Minutes 11-06-2025-Business Meeting

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44 1 Lindsay Sealy, Executive Director at Eno River Academy, cited three concerns: 2 environmental impact noting Strouds Creek rose dangerously close to their playground during 3 Tropical Storm Chantal; transportation safety with 524 projected daily trips adding to the corridor 4 where 150 accidents and 5 fatalities occurred recently; and community trust, questioning the"very 5 limited access" to trails that would be controlled by the future HOA despite this being key to 6 planning board approval. 7 Aly Pacheco asked the Board not to approve this rezoning request. She said the trail on 8 the property is important for the Eno River Academy cross-country team's training. She said she 9 is a new driver and is also worried about the increased traffic around her school. 10 Rebecca Gallegly, nurse and Strouds Creek HOA member, noted the community well at 11 the property's northwest corner sits partially in unprotected wetlands at Strouds Creek 12 headwaters. She calculated 19,600 gallons daily draw for 49 homes, questioning groundwater 13 impacts. She emphasized 13 lots directly back to Strouds Creek with 20 more backing to 14 wetlands, warning of "inevitable contamination" from septic fields, stormwater runoff, and 15 fertilizers. Without rezoning, the developer could build 20 homes on one-plus acre lots, reducing 16 impacts by half. 17 Scott Robinson said he has two children at ERA, but is also a neighbor downstream from 18 this property. He said he is concerned about the potential for contamination, especially given 19 recent flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal. He was also worried about traffic, mentioned 20 endangered Carolina Madtom catfish in the creek, and urged preserving Hillsborough's small- 21 town character. 22 Ali Oho, a student at Eno River Academy and a member of the cross-country team, asked 23 the Board to deny the rezoning request. She spoke about the diverse wildlife on the property and 24 is concerned that they will be impacted by the proposed development. 25 Stephanie Waller cited Forestar and parent company DR Horton's legal issues, including 26 $400,000 civil penalties for Clean Water Act violations and sediment pollution. She criticized 27 Forestar's lack of transparency and contingency planning, placing responsibility on others (town 28 for water, DOT for traffic). She questioned their reputation and asked for accountability measures 29 if approved. 30 David Nagel, 11-year Eno River Academy parent and board chair, argued the proposal 31 contradicts current and 2050 land use plans designating the area as agricultural residential. He 32 questioned how dense development provides quality of life, noting Forestar's business model 33 creates value through entitlements. He said the property's value would quadruple from $1.2 34 million to $5 million through rezoning alone. 35 Elizabeth Millan asked the Board to deny the rezoning request. She said her concerns are 36 impacts to public safety and bad traffic congestion. She studied NCDOT's five-year history 37 showing nearly 150 accidents and several fatalities. 38 Jeanine Gangloff said she is concerned about impacts to traffic. She described her 39 children navigating 55 mph traffic with logging trucks and casino traffic from Danville, noting two 40 entrances on either side of a hill. She said fire, EMS, and police should be here to give expertise 41 because they will be the ones who are responding to accidents. She asked the Board to deny the 42 rezoning request. 43 Christine Preddy asked the Board to deny the request. She said it is too much 44 development too fast and will impact Eno River Academy downstream. She said she didn't realize 45 there were 5 fatalities in 5 years in this area., and is in favor of keeping the property open and 46 green for the students at ERA. 47 Otto Bermeo, a parent with 12 years of experience at Eno River Academy, voiced his 48 concerns during the public hearing. He emphasized the importance of reconciling the positive