NC Website
3 <br /> 1 We have reached a clear and transparent understanding of how our watersheds will <br /> 2 be protected <br /> 3 Thank you." <br /> 4 Terri Buckner provided 3 maps to the Board for reference and read from the following <br /> 5 prepared statement: <br /> 6 "Water supply watersheds are those watersheds that drain directly into a community drinking <br /> 7 water source. <br /> 8 According to Chapel Hill's Mayor and Planning staff, Chapel Hill's watershed drains to Jordan <br /> 9 Lake and has no impact on University Lake. I've attached three maps to this email. Chapel Hill's <br /> 10 water supply watershed is outlined in green on Map 1. It drains to Jordan Lake and is classified <br /> 11 as WS-IV. Map 2 is the state map of the eastern section of the University Lake watershed in <br /> 12 Carrboro which is a WS-ll (more sensitive). On Map 2, the eastern boundary of the watershed (in <br /> 13 pink) weaves in and out around Smith Level Road and then extends further east across 15-501 <br /> 14 at the southern tip. <br /> 15 Several weeks ago, I notified Chapel Hill staff of the discrepancy between their map (Map 1) and <br /> 16 the state map (Map 2). Late last week they notified me that I was correct and shared the modified <br /> 17 map (Map 3). <br /> 18 The Chapel Hill LUMO is written using the WS-IV standards provided by the state in March 2023. <br /> 19 However, according to the state, if any portion of a water supply watershed is classified as WS- <br /> 20 II, then the entire area must be treated as WS-II. That's a difference of 70% built upon vs 30% <br /> 21 built upon for zoning. <br /> 22 The town staff have not yet weighed in on that claim. However, if it is true, it means that moving <br /> 23 the urban services boundary southward will not provide the level of density the Town Council is <br /> 24 expecting and creates a serious conflict between the desire for development in this area and the <br /> 25 desire to protect our drinking water supply. To me, getting that clarification is something that needs <br /> 26 to be investigated before any change to WASMPBA. <br /> 27 As a result of this new information, I request that you direct your staff to work with the state and <br /> 28 the town of Chapel Hill to determine if the entire area south of Southern Village needs to be <br /> 29 reclassified as WS-11 for zoning purposes. <br /> 30 Building dense development up to the edges of the WS-II zone puts our drinking water at risk. It's <br /> 31 easy to put a line on the map but harder to ensure that water follows those lines. For that reason, <br /> 32 1 believe we need some kind of transition area created along the borders of the WS-II lands. My <br /> 33 second request is that you direct County staff to work with town staff to set up a transition zone <br /> 34 between the WS-II and WS-IV lands to protect the more sensitive WS-II environment when <br /> 35 development does occur around 15-501. That protection is necessary to ensure "proper <br /> 36 management" of our water resources and to control the costs of drinking water treatment." <br /> 37 Andrew Lindstrom from Collins Creek Drive, spoke about the proposed Orange Grove <br /> 38 Waste Facility. He thanked the Board members, OWASA members, and the American Legion <br /> 39 Post for coming out to see the site for the proposed waste facility and hosting a public information <br /> 40 session. He said no one wants the facility at this location and said it will create a lot of problems <br /> 41 with traffic, will disrupt everything the community cherishes, and will cause issues for children at <br /> 42 the bus stop. He asked the Board to rescind this proposal. <br /> 43 Joyce McGuire said her land joins the OWASA biohazard field. She thanked the board <br /> 44 members for coming out to see the proposed site. She said there are traffic hazards on the road <br /> 45 now and the waste facility would exacerbate it. She said this would cause problems at the bus <br /> 46 stop. She said it would devastate their community. <br /> 47 Livy Ludington said she is concerned and disappointed about Chapel Hill's recent vote to <br /> 48 amend WASMPBA. She said she feels like the decision was rushed and there was pressure by <br /> 49 the Chamber of Commerce. She said they did not follow the planning process. She said she is <br /> 50 worried about the environmental impact of extending the urban service boundary without having <br /> 51 all of the information. She said there are traffic issue, but she is more concerned about the <br />