They came looking for answers and many of them left carrying bumper stickers and yard signs marked “No Airport†in bold letters.
About 300 people, mostly from Bingham Township, packed into the White Cross Recreation Center Monday night for an organization and information meeting about a proposed new aviation center that would replace the university-run Horace Williams Airport.
Residents in southwestern Orange County have been concerned about the possibility of an airport coming to their area — a worry driven by a cluster of sites around Hwy. 54 identified in a draft consultant’s report. UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care sought and received legislation in the last session of the General Assembly allowing the two entities to form an airport authority. The authority, which has yet to be appointed, would have the right to condemn land for the new facility.
Preserve Rural Orange, one of two groups organized in opposition to the airport, called the meeting to encourage people to volunteer time and expertise to build the case against the airport.
Builder Mark Marcoplos, who lives off of Orange Blossom Clover Garden Road, said the effort could take years. He outlined an organization for the group ranging from a research committee to one that would study the best approach politically.
“This is a big project. We want to hit the ground running and make our case early and strong,†he said.
Several speakers took aim at a specific site — Site H — near Morrow Mill Road between Old Greensboro Highway and Hwy. 54.
Warren Ray said the land he and his wife’s farm is on has been in her family for more than 200 years. He accused university officials of “talking out of both sides of their mouths†and declared, “My land is not for sale.â€
Nancy Holt, who lives north of Hillsborough, reminded the crowd that they will need to flex their power with their elected representatives. She read the mission statements for both the UNC System and UNC Health Care and noted that neither one included economic development, which has been touted by officials from both organizations reasoning for the airport.
The economic development argument was also a focus of remarks by Mitch Renkow, an N.C. State economist. He said that a preliminary economic development study “strained credulity,†in part because it pre-supposed that there were not alternatives to a new airport nearby. He also said the study was questionable because it did not look at the downside of the airport in the form of noise and traffic congestion and how that would affect land values.
A handful of candidates also spoke at the meeting.
Democratic state Sen. Ellie Kinnaird said she and other members of the Orange County delegation shared concerns about the airport and suggested that residents contact friends and relatives in other parts of the state and asked them to voice concern about the cost and need for the project.
Kinnaird said that the southwestern Orange community has already made a significant sacrifice when Cane Creek Reservoir was created. “Cane Creek was a necessity,†she said. “An airport is not a necessity.â€
Bernadette Pelissier, who is a member of the Orange County Planning Board and is running as a Democrat for the new at-large seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners, said she could not take an official position on the airport since it would likely come before both boards for review. She outlined the county’s procedures for reviewing the plans. Pelissier did say she was concerned about the availability of water for the facility since the county and municipalities have an agreement limiting extension of water and sewer connections into rural lands.
Kevin Wolff, a Republican who is also seeking the at-large commission seat, attacked Pelissier for not taking a stand and said he would bring his business background to the siting and review process.
“You can rely on me. That’s your chance. That’s your opportunity,†he said. His remarks, however, were cut short after several members of the audience objected to what they saw as overly partisan.
B.J. Lawson, a candidate for the Fourth U.S. congressional District, also addressed the crowd concentrating on his opposition to eminent domain. Lawson, who lives in Cary, said his senator, fellow Republican Richard Stevens, was a co-sponsor of the airport legislation. He said he confronted the senator on the matter and told him he thought “it seemed like an egregious abuse of eminent domain.â€
Lawson said Stevens told him the bill did not have the airport authority language when he signed on to it. Lawson said he thought too many people in the General Assembly come from safe, gerrymandered districts and thus were not as accountable as they should be in issues like the airport.
I’m strongly opposed to any airport in rural Orange Co. Why spend $50 million of taxpayers money when $2 million can do the same job at RDU.Our elected officials should start representing the people who put them in office not universities and special interest groups. I will not support anyone who is in favor of building an airport in rural Orange Co.