Agenda - 12-01-2008 - 4a - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 ~~~ r 1 political subdivision of the State has the power of eminent domain, and can bypass county 2 regulations. UNC and UNC Healthcare are granted majority membership in the Authority, 3 seating eight out of fifteen members. SB1925 was passed without consulting Orange County 4 Commissioners or citizens who would be affected by the creation of an Airport Authority. 5 The University recently released a Talbert & Bright economic impact study based on a 6 regional airport located in Orange County. Their study projects 40-50 million dollars annual 7 revenue from an "unrestricted" general aviation airport in Orange County. If we accept the 8 Talbert & Bright economic report, are we to assume that the University is now the un-elected 9 planning board for the county? 10 We do not believe the 2008 Talbert & Bright study is an accurate assessment of the 11 economic benefits. We ask the county to assess the accuracy of Talbert & Bright's May 2008 12 "working paper." We believe the University is using this unverified paper, written by an aviation 13 consulting firm, as economic justification for the airport. 14 This heavy handed and opaque progression of events that purposely bypassed the 15 County Commissioners and county voters is very troubling. We cannot wait for the Airport 16 Authority to issue letters of eminent domain which would, as you know, make it impossible for 17 landowners to remain on their property. 18 Given the University's proximity to RDU, a county airport is not needed to fulfill the 19 AHEC's mission. The Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport recently received $5 million in FAA 20 funds to lengthen their runway in order to accommodate larger jets. The Burlington Airport 21 Authority made a proposal to UNC in 2005 offering to accommodate AHEC MedAir Operations. 22 Duke Medical currently flies out of Burlington-Alamance. WE ask the commissioners to include 23 Burlington's proposal in discussions you hold with UNC. 24 If land is taken by eminent domain for an airport in southwest Orange County, the 25 county will lose active farmland that has been passed down from family to family for 26 generations. We ask the commissioners for a resolution condemning the use of eminent 27 domain for commercial purposes. 28 We believe the proposed airport is an environmental disaster. An airport would put our 29 well water at risk and endanger the Haw River watershed without regard for the people 30 downstream that rely on the watershed for drinking water. Diabase sill dikes run beneath Site H 31 properties and prevented a landfill from being built many years ago. 32 We believe that creative solutions to concerns raised by AHEC staff and the University 33 regarding commute times to RDU have not been explored. UNC is a research facility. Surely, 34 for much less than $50 million, the University can devise and implement an environmentally and 35 economically sound plan to transport UNC and AHEC staff to and from RDU. We enlist the 36 help of the commissioners to be certain that solutions other than a new airport are considered 37 by the Airport Authority. 38 We believe that both federal and state taxpayer's money, spent on an airport built 39 mostly to serve special interest groups, could be spent much more effectively elsewhere in 40 Orange County and the state of North Carolina. 41 We respectfully request the Commissioners take a public stand on the airport issue and 42 censure the legislature for bypassing Orange County voters with SB 1925. 43 We request a referendum to allow the people of Orange County to weigh in on the 44 airport issue with their votes. 45 If the airport site selection process proceeds, we ask that the commissioners commit to 46 making certain that county land use, zoning and permits are strictly enforced. 47 We request the commissioners to exert loud and clear objections to any special interest 48 groups, such as a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, being appointed to 49 serve on the UNC Airport Authority. The AOPA has demonstrated their dedication to lobbying 50 for a regional airport in Orange County many times since 2002.