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3 <br /> regulations. Without that information, Chapel Hill's too-vague plans of dense development along <br /> 15-501 are missing key data points which may, indeed, impact the suitability of extending urban <br /> services. <br /> Until the watershed issue is resolved, we can't know what kind of development will be allowed in <br /> the Southern Area. The reason I, and others, have been requesting comprehensive planning and <br /> environmental study is to have better insight around what works well for our community's growth <br /> needs as well as the environment, our drinking water, wildlife, traffic and infrastructure, and the <br /> livelihood of current residents. <br /> I'm a member of the Southern Entryway Alliance, a small group of neighbors concerned about <br /> development and its impacts, who have been communicating with you all for some time. We've <br /> been trying to keep folks aware of the proposed WASMPBA amendment, but it's challenging and <br /> time-consuming work. We have an email list with over 100 subscribers, most of whom live in the <br /> Chapel Hill or Carrboro ETJs, and who have expressed deep concern to us about Chapel Hill's <br /> recent WASMPBA amendment vote. Please remember that the Board of County Commissioners <br /> remain the best and only direct representatives for those of us living in the ETJs. We are <br /> collectively hoping for much better clarity around proposed development, before you decide to <br /> take up the Town's request to amend the water and sewer boundaries. <br /> Thanks in advance for your continued attention to this issue. <br /> Julie McClintock read from the following statement: <br /> One reason Orange County and its towns have experienced fewer growing pains than other <br /> neighboring Counties is because we've planned ahead. Orange County engaged in joint planning <br /> when they passed the 1986 Joint Land Use Plan and the WASMPBA agreement. Good joint <br /> planning has allowed our County to protect its rural roots, grow urban densities without sprawl - <br /> in an orderly sustainable way that protects our water supply watersheds. <br /> It was alarming that the Chapel Hill Council proposed to modify the WASMPBA agreement in <br /> November without any common understanding about what they wanted to accomplish when <br /> utilities were added. What happens could vary from acres of townhouses to Bluehill - like <br /> apartment buildings-to something else. We really have no idea, nor do the folks living in southern <br /> Orange County. <br /> Chapel Hill's action was taken in an illogical order. Why not allow full input of residents and <br /> affected parties to comment on land use changes as part of the County's new Land Use Plan? <br /> Why not allow Chapel Hill to complete its land use revisions as part of the Complete Communities <br /> framework when there is a clear plan to propose? Utility map changes can follow. <br /> These are all reasons why the Orange County Commission should await these outcomes and not <br /> make premature changes to the joint planning boundary agreement. <br /> Where did this utility agreement come from? <br /> Julie McClintock continued her comments by stating that she was the OWASA Board Chair at the <br /> time. She said that in the 1990's OWASA was starting to respond to public health emergencies <br /> and requests to put in water and sewer. She said that infrastructure development was starting to <br /> break down the land use plan. She said the local governments got together to create a plan for <br /> where they would put water and sewer. <br /> Julie McClintock continued reading from the following statement: <br /> No one knows the consequences of placing utilities in a water supply watershed without studying <br /> it first. Based on OWASA's calculations, as many as 2,200 residential units would turn Southern <br /> Orange County from rural to urban overnight without any guarantee of BRT funding, missing <br /> middle housing or a traffic free corridor enabling patients to get through to UNC hospitals. <br /> A person identifying himself as Madden thanked the Board for what they do. He asked <br /> the Board how they would they like some more money. He said before the US Constitution was <br /> ratified, representatives came to Hillsborough and voted not to ratify the US constitution because <br /> it wasn't good enough at the time. He wanted to know if it would be possible to appeal to historians <br /> from outside of Orange County who would like to come visit and learn more about that and <br />