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288 <br /> <br />1 Mr. Chairman and Commissioners, good evening. <br />2 <br />3 I'm Steve Richardson. I've been an Orange County property owner for twenty years. 1 once <br />4 purchased a 1.3 acre sliver of land in Southern Orange County to add to my property which <br />5 somehow triggered a major subdivision review and astoundingly led a member of the planning <br />6 board to. find fault with even the name I chose for the tiny subdivision. <br />7 <br />8 So I know some frontline realities of land use in Orange County, for which the 2030 <br />9 Comprehensive Plan is supposed to provide future Commissioners a template. <br />10 <br />11 I also speak for my friend Lynette Hartsell, an attorney who is out of state tonight. We both <br />12 serve on the Board of our new civic association, Friends of Lake Orange. But tonight, and in <br />13 written comments two weeks ago, we speak as much for ourselves as for anyone else - <br />14 actually, for everyone else because the Plan affects everyone in the County, not just us. <br />15 <br />16 Until a month ago, none of my friends and neighbors had heard of the 2030 Plan, or you'd <br />17 have seen us all here long ago. <br />18 <br />19 While the draft of the Comprehensive Plan may appear to meet legal requirements for public <br />20 discussion, only a handful of those who know of the Plan know what's in it, all 313 pages. <br />21 <br />22 The draft boldly uses the ominous term "police powers" for its enforcement. <br />23 <br />24 How many know there is no requirement under state law that Orange or any other North <br />25 Carolina County even have such a Plan? <br />26 <br />27 Despite many worthy things and sentiments sprinkled through the current draft, it has major <br />28 gaps that make it fatally flawed. <br />29 <br />30 The Plan asserts contra) for use of land, public and private. But nowhere does the Plan (or, as <br />31 far as I can tell, -the old one it replaces) even mention "property rights." No provision for their <br />32 taking, no means of recourse and compensation when the County for itself or County on behalf <br />33 of the State restricts or otherwise disposes of our property rights. <br />34 <br />35 Dealing with property rights does add complexity to land use. planning. So I understand why <br />36 that planning board member years ago objected to naming my little subdivision after Thomas <br />37 Jefferson, champion of property rights and limited government. <br />38 <br />39 Commissioners, your property deed has your name on it. My deed has my name on it. <br />40 Property taxes we all pay are not rent for our use of our property, .with the State or the County <br />41 as landlord. <br />42 <br />43 This Plan draft can be fixed, but the current draft is no plan that any property owner could <br />44 agree to. <br />45 <br />46 This Commission's makeup will change very soon. The stated intent in establishing a separate <br />47 District Commissioner for Northern Orange County, was to give an effective voice to the <br />48 northern part of the County. Where is our voice in this Plan? <br />49 <br />50 Lynette and I ask this Commission to defer any action on the Comprehensive Plan to the new <br />51 County Commission taking office in December. <br /> <br />