NRG Statement to Orange County Commissioners
April 1, 2008
From: Neighborhoods for Responsible Growth
The Orange County BOC has the responsibility for maintaining our quality of life and to zone in a manner which protects it. Up to now, we have avoided blankets of sprawl because in 1985 three local governments, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County, demonstrated the vision to establish an urban service boundary agreement – the Joint Comprehensive Plan. If they had not acted as they did then, we would now be experiencing sprawl in a wide swath across the middle of the county, similar to what has occurred in north Raleigh. The Board of County Commissioners must protect us from this type of unsustainable development and the compromised air quality and traffic congestion that comes with it.
One thing that has become clear from the very large developments that have recently been approved in our area is that granting approval for large project, such as The Streets at Southpoint, breaks down the zoning in adjacent areas. We have also learned that retail centers located outside of urban areas bleed the economic vitality from our existing towns and cities.
Approving this permit request under existing conditions will represent a failure on the part of the Commission to address these issues and protect the public.
Mebane does not currently have an urban services boundary in place. The County Government should enter into negotiations with Mebane to adopt progressive policies which would prevent sprawl, including just such an urban services boundary. You must defer this permit and rezoning request until these steps have been taken to ensure the integrity of Orange County's quality of life.
The County is in a very strong position because you confer millions of dollars in value to the land when you grant a zoning change. Please protect the interests of all County residents by voting down this proposal and working for the changes outlined above.
Thank you for considering this matter.
Presented by e-mail: April 1, 2008 | 
