CCEC Bulletin: 
CCEC, Inc. - 1/17/2007

BoC Meeting and Public Hearings 1/16/07

Drought Broken by Commissioners’ 5-0 Vote
 
For citizens thirsting for relief from a four year journey in the desert, Tuesday night’s BoC meeting was like finding the oasis, discovering the well and drinking deeply from its life restoring waters.  The seemingly endless drought of close-minded and irresponsible governing ended with cheers and applause when for the first time in recent history the commissioners unanimously DENIED a developer’s request and plans.  Then to add icing to the cake, each commissioner in turn cogently shared their rationale for this earth shaking land mark decision.  For those already on their feet around the perimeter of the room, their applause created a standing ovation.
 
The tone for the evening was set by Commissioner Barnes’ remarks in which he quoted the citizens’ opinion of the previous regime as “the majority that never met a development they didn’t like.”  While the first development request of the night, Parker Springs, made it through on the good behavior of the developer, and the provision that their environmental impact statement would go through a thorough “peer review” process as a next step, the second request, the Lystra Road Subdivision for 90 home sites along Lystra Road, bit the dust in resounding fashion.  To a person, each commissioner agreed that the location was just not suitable for development because of its topography, and because a natural heritage area along with streams and Jordan Lake could be impaired. All of these factors along with the potential for traffic problems demonstrated that the development did not meet the Subdivision Ordinance requirements. 
 
For the adjacent landowners who eloquently and passionately stated their case in rebuttal to the case for approval brought forth by the professional development attorneys, it was a well deserved and stunning victory, the likes of which has not been witnessed by veteran observers and presenters at such hearings.  Over the months and years citizens have witnessed the growing ability of private citizens, neighborhoods, home owner associations and citizen action groups (such as CCEC, Haw River Assembly and Friends of the Rocky River) to take on the developer’s hired guns and to match and surpass their presentations with equal and better ammunition.  But not until Tuesday night had the stone wall within the BoC been removed in favor of reason and balance. 


Click here for some examples of the well reasoned presentations made during the public hearings:

Remarks from the Citizens of Chatham County 

 
After lengthy public input, suggestions and advice the evening’s proceedings drew to a close shortly after 10:00 p.m. with a decision to delay a vote on the issue of Planning Board appointments.  The mettle of the commissioners regarding their (dis)satisfaction level with the performance of the Planning Board was revealed in closing remarks, and set the stage for major changes in the approach to appointing members as well as expectations for individual expertise and overall board performance.
 
Citizen input on a variety of ordinance revision considerations proved to be well thought out, well presented and well received by all commissioners.  It was a model for future BoC meetings and public hearings.  For the throng that filled the chambers, it was a most memorable night. 
 
As outside the chambers the “Indian Summer” breezes were shifting to Winter winds, so also was there a shifting of the winds of government taking place inside the District courtroom where a new set of judges fanned a breath of fresh air into citizens who had long been holding their breath in anticipation of such an epic performance.