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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19890130-~ ,: - 3 .,~, ,; MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING ON RESERVOIR SITE SELECTION JANUARY 30, 19$9 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special session on January 30, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in Superior Courtroom, New County Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners Stephen Halkiotis, John Hartwell, Shirley E. Marshall and Don Willhoit. ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill. STAFF PRESENTS County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager Albert Kittrell, Deputy Clerk to the Board Kathy Baker, Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe, and County Engineer Faul Thames. SITE SELECTION FOR UPPER ENO RIVER BASIN RAW WATER RESERVOIR Chair Carey made introductory remarks. He stated that this evening has been set for a public hearing on the reservoir site decision that the Board of Commissioners are approaching within the next month. Gounty Engineer Paul Thames briefly described the contents of a report done by Hazen and Sawyer Engineers on the comparison of potential raw water sites for the proposed reservoir. (A copy of this report is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office and in the Commissioners' Library). Thames stated that it was determined that two sites in the Eno Basin were suitable for reservoir development in terms of the perimeters of size, yield and cost. The two sites chosen were the one on Seven Mile `',``' Greek and the one on the Eno River just upstream from McGowan Creek. In order for the County to begin purchasing land by the end of 1989, a final site selection would be necessary by the end of March, 1989. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS: BARRIE WALLACE stated apposition to building the reservoir on the Eno. She asked that the historic structures on the Eno not be allowed to be destroyed. She showed on a map the historic structures and the flood level of the reservoir if built on the Eno. Faucette's Mill would be under water and Chatwood would have a :Eloodline at her fences. Other homes would be under water or within 50 to 70 feet of the water. She continued with her presentation showing pictures of all the structures that would be affected if a reservoir is built on the Eno. JOYCE BROWN handed to the Clerk some questions stating she would like to have a response as soon as possible. She made reference to a question she asked last year about what happens to a river when it is dammed. She went to the American Rivers Conference to get an answer. Among all the experts she did not talk to one person who thought that dams save rivers but rather the opposite. She referred to a study done ten years ago which found that dams not only diminish rivers by enhancing evaporation from impoundments but are unwise, economically inefficient and environmentally destructive and permit and stimulate unwise settlement and development. She asked that a second opinion from another specialist with a different viewpoint be obtained before a final decision is made on building a reservoir. She questioned if the county knew what they ;~ w.`,. were doing stating the building of a reservoir is destructive. (A copy of Joyce Brown's complete statement is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office). PATSY UPTON stated her family owns a 680 acre tree farm that would be adversely affected if the reservoir is located at the Seven Mile Creek site. The land is located _ adjacent to Moorefields. She spoke in favor of maintaining the rural character of this property. She stated that if the Seven Mile Greek site is selected, the land condemned should be only that which is necessary for the needed water and not for recreation or parks. MARGARET HOLTON (A copy of her full statement is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office), spoke as a member of the Water Resources Committee. She spoke in favor of the McGawan Creek Site. She stated that the Water Resources Study Committee discussed methods of enhancing cooperative efforts between the current water providers, such as in the form of a county water board, and that the providers work out an agreement as to their boundaries of service. Both reports have been largely ignored until now. She emphasized that when the proposed reservoir is built in Northern Orange County, it should have the capacity to serve the people for as long as possible. It is wise to provide for the future and the growth that is expected to take place in Orange County. The reservoir in the McGowan Creek site will provide for a bigger watershed which would mean a greater supply of water. No matter what size reservoir is built, there must continue to be three million gallons per day downstream flow requirement out of that reservoir. The McGowan Creek site can provide for a better environmental impact statement. After much study, the McGowan Creek site has been recommended by Hazen and Sawyer and also the Orange County Reservoir Study Committee. The reservoir may cost more but could provide future and present citizens of Orange County a water supply that is safer and more stable and provide water for a longer period of time. DON COX made reference to his interest in maintaining the stream flow of the Eno. The Seven Mile Creek site is now listed as the location of some bottomland hardwoods and also some endangered species. Adam in that area would also lose a good bit of the remaining fish breeding habitat which likes the small clear gravel streams. The upper Eno site will endanger historic and cultural resources and also have some environmental impacts. In the cost of either of these must be included the cost of a new water line for Hillsborough and Orange Alarnance because the quality of the water in Lake Ben Johnston and Orange Alamance will be increasingly degraded by the growth in the watershed of those two present reservoirs. Hillsborough has alternatives to water. Hillsborough is supplying up to about 500,000 gallons a day to Flynt Fabrics which could choose to recycle much of its water. The pipeline to Durham was approved by a bond issue and the pipeline to OWASA exists. He read a memo he received from Dr. Kenneth Reckhow in which Reckhow made reference to the projected growth of Hillsborough and stated that the population figure is important because North Carolina drinking water standards do not require trihalomethane monitoring unless the population served is greater than 10,000. (A copy of this memo is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office). He asked that the Board of Commissioners take a second look at the timing and other alternatives. SANDY DAVISON made remarks about the siltation problems on the upper Eno. He stated that Gorporation Lake was built in 1968 and has lost 35~ of its storage capacity due to sedimentation. If the dam was built on the Eno, it would be necessary to place regulations or restrictions on land use upstream to protect it from siltation. He spoke about the affects of I85 on Seven Mile Creek stating that any spillage would not reach the creek because the watershed would trap any such spillage. He supported the Seven Mile Creek site stating it would be more economical and provide a better quality of .:3 water. _ PETER WEARS, owner of a home that overlooks the Faucette's Mill and dam area, spoke in opposition of the Corporation Lake project. MORRIS GASPER lives on the western edge of Hillsborough and spoke in opposition of both sites and feels the basic question is not water but development. The people who want to develop want the water mare than those who don't want to develop. He feels that the options of either pumping water in from Durham or Jordan Lake must be better because it controls growth. He asked that development be controlled instead of constantly accommodating it. He asked that the money be set aside until a decision could be made on which of the pipelines would be better and asked that energies be geared toward controlling development in this end of the County. DELMER SHELTON stated, as a newcomer to this area, he realizes that the County must have more water for the growth that is coming to the area. He asked that the $oard of Commissioners look carefully before selecting a site. BILL LESTER who lives on the Eno expressed his support for ecology. He asked that this be taken into consideration when making a decision. BARRY ,TACOSS (A copy of his comments are in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office). He asked that the Board of Commissioners consider the following before making any decision regarding a reservoir: (1) Review the recommendations of your own task forces that considered long- range water strategies and a reservoir site. (2) Ask the County attorney to provide a written opinion on the likely legal _ ramifications of selecting one particular site over another. (3) Refine a conceptual context within which a reservoir is to be considered. (4) State unequivocally that any reservoir will be fully protected from --= intrusive uses, including especially motorboating and other polluting recreational uses. CHARLES A_ WALKER. JR. spoke about the rose garden in Chatwood. Over 600 varieties of roses are in that rose garden. It is visited by hundreds of people and well known by horticultural circles. Plans are to enlarge this garden to include heritage roses. The dam at McGowan Creek would destroy the potential for such a garden and its potential to Orange County. HENRY MCIVER spoke in support of the McGowan Creek location for the reservoir. The yield would be larger with a lower per gallon cost to the taxpayer. Anew lake on this site would more likely remain high during the summer months thereby making it more useful and appealing for people who use it for recreation if that is allowed. Both sites will impact existing features. He stressed that steps be taken now to insure that the new water supply will be used wisely. RICHARD WATSON, attorney for Barrie Wallace, made comments about the costs involved if his clients property were condemned. He stated that the values in the Hazen and Sawyer report are low. He referred to the Natural Preservation Act and presented a letter to the Board from William S. Price, Jr., State Historic Preservation Officer. (A copy of this letter is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's Office). MAYOR FRED GATES asked that the report from the Town of Hillsborough on Seven Mile Creek be entered into the record. (The report was received on March 21 and is in the L' Commissioners' Library). He presented a letter from Margaret G. Altvater and a lease for an easement granted to the Orange Alamance Water System and asked that these be >~-~, entered into the record. These are on file in the Clerk's Office and therefore made a part of these minutes by reference. He stated that the town officials of Hillsborough, in recognizing the need far water, proposed back in April for a joint venture with the County in developing the Seven Mile Creek reservoir and still has. that position. BARRY. FREEMAN stressed planning for the future. He feels that the capacity will be reached and the Board of Commissioners need to set limits on growth. The quality of living and the environment need to be set as top priority issues. FRANCES GRATE made reference to what has happened in California and asked that the Commissioners set as a priority full conservation. LEE CULPEPPER spoke as a member of the Chapel Hill Historic District Gommission and as Treasurer of the Chapel Hill Preservation Society. He stated that the peaple of southern Orange County are concerned about the reservoir issue. He is concerned about the loss of the historic structures that would be damaged by the proposed reservoir. WITH NO FURTHER COMMENTS THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. Commissioner Willhoit asked that those who spoke about the issue of growth and about the impact of the proposed reservoir on that growth to study the issue and realize that under the North Garolina statutes, the Board cannot deny residential growth. It will occur with septic tanks and wells or we can try to provide for orderly growth by providing reservoirs far municipal type growth. He. encouraged everyone to get more actively involved with the County's land use planning efforts. - Commissioner Marshall agreed with Commissioner Willhoit. More people have spoken out on growth and development issues. She encouraged them to get involved and attend the Board of Commissioners' meetings and public hearings. She entered a letter from Dr. Murphy into the record. Dr. Murphy read the letter which is made a part of these minutes by reference. The letter supported the Seven Mile Creek site for the proposed reservoir. Chair Carey noted that a decision on the location of the reservoir is expected by the end of March. Motion was made by Commissioner Hartwell, seconded by Commissioner Marshall to hold the public hearing open until March 8 for receipt of written statements. VOTE: UNANIMOUS. ADJOURNMENT ' With no further items to be Gansidered, Chair Moses Carey, Jr. adjourned the meeting. The next regular meeting of the Board will be held on February 6, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Old Courthouse, Hillsborough, North Carolina. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk