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21 <br />03/13/03 <br />Mr. Keith A. Feather <br />3017 Hwy 70A East <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Mr. Robert P. Davis <br />Orange County Planning Board <br />P.O. Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Dear Mr. Davis: <br />I regret my inability to attend the public hearing on February 24~' during which stream classification and <br />buffer amendments were under discussion. As a landowner in Orange County who would be directly <br />affected by the proposed ordinance, I would like to state my concerns here so thhat they may be conveyed to <br />the Planning Board and County Commissioners, who, as I understand, will ultimately decide on the matter. <br />My situation is as follows. I own 23 acres approximately three miles east of Hillsborough, just south of <br />Highway 70, this property being held in my family since 1964. I am currently in the process of a minor <br />subdivision, and on one of the proposed lots the USGS map indicates a stream. where, in fact, there is none. <br />County staff has visited the site and to my knowledge agree that there is not a stream, or creek, or channel <br />or any other indication of surface water, intermittent or perennial, at this location. Nonetheless, the current <br />Orange County planning rules require that I have a stream buffer surveyed and. placed on the final plat <br />simply because the USGS map incorrectly illustrates a stream as being there. <br />Given the established fact that USGS maps are often in error, I think it prudent that the County allow itself <br />the flexibility to ascertain the actual existence of these water features utilizing its own trained staff. This <br />would relieve landowners of the illogical burden of creating stream buffers for non-existent streams and <br />water features. Of equal, or greater importance, the proposed ordinance would also allow the County to <br />protect bona fide streams and water features that erroneously do not appear on the static USGS maps. This <br />ordinance, then, would have the effect of freeing landowners of unnecessary rE;straints, unintended bathe <br />existing ordinances, while allowing the County to more effectively fulfill its goal of protecting the <br />County's watershed under its existing protection program. <br />In light of these considerations, Iimplore the County government to adopt the proposed ordinance. <br />Sincerely Yours, <br />-, <br />Keith A. Feather <br />