Orange County NC Website
6 Draft <br /> 1 Leon Meyers: Wait a minute, let's try to stay focused on the standing issue in this part of the hearing rather <br /> 2 than on the merits of the application. Let me be sure I understand how you believe traffic has <br /> 3 an impact on the value of your property that would generate special damages to you or your <br /> 4 property ownership. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 Sarah Lormand: Right now, the increase in the traffic creates dust. There's been issues with speeding, and <br /> 7 there's just a sheer volume that one business generates multiple times as much traffic as our <br /> 8 five, six households combined. In addition, we've been blocked in. I've been unable to get to <br /> 9 work for trucks delivering to her, parking across the end of the private drive and blocking us <br /> 10 from getting out, and there's just been multiple issues since the inception of her business, <br /> 11 which I have reached out to the county previously. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 Leon Meyers: And how do you believe that approval of the special-use permit application would make that <br /> 14 situation worse? <br /> 15 <br /> 16 Sarah Lormand: Because it increases her client base dramatically. That's the reason she wants it is to be able <br /> 17 to get additional licensure so that she can dramatically increase her client base and expand <br /> 18 her operation. It also includes a new building envelope, again, expanding the operation. If <br /> 19 just the small amount of traffic she has coming in now with the volunteers, the patients, and <br /> 20 the employees is already impacting us. Once that's allowed to expand to a full rotation of <br /> 21 cohorts, it's going to only amplify those disturbances. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 Leon Meyers: And help me with the reason you believe that has an impact or would have an impact on the <br /> 24 value of your property. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 Sarah Lormand: One is that I never would have purchased this property if there was a commercial lot next to <br /> 27 me, and I certainly would not have purchased this property if there was a mental health facility <br /> 28 next door. I wouldn't even have looked at the property, and I have a strong belief that the next <br /> 29 family won't either. It's going to make it very difficult to sell my home if I choose to try to get <br /> 30 away from this. <br /> 31 <br /> 32 Leon Meyers: Do you have any background in valuing real property? <br /> 33 <br /> 34 Sarah Lormand: Again, that's why I'm asking for a continuance. I've spoken with a variety of realtors and <br /> 35 appraisers, and they require more time to rebut the appraisal on file. The realtor that I spoke <br /> 36 to who was willing to come tonight and speak to the fact that it is much harder to sell properties <br /> 37 with this type of facility, with a business next door, but especially this type of facility focusing <br /> 38 on mental health and substance abuse, is going to be a very hard sell. She is not available <br /> 39 tonight. The lawyer I spoke to is not available tonight. This was a very short amount of time <br /> 40 to be able to prepare a defense to this. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 Leon Meyers: And I understand that the relatively short notice for the hearing, as I'm sure you know, the <br /> 43 staff has followed the ordinance and the state statutes with regard to notice for tonight's <br /> 44 hearing. The Board,of course, can't change any of those things. We work with what we have. <br /> 45 Tonight, you don't have evidence that approval of the special-use permit would have a <br /> 46 negative impact on your property. <br /> 47 <br /> 48 Sarah Lormand: No, I have not had an opportunity to get that on file yet. <br /> 49 <br /> 50 Leon Meyers: Board members, any other questions? <br /> 6 <br />