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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 198905244 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING MAY 24, 1989 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met on May 24, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Old Post Office, Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina for the purpose of hearing citizen comments on matters concerning economic development in the County. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners Shirley E. Marshall, Stephen Halkiotis, Don Willhoit, and John Hartwell. ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John Link, Purchasing Director Pam Jones, Economic Development Director Sylvia Price, Planner David Stencil, and Deputy Clerk to the Beard Kathy Baker. CONSULTANT PRESENT: Thomas McDowell of Mcbevco Associates, Raleigh, NC. Chairman Carey opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. He indicated that he would entertain comments on rural character goals, economic development, the airport or any other issues on which citizens wished to comment. As background information, he indicated that the airport process started with the appointment of a Citizen's Task Force which made recommendations concerning a general aviation airport in Orange County. The Commissioners adopted that recommendation and hired a consultant to begin the planning process.. This process allowed the Commissioners to assess information at several points in the process and make decisions about whether they wanted to proceed. On Monday, May 22, 1989 the Commissioners stopped this process by voting that the one remaining site would not be suitable for the development of an airport. This Public Hearing, therefore, will be a positive statement about what is wanted by the citizens in Orange County. THE PUBLIG HEARING WAS OPEN FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS. MR. DON JOHNSON, a licensed pilot, Chapel Hill resident, professor at UNC, businessman, and divinity student at Duke, spoke in support of Orange County's need for a community airport. He stated that an airport improves access and encourages economic development. He encouraged the Commissioners to continue to search for a suitable site. His main reason for supporting an airport is that it would be a selling point to new businesses and industry which could provide jobs in the $10.00 to $20.00 an hour range to Orange County citizens. He questioned whether the interest of the anti-airport people was community development or self-interest. He felt that a great deal of it was self-interest. He encouraged the Commissioners to work with Chapel Hill and other community agencies toward the goal of developing a regional airport. MS. KATHY NEWELL, a Galvander resident and a former FAA repair station and refurbishment center employee, spoke in opposition to the airport. She stated that toxic waste would be a problem with an airport, and that the majority of employees at an airport would be imported from other areas of the country.. She suggested that a solution to the problem of economic development would be for the County to bring in a high level vocational school. She mentioned the Emily Griffith Opportunity School in Denver, Colo, as a model of the type of school she was suggesting. It is an adult vocational school which specializes in more technical skills than a run-of-the-mill .„~ ' vocational school. Examples of skills taught at such schools are clock repair, men's tailoring and car upholstery. Her final suggestion was fox Orange County to have what she called an Honor's Pull.-Out program which would be associated with the high schools. This would be a half-day program for the better students who wish to get advanced placement in jobs such as radio broadcasting, ballet, or commercial art. MR. RON KUMIN, a member of SCRAP, presented the Commissioners with several more petitions in opposition to the airport. He stated that he had spoken to Julie Andresen and Mary Waldorf and he assured them that SCRAP does not support the extension or expansion of the Horace Williams Airport. He offered to help the Town of Chapel Hill in any way possible to keep Horace Williams as it is. He mentioned that in April of 1988 the Orange County Commissioners contacted Independent Opinion Research and Communications and had a public opinion survey done. The result of the survey was that of the things Orange County citizens believed were needed in the County, the least needed was an airport. Only 10~ believed it was important and 55$ said it was not important at all. The poll did indicate an overwhelming support far new and better schools in Chapel Hi11 and the County at-large. He mentioned that he had met with Commissioner Hartwell, Commissioner Carey, and Commissioner Willhoit on different occasions in the past weeks. He indicated that he had learned a great deal about the County's economic needs. He suggested that the county trap into the human resources which have been brought out in opposition to the airport. These citizens could help in the creation of jobs and an economic policy, which would help to build a better economic base.. He challenged the SCRAP organization to remain active and help the County build the economic base. He stated that he personally was willing to devote time to help solve the problem. '' Chairman Gorey mentioned that there were sign-up sheets in the front of the room _ so that citizens could volunteer to serve on the Economic Aevelopment Task Forces, ~~~~ and/or the Rural Character Committees. MR. .MICHAEL SALEMI, a UNC Economies Professor and a Chapel Hill resident, stated that he had no vested interest in this issue. He was asked by a friend to look at the Gonsultant's report. He stated that this report seriously overstated the economic benefits of the proposed airport. He believes they double counted by not counting activity that would be deleted from Horace Williams and treating it as if it were new activity in the County. He indicated that as a result of the initial double-counting that jobs, earnings and tax revenues were also overstated by the Consultant's report. He does not believe that an increase in industrial aviation will promote industrial growth. The consultants declined to make that claim and he has not seen it documented elsewhere. He stated that before public monies are spent, it needs to be well established that they will achieve the intended objective and he doesn't believe that evidence is available. He mentioned that the benefit of increased safety in the area surrounding the Horace Williams airport needed to be weighed against the cost of relocating the airport. He believes that the answer to the issue of safety depends on what would be done with the Horace Williams property if the airport was relocated. Potential activities on that property which would increase road traffic could greatly increase the risk of traffic fatalities to our citizens. His final point was that much of the development around Horace Williams' airport post-dates the airport. People moved there freely. He feels that requesting public monies to improve their benefit is unfair. He agrees with previous speakers that the issue needs to be the `, economic development of the county. BELLINA VERONESI, a member of SCRAP, spoke in opposition to the airport. She read a statement which chronicled the growth of SGRAP from a gzoup of angry citizens ti - .Wa ~~ to an informed citizens watch group which effectively spoke for the rural Orange County community. She stated that the members of SCRAP researched the environmental '', impact of the airport, as well as the legal rights of property owners to sue airport owners and management for noise annoyances. She indicated that SCRAP members felt the information found in the Task Force Survey and Consultant's report was misleading and superficial. Lastly, she thanked the Commissioners for their recent flexibility and sensitivity to the voice of the people. MS. FRANCIS DOUGLASS presented a plan to channel the energies of the neighborhoods across Orange County who were involved in the SCRAP effort into the Economic Development Plan and Rural Character Study. She proposed the Orange - Multi-Neighborhood Information Network (OMNI). The purpose of the network would be to promote, maintain and enhance the quality, stability and vitality of the residential neighborhoods in Orange County. The OMNI network would research and take positions on issues affecting any member neighborhood, and would collect and distribute information '~ to stimulate awareness and interest in those issues. A neighborhood will be defined as an ongoing, private, formal and representative organization, from a defined geographic area, composed of at least 40 households and accounting far at least 15~ of the households in the area, the purpose of which is not inconsistent with that of the network. There will be one voting representative elected, or appointed, by the governing body of each neighborhood, as well as one alternative representative. Other members of the neighborhood will be encouraged to serve on committees of the network. Ms. Douglass requested that citizens interested in participating in OMNI indicate that by signing their name on the sign-up sheet. MS. TERESE WEAVER spoke in opposition to the airport. She stated that her family had been residents of Orange County for five generations and that our area, and our ~'~~ ability to attract desired economic development, is truly unique. She mentioned that she worked with SCRAP on the financial analysis of the airport. Finding long-team __. solutions to the County's. economic problems is very difficult. She stated that Orange County citizens are an important resource and need to be included in the process of finding these solutions. She volunteered to help Orange County government pursue the goals which have been established. MS. MADELINE LEVINE mentioned that she had earlier addressed the Commissioners at a Rural Gharacter meeting. She stated that she believed the process followed in pursuing the airport was flawed. Communication was lacking between the Commissioners and the citizens. An example o.f poor communication was that the Report to the Pe__,ogla did not include the plans for an airport. The economic goals proposed to be reached through the construction of an airport were not articulated early in the process. Also, the survey mentioned by Ron Kumin convinced her that the Commissioners were not listening closely enough to the citizens. She did, however, agree with Commissioner Willhoit that the vote on the airport should have been delayed until after the Public Hearings. She stated that the questions that need to be answered are "why do we not have water and utilities and job training programs in place". She suggested using local citizens as volunteer consultants to come up with ways to attract desirable commercial enterprises. Finally, she suggested that the Commissioners need to be mare in touch with what State Agencies, including UNC, plan for the county. Initially, it was assumed that UNG would be closing the Horace Williams Airport. However, that now turns out to be untrue. Also, Sunday's Ch_a_pe1 Hill Herald mentioned that the head of the Division of Airport Transportation at NCDOT said that if the Commissioners go ahead and decide on an airport then the State will go ahead and ask the FAA to designate the Orange County Airport as a "reliever airport" for RDU. She felt that this was frightening. - MS. PENNY ALDRICH, a teacher at Estes Elementary School, mentioned the fact that 500 feet of runway is currently being added at the Horace Williams Airport. This ' addition changes the airport runway to a 4000 foot runway. Corporate planes require a minimum of 3900 feet in order to attempt a landing. She stated that RDU will limit, if not eliminate, the use of its facilities by small aircraft. That will open the door for these corporate aircraft to use Horace Williams. She mentioned that many citizens feel strongly that because Horace Williams is in such close proximity to many homes, apartments and 2 city schools it should not be permitted to extend it facilities. MR. LES BROWN, a member of SCRAP, spoke in opposition to the airport. He stated that he is troubled by the money and energy consumed by, what he believed to be, a false premise. Namely, that there are important economic benefits to be derived from an airport. He stated he believes the data used to support the assumption that the airport would provide substantial money to the county budget has not been produced. MR. JAY ZARAGOZA, a citizen and landowner, spoke in opposition to the airport. He pointed out that just two days ago the United States Supreme Court ruled that individuals can sue cities and towns aver the noise produced by airports. He thanked Commissioners Carey, Hartwell and Willhoit for meeting personally with citizens during the last several weeks. He disagreed with the supposition that the airport is a means to a goal and indicated that the goal needs to be more clearly defined. He stated that the economic activities in the county need to be aimed at correcting the separate and unequal school systems now present in Orange County. MS. JOAN JOBSIS stated that her property is directly in the middle of site 11. The approval of that site would have been a personal tragedy in her life. She thanked ~~ the Commissioners for responding to the outpouring of citizen sentiment and stated that they have restored her faith in the democratic process. She also stated that this experience has enlightened her. She now realizes that the Commissioners need for the citizens to be involved. Also, each. citizen has a personal need to be involved in county politics. She stated that she will work with the Commissioners and her fellow citizens in helping Orange County move toward a goal of economic stability. MS. LEIGH PEEK spoke in opposition to the airport. She indicated that many citizens have been hurt by the pursuit of a proposed airport site. Also, she felt that this project should have been listed in the Resort to the Peo~e~ MR. FRANS JOBSIS, a Duke University Professor, a small businessman and a landowner in the site 11 area, mentioned that last year, after 20 years of requests, DOT paved Bushy'Cook Road. He wondered if it was because of this upcoming project. He stated that as a small businessman he has a need for skilled technicians. He has been unable to locate them in Orange County. He agreed with Ms. Newell's suggestion of a technically oriented vocational school. He offered to assist in any way possible. MR. MICHAEL JOLLY, a citizen and pilot, spoke in opposition to the airport. He showed a series of slides pertaining to the noise footprint of the Gulf Stream IV jet. The Gulf Stream IV is the quietist of the corporate jets. He stated that the slides showed that the noise footprint indicated that the noise would be intolerable in the area of the proposed airport. He assured the Commissioners that he is in favor of attracting economic development to Orange County. He volunteered his services to help reach that goal. He also stated his opposition to the expansion of the Horace ~1 .J Williams Airport. He mentioned that the lack of zoning for development and the lack of infrastructures (water/sewer) hinder the attainment of our common goal of economic development. These need to be our priorities. MR. ARNOLD GREENWELL, a private pilot and user of Horace Williams Airport, spoke in favor of the proposed airport. He stated that he was angry and upset that the Public Hearings on the proposed airport were prematurely stopped. He lives within two blocks of Horace Williams and believes it is a good neighbor. It is a part of the national public transportation system. He does not feel that the opposition represents a majority of the citizens but is a vocal minority. He reminded the Commissioners that two years ago at the Public Hearing at Phillips Junior High School the sentiment was running 50/50 on the airport issue. He felt that this was a more accurate representation of the citizens. He also indicated that he opposed having additional restrictions placed on the Horace Williams Airport. MR. JOHN MCKEE,.Chairman of the Orange Gounty Economic Development Commission (EDC), read a written statement which is incorporated as a part of these minutes by reference. He stated that he was encouraged by some of the ideas he has heard at this hearing. Sign-up forms were left in the front of the room and citizens were encouraged to volunteer to serve on one of the Committees of the Economic Development Commission. MR. .7IM LA TORRE asked Commissioner Carey to assure the citizens that the vote on Monday night meant that no airport would be built in Orange County, rather than that no airport would be put on Site 11. Mr. Carey indicated that the vote meant that Site 11, which was the only site that remained on the list to be considered, was not suitable for an airport. The motion also made specific reference to the fact that alternatives to an airport were more suitable for pursuing the County's goals of economic development and diversification of the tax base, and the Commissioners were interested in exploring those with the citizens of Orange county. As a result of further questioning by Mr: LaTorre, Chairman Carey stated that as long as the present Board remained constituted the way it is, there will be no further plans for an Orange County regional airport. Mr. LaTorre thanked Commissioner Hartwell for coming to Site 11 and viewing first hand the damage that the airport .would have done. He reiterated the point that lack of communication was part of the problem. He also pointed out that the citizens were half of the problem as they often do not keep up with county politics. He suggested that zoning for clean industry would be helpful in attracting the right kind of industry to Orange County. He offered his services in helping to reach that goal. MS. PAT GREENWELL, a resident of Orange County, spoke in favor of the need for a regional airport. She stated that she would have been a user of such an airport and was disappainted'at the way in which the vote was taken. She mentioned that she believed many other citizens would have come out in support of the airport if the vote had not been taken prematurely. She wanted the Commissioners to know that she believes that aviation is safe and an asset to the community. MR. TREY GREER, a pilot and resident of Carrboro, spoke in favor of the need for a regional airport. He expressed disappointment that the vote had been taken before the Public Hearings. He also mentioned that his belief is that the Horace Williams airport is safe and the additional 500 feet of runway is intended to make the airport safer for those already using it, not to allow jets to land there. He feels that the schools are in no danger from the aircraft flying in and out of the airport. ~, l -~r ;. _. _y MS. JOYCE BROWN, a resident of Orange County, spoke in opposition to a Regional _, __ Airport. She praised the efforts of citizens in joining forces and pledging to stand together. She also mentioned that the previously mentioned poll indicated that the #1 priority of Orange County citizens was to control growth and development. She asked that in considering plans for economic development the Commissioners consider that the need for expansion has limits. The citizens and Commissioners need to carefully research what the people actually want before going forward with any future plans. MR. JAMES JACKSON, a property owner in Site 11, spoke in opposition to Orange County building a regional airport. He stated that if the infrastructure was improved, the County could attract the type of industry needed. Because the County is at the headwaters of Cane Creek, Jordan Lake and the Neuse River, they do not need to put a landfill in the county. He requested that rather than a new landfill, that there be a requirement countywide for the separation of garbage so that the county can recycle and sell the recycled waste. He stated that North Carolina is #1 in the number of individuals who live in rural, non-farm housing arrangements. For every house seen, there is another one in the woods. He suggested scraping the telephone system because of poor quality service, as well as the expense of long distance charges for almost every call. He pointed out that he purchased $60,000 worth of building materials in Burlington because calling there was not long distance and he could shop around on the phone for the best prices. MR. JAMES YANKASKAS, a resident of Orange County and member of the 1987 Orange County Issues Task Force expressed disappointment in the actions of the Commissioners in allowing themselves to be influenced by a well organized lobby group. Airports are controversial issues which bring both positive and negative affects to the communities _ in which they are located. By voting prematurely on the remaining site the democratic process was short-circuited. The individual citizens, which the democratic process is committed to hear, were not given an opportunity to express themselves at a Public __._ Hearing. These citizens have been deprived the opportunity to suggest a better site, or a better way of reaching the goal of having an airport. MS. JANE MADISON, an Orange County resident, spoke in opposition to Orange County having a Regional Airport. She mentioned that she returned to Orange County to live a year ago and in that time the airport issue and the proposed Public Interest District (PID) issue have both threatened to influence the quality of her life. The PID 100 foot buffer would have included the land an which she plans to build on. MS. DIANE BLOOM addressed the issue of the Horace Williams Airport. She is a spokesperson for Citizens for Airport Planning (CAPS), which is a group of concerned citizens who regularly come together to speak out against developments concerning Horace Williams Airport. She was also a member of the Airport Task Force. CAPS feels that it is the Tcwn Councils duty to begin dialogue with UNG to protect the interests of the citizens. CAPS requested that the Commissioners do whatever possible to prevent any increase or expansion of Horace Williams. The University has instigated several actions, which they have labeled as maintenance actions, that will turn Horace Williams into a much busier, noisier, mare dangerous airport. The lengthening of the runway to 4000 feet, which was recently approved by the governor, is one of those actions. CAPS does not believe that this is a maintenance request. It is expansion. Mr. Tom Glista of the FAA in Washington, D.C., told members of CAPS that extending the runway to 4000 feet will shift Horace Williams from having a runway that most pilots of turbo prop jets would feel was unsafe, to one that would be a welcome site to those pilots. Mr. Glista also stated that many corporations prohibit landing their corporate jets, with CEO's on board, on runways shorter than 4000 feet, and L _,~ t-a commercial, commuter turbo prop jets are prohibited by the 'FAA regulations from landing on runways less than 4000 feet. Since Horace Williams is an open airport, ~,~ where anyone can land, this increase in runway length will make the airport more attractive to larger planes. CAPS opposes this. She presented the Commissioners with a petition, signed by 650 citizens, supporting CAPS position. MS. CAROLYN HORN, a Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Board member, expressed her disappointment that no satisfactory location has been found to provide an airport site for the combined use of the University and the community. The School Board is very concerned about the proximity of the Horace Williams airport to the Estes Hills and Phillips schools. She asked on behalf of the School Board that, if the Horace Williams airport cannot be relocated, the Commissioners use all the power and influence that they have to see that the Horace Williams airport is not expanded. MR. TODD BOARD, a Bingham Township resident, spoke in opposition to a Regional Airport. He also voiced concerns about the basic process that was used. He suggested more public forums, early in any process, for potentially damaging projects such as this airport would have been. MS. CHRIS ERICKSON, a resident of Orange County, spoke in opposition to a regional airport. She stated that she believed an airport would not help the county reach its goals of economic development. She thanked Commissioner Hartwell and. Ghairman Carey for providing an opportunity for citizens to speak with them. She also volunteered her services to help the County reach its goals of economic development. MS. AIMEE TATTERSALL, a Cheeks Township resident and a member of SCRAP, spoke in opposition to an Orange County Regional Airport. She stated that Orange County is a -:, fine place to live and she didn't think she needed to do anything to preserve what she loves here. As a result of recent events, she realized that she was wrong about that ~, and she joined with many previous citizens in offering assistance to the Commissioners ' and the County. MR. TED PARRISH, Chairman of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Board, stated that the School Board has been on record for a long time apposing the existence of the Horace Williams Airport, because of the its proximity to the two schools. He reiterated all the comments made earlier which call upon the Commissioners to do everything possible to make sure that Horace Williams Airport goes out of existence as soon as possible. MR. LAWRENCE MCADAMS, a resident of Chapel Hill, asked how much money was spent on the process for the airport? County Manager Link stated that Ninety Thousand ($90,000) Dollars was spent; $45,000 was received from the NCDDT and $45,000 was state funds. Mr. McAdams expressed concern that this amount of money could be spent without citizen approval. Mr. Geoffrey Gledhill, County Attorney, stated that this figure was included in the Manager's Budget that went to Public Hearing last June. Commissioner Marshall mentioned that everything was very well recorded. For example, the Airport Task Force had Public Hearings and the papers reported everything as it happened. It is very difficult to catch the attention of the citizens and the Commissioners are open to any suggestions to improve the process. MR. MARK SCAGNELLI, an Orange County resident in the Site 11 area, spoke in opposition to a Regional Airport. He thanked the Commissioners for listening to the voice of the citizens. He stated that the Commissioners should do some of the type of advertising that SCRAP did, such as putting up posters and sending out flyers. - - -; MS. JULIE ANDRESEN, a member of the Chapel Hill Town Council, stated that the Town has finally written an airport into their Comprehensive Plan. The Horace Williams Airport is a non-conforming use. She stated that in 1970 the University paved the airport. Aver the years the feeling at UNC has changed several times. However, the assumption has been that the University would move that airport. The most recent document she has is a letter to Commissioner Whitted, dated March 8, 1982, that states that "the University Administration and Trustees hereby indicate the University's willingness to phase out all non-University use of Horace Williams Airport." Recently, the Town of Chapel Hill missed an opportunity to make the Airport a Permitted Use. This would have been an improvement because it would have made the airport operations regulated ones. Currently, the airport is regulated by its own rules. In the year following this missed opportunity there were four crashes at the airport. The Town Council issued a Resolution saying that they thought we should have an alternative airport. She stated that she is going to do everything in her power to press the Town Council forward on this matter and to initiate discussions with the University to further regulate the activity at Horace Williams. She believes that the community could live with a University-only airport and she encourages the Commissioners to help as the Town Council proceeds on this issue. An unidentified citizen asked the Commissioners to explain how public meetings are normally advertised. Chairman Carey stated that the law requires that all meetings be advertised 48 hours before the meeting. The advertisement is placed in three newspaper. The regular meetings are announced for the balance of the year; the Commissioners meet on the first Monday and third Tuesday, with some exceptions. Also, we send a notice of each Special Meeting to everyone who requests that their name be placed on the Sunshine list. :_;:::~ MR. JAY 7QRQGOZA stated that by voting prior to the Public Hearings, the Commissioners have been able to have citizens address potential solutions to economic development problems. There being no further citizen comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 9:35 p.m. Moses Carey, Jr., Chairman Kathy Baker, Deputy Clerk to the Soard