Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
as a neighbor. As part of this planning effort, we ask the commissioners and the planning board <br /> to stand up for the property rights of our community and to protect the greater good. <br /> Steve Richardson made the following comments: <br /> Mr. Chairman and Commissioners, good evening. <br /> I'm Steve Richardson. I've been an Orange County property owner for twenty years. I once <br /> purchased a 1.3 acre sliver of land in Southern Orange County to add to my property which <br /> somehow triggered a major subdivision review and astoundingly led a member of the planning <br /> board to find fault with even the name I chose for the tiny subdivision. <br /> So I know some frontline realities of land use in Orange County, for which the 2030 <br /> Comprehensive Plan is supposed to provide future Commissioners a template. <br /> I also speak for my friend Lynette Hartsell, an attorney who is out of state tonight. We both <br /> serve on the Board of our new civic association, Friends of Lake Orange. But tonight, and in <br /> written comments two weeks ago, we speak as much for ourselves as for anyone else — <br /> actually, for everyone else because the Plan affects everyone in the County, not just us. <br /> Until a month ago, none of my friends and neighbors had heard of the 2030 Plan, or you'd <br /> have seen us all here long ago. <br /> While the draft of the Comprehensive Plan may appear to meet legal requirements for public <br /> discussion, only a handful of those who know of the Plan know what's in it, all 313 pages. <br /> The draft boldly uses the ominous term "police powers" for its enforcement. <br /> How many know there is no requirement under state law that Orange or any other North <br /> Carolina County even have such a Plan? <br /> Despite many worthy things and sentiments sprinkled through the current draft, it has major <br /> gaps that make it fatally flawed. <br /> The Plan asserts control for use of land, public and private. But nowhere does the Plan (or, as <br /> far as I can tell, the old one it replaces) even mention "property rights." No provision for their <br /> taking, no means of recourse and compensation when the County for itself or County on behalf <br /> of the State restricts or otherwise disposes of our property rights. <br /> Dealing with property rights does add complexity to land use planning. So I understand why <br /> that planning board member years ago objected to naming my little subdivision after Thomas <br /> Jefferson, champion of property rights and limited government. <br /> Commissioners, your property deed has your name on it. My deed has my name on it. <br /> Property taxes we all pay are not rent for our use of our property, with the State or the County <br /> as landlord. <br /> This Plan draft can be fixed, but the current draft is no plan that any property owner could <br /> agree to. <br />