INC NEWS - Fw: ACTION ALERT- Important meeting Wed. March 9, 12:30, Durham County Commissioners Offices]

Tue Mar 8 01:04:52 EST 2005

ACTION ALERT

IMPORTANT MEETING OF ALL 4 MUNICIPALITES

WED. MARCH 9, 12:30 PM, DURHAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OFFICES

200 EAST MAIN ST. *

RESIDENTS OF ORANGE AND DURHAM COUNTY, PLEASE ATTEND IF YOU CAN! WE NEED
TO PACK THE ROOM AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE WANT!

If you can come to the meeting: wear green and we will also give you a
Yard Sale pin to wear!

*Commissioners building is located across the street from the Durham Court
House. There is a parking garage right next door.

This is probably it folks.the last time all four governments -Durham City,
Durham County, Chapel Hill, Orange County- meet together before Durham
County decides whether to enter into a contract to buy the Duke Tract
(deadline is close to April 1). They will be discussing this issue on
their agenda.

Durham County has indicated that they must have the financial commitment
of all four municipalities to go forward with this contract and create a
truly regional park.

NOW IS THE TIME! We have to let our officials know that we want them to do
this. COME TO THE MEETING IF YOU CAN/AND OR SEND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
THE EMAIL MESSAGE BELOW:

" I live in_________________neighborhood, in ________________ county.

I am urging you to help fund the public purchase of the Duke tract and
help create New Hope Creek Park. Ordinary citizens have raised over
$75,000 to purchase this land in only 6 weeks and will raise at least
$100,000 by April 1. We are doing our part. We urge you to match this
financial commitment. All 4 municipalities must contribute $$$ or else
this regional effort will not succeed. Please do not let us down."

Chapel Hill mayorandcouncil at townofchapelhill.org

Orange County mcarey at mindspring.com

Barry.j at mindspring.com

Vfoushee at co.orange.nc.us

Gordon am at mindpring.com

Stevehh at mindspring.com

City of Durham council at ci.durham.nc.us

Durham County commissioners at co.durham.nc.us

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ACTION ALERT: IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE DURHAM PLANNING COMMISSION, TUES.
MARCH 8, 5:30 PM CONCERNING THE PROPOSED CENTEX DEVELOPMENT OF 282
TOWNHOMES ALONG GARRETT RD: Northern Garrett Neighborhood Group has long
list of concerns about traffic impact, flooding/drainage issues, impact on
New Hope Creek, and documented archaeological and historic sites on the
property. If you can attend this meeting and support these neighbors,
please contact Ronnie Griffen at 489-1663 or res128r at verizon.net.

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"Saving the land is like something on sale at the grocery store, if you
don't buy it when you see it, next time it'll be gone"

Eliza Meredith, age 11, in reference to the Duke tract

EANG'S TOP TEN REASONS TO SAVE THE DUKE TRACT FOR PUBLIC USE/CREATE NEW
HOPE CREEK PARK

1) COMPLETE NEW HOPE CREEK CORRIDOR

This is an incredible opportunity to help complete and add to the New Hope
Creek Corridor Master Plan, adopted in 1991 by all 4 governments, which
will create a 15 mile walking/biking trail from the Hollow Rock area all
the way to Jordan Lake.

2) CLEAN WATER

There is no doubt that protecting as much of the watershed around New Hope
Creek as possible is what is best for the water quality of the creek which
flows into Jordan Lake to become our drinking water. The Duke tract has
lots of tributaries that flow into New Hope Creek. Road building, putting
in sewage and water pipes, felling large hardwoods, lawn chemicals and run
off from driveways and roofs will not be good for the creek.

3)WE CAN'T RELY ON DUKE FOREST

We all love walking in Duke Forest but we can't rely on Duke University to
provide for our recreation and open space needs. The mission of Duke
Forest is for academic and research purposes. Our local governments need
to be using our tax dollars to buy land to be under the control of the
public - for public use, education and enjoyment.

4)WALKABILITY

We all hear these words. We are overweight, unhealthy, we don't get out of
our houses and cars and exercise. We need to have more walkable
neighborhoods is the mantra. On recent public surveys this is what people
say they want - places to walk for recreation.

The Duke tract is adjacent to homes, developments and schools. Thousands
of Durham city residents and school children will be able to walk directly
into the forest and link up with the New Hope Creek Corridor trail system.
What an opportunity for walkability!

5) A SENSE OF PLACE- PRESERVING AND INSTITUTIONALIZING AN ARCHAELOGICAL,
HISTORICAL, CULTURAL TREASURE

The Hollow Rock/Erwin and Pickett Roads area is one of the oldest
documented areas of human habitation in our area. Thanks to New Hope Creek
there is lots of evidence of Native American life going back 8,000 to
10,000 years ago. The Indian village documented by British John Lawson
back in the 1700's, Adshusheer, may have been in this area. Part of an
ancient Indian trading path and New Hope Road is now the dirt part of
Pickett road and the remains of the colonial New Hope Road crosses right
over the Duke Tract. This land also holds the stories of the old Erwin
Mill and African American and white farmers in the area.

We need to preserve this history and create a place for it to be seen,
taught and kept alive.

6) GOD AIN'T MAKING ANY MORE LAND

We all know what is happening around here.lots of people are moving here,
just like us, and we need to build homes, schools, stores, and roads for
them. We also need to try to keep this a great place to live, for all of
us. Undeveloped land is disappearing forever and once it is gone, it's
gone. We must act quickly to save tracts of undeveloped land that can
protect a natural resource and provide for public open space and
recreation when we have a chance. These opportunities will be fewer and
far between in the future and the price tag will only be going up.

7)PERFECT SPOT FOR A REGIONAL PARK

The New Hope Creek Master plan always envisioned the Hollow Rock area as
the ideal spot for public access to the trail system. Here is the Duke
tract, right on the Durham and Orange County line, surrounded by Durham
city neighborhoods and two miles from Chapel Hill city limits. What could
be a more ideal location for a regional park that so many citizens could
so easily use?

8)BECAUSE WE HAVE RAISED $75,000 IN 6 WEEKS AND WILL RAISE AT LEAST
$100,000 BY APRIL 1

We were told by our government officials that we needed to do our part to
make this happen and we have. Now its your turn. If we, ordinary citizens,
can raise $100,000 in two months, each of our four municipalities can
surely match that and you will have three months, not just two months to
come up with the money. There are also numerous pre-identified grant
opportunities that will off-set the cost. Through existing impact fees,
upcoming bond referendums, or careful budgeting, we know it can be done.

9)BECAUSE WE WANT YOUR HELP IN CREATING NEW HOPE CREEK PARK AND WE ELECTED
YOU TO REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS

Hundreds of citizens all over Durham and Orange Counties and beyond have
rallied to this cause. Why? Because it is a great idea! People from
neighborhoods all over Durham and Orange want to protect New Hope Creek
and have tracts of public land where they can go and walk in the forest.
And people know that Hollow Rock area of Erwin Road is a special but
quickly changing place.

We are counting on you, our elected officials, to uphold our interests-
the interests of your constituents.

10) A VISION AND A LEGACY

This is all about looking toward and planning for the future. It is about
what we want to leave behind for generations to come as opposed to heavy
hearts and regrets for what we should have done.

The opportunity to help complete the New Hope Creek Corridor and create
New Hope Creek Park is within our grasp. We need your leadership- please
don't let it slip away.

Thanks again for all of your help circulating this email, sending emails
to officials, getting the support of your neighborhood associations and
making pledges!!!

REMEMBER: COME TO MEETING ON WED. MARCH 9 IF YOU CAN! PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL
TO YOUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS!

Wendy Jacobs

Erwin Area Neighborhood Group

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