Some Durham County Democrats are calling on the county commissioners and city council to reject a developer's survey as basis for moving a Jordan Lake watershed boundary.
According to party spokesman Milo Pyne, at least seven of Tuesday night's Democratic precinct meetings (precincts 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 27 and 38) adopted a resolution calling such action "shockingly inconsistent with the fair and deliberate way in which other lands have been regulated, in Durham and in other parts of the state and the nation."
In November, the County Board of Commissioners voted to ask the state Division of Water Quality to approve relocating a boundary in southwest Durham County, using a survey paid for by landowner and developer Neal Hunter. The relocation removes most of a proposed subdivision from the lake's strictly regulated critical zone.
County Manager Mike Ruffin, County Engineer Glen Whistler, County Attorney Chuck Kitchen and city-county Planning Director Steve Medlin had recommended the county commission an independent survey as the basis for setting the boundary, thus removing any question of conflict of interest.
In February, the DWQ approved use of the Hunter survey. Since then, citizens inspecting the area in question, between N.C. 751 and the Orange County line, have found reason on the ground to question the survey's accuracy.
Earlier this month, county commissioners Michael Page and Joe Bowser moved to have the boundary set according to the Hunter survey without the public process Kitchen and Medlin have said is required by Durham law. Commissioners Brenda Howerton, Becky Heron and Ellen Reckhow voted to, instead, hold a special work session on the boundary.
That meeting is Monday afternoon from 3:30 to 6, in the commissioners' chambers. It is open to the public, but, since it is a work session, Page "does not intend to permit any public comment," according to a Tuesday memo from Ruffin to the commissioners.
According to Ruffin's memo, the item will be subject of a public hearing later at a regular commissioners meeting.
Comments
Since when do developers get to draw the maps?
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 10:36 — bamawoodWhy on earth would anyone accept a survey commissioned by a private developer who stands to gain by drawing a new map?
How did we get to the point where the regulated entity gets to decide what the public interest is and how it should be protected?
Why would elected officials allow a developer to redraw the map, just so he can build his big subdivision in the lake's strictly regulated critical area?
Jordan Lake is too important a water source for these shenanigans.
~John Schelp
Jordan Lake Boundary
Wed, 03/18/2009 - 17:16 — vollerGiven that a number of interested parties have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to undertake the study and potential future construction of a 21st century water treatment plant on the Western side of Jordan Lake I sincerely hope that my fellow elected officials in Durham County weigh carefully the impacts of encroachments into the watershed and ultimately our water supply. As the last intense drought indicated, Jordan Lake is the best option for a regional water supply and should be kept off of the "impaired" list. Unfortunately, mistakes have been made in the past, which should guide us to make wiser decisions now and well into the future. Given that Pittsboro has wrestled for decades with water quality issues originating from discharges into the Haw River it would be imprudent to ignore history and create a new template for similar source and non-point source pollution to afflict a regional water resource that will be needed by our children's children.Respectfully,Randolph VollerMayor of Pittsboro
Jordan Lake Boundary/ Jim Wise Article
Wed, 03/18/2009 - 16:09 — birdsong09Thank you, Jim, for covering this issue. The decision-making process "smells" of dishonesty. Why the closed meeting? Why are we changing the boundaries based on a developer's survey without question? And WHY are we willing to put our watershed at risk? This action has long-lasting repercussions that impact water quality for us (Durham, Chatam Counties) and for others "downstream."
All our commissioners are Democrats, right?
Wed, 03/18/2009 - 12:48 — mmr121570I still can't imagine why any of our commissioners would insist upon approving this survey (and the changes it would/could imply) without a public hearing. And if the majority of citizens (those without an interest in the development industry, that is) feel that an independent survey is necessary, or just plain don't want the lines receded, period....why wouldn't the commissioners listen to their constituents? Has this become a battle of the wills? If so, it's a sad statement for Durham, now and for the next 4 years.