7_10_24 Planning Board Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Approved 8.7.24 out there. There were three things we could do. We could create a land conservation 1103 easement, but we would only have netted 50% of the fair market value, and this is our 1104 retirement income, because we don't have anything else. This second thing was to sell 1105 this land to a developer for a fair market value and have multiple lot owners do whatever 1106 they want with their lots, clear cut the trees, watch the building of more mc-mansions with 1107 true green lawns, and use of herbicides and pesticides. I have a degree in viticulture and 1108 enology. I built a vineyard there. I also have another degree in organic agriculture. So, I 1109 am adamantly opposed to anything, pesticides, herbicides, true green, uh-uh, no, not for 1110 me. So, the third option was to find a like-minded group which came to us in the form of 1111 2T. That group has pledged to keep the trees, not use pesticides or herbicides and 1112 preserve the integrity of the land. The other thing that nobody has mentioned here is that 1113 these people are also going to preserve our cultural heritage by the use of contra dancing 1114 and developing the folk dancing. This type of heritage is vital to the preservation of our 1115 society. It was brought over here by the Scots who founded North Carolina in the 1700s. 1116 It's a part of the English and French traditions as well. So, I am definitely for this 1117 development. 1118 1119 Tom Cheek: As I walk up here, I see my friends and neighbors. I see a lot of people who I hope will 1120 soon be my friends and neighbors. 1121 1122 Adam Beeman: Can you identify yourself, please? 1123 1124 Tom Cheek: I am Tom Cheek; I am the landowner. Let me give you a bit of background. My paternal 1125 line has been in Orange County for 150 years. My family has been here for a long time. 1126 I'm the sixth generation to grow up. In 1957 my family bought this property when I was 6 1127 years old. This is where I've grown up. This land is in my blood. I knew at an early age I 1128 wanted to be a builder. Found out God did not want me to be a chemist, so I went into the 1129 building trades. I am a licensed commercial general contractor and a civil engineering 1130 technician. It has always been my intent to divide this land and build residential on it. I 1131 had a horrific car accident in 2005 which prevented me from doing that. I realized I 1132 needed to partner with someone who would fulfill my vision for the land. These folks 2T, 1133 are the best answer for that land. I believe in what they're doing and having the 1134 construction background that I have, has allowed me to see that the way they are doing it 1135 is adequate, beyond adequate, admirable. Usually when we have people move into our 1136 neighborhood, we don't know what their character is like. This time is different. About 2 1137 years ago we had a monthly meeting scheduled but the 2T participants were late, about a 1138 half hour late. I found out that they had stopped to help my elderly neighbor who had 1139 gone down to her mailbox and fallen and was lying in the driveway. This is the character 1140 of the people who would be our neighbors. I ask you to pass this, thank you. 1141 1142 Stephen Stiebel: All right, thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm Stephen Stiebel, I've lived on 1143 Henderson Field Road just off Morrow Mill Road for 22 years. I'm speaking in favor of this 1144 rezoning amendment. I'm a member of Hands Four and a longtime member of the dance 1145 community. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and in that 1146 career, I have managed construction projects and I was involved in the startup of two 1147 facilities. More recently, I owned and operated a construction-related business for over 20 1148 years. I have served on the board of directors of the Orange Durham Chatham County 1149 Home Builders Association. During my involvement with 2T and H4D, I have been 1150 impressed by the care, thoughtfulness and professional approach of this community. 1151 Importantly, I have been impressed with the planning taking into account to minimize their 1152