I am sending this out for CLLC.


URGENT – ACTION NEEDED!


November 3, 2006


To staff, parents, HRC members, and other friends of the CLLC,

The American Assets Corporation is planning to develop the land that
is on the NE corner of Hwy 15-501 and Russet Run, which is currently
known as Five Oaks Trailer Park. This 47-acre parcel extends from 15-
501 to the CLLC property. Their current plan is to build a shopping
center called River Oaks Commons on that site. Their proposal for the
site includes 375,000 square feet of commercial space. The first
phase would be about a dozen stores, including a grocery store, 1-2
anchor stores and other smaller shops and restaurants. The proposal
also includes widening Russet Run to 3 lanes, and having 3 entrances
to the shopping center off of Russet Run, making this the main
entrance to the shopping center. The third entrance off Russet Run
would be very close to our driveway.

This development cannot go forward without the approval of a re-
zoning request - to commercial - by the Town of Pittsboro Board of
Commissioners and the Town Planning Board. In a June 2006
Commissioners meeting, the town delayed action until the American
Assets Corporation met with and listened to the concerns of the local
stakeholders - area landowners, Northwood High School and the CLLC.
(Many CLLC families and staff were able to attend that June meeting,
and we thank them for their help.)

The required meeting with the stakeholders was held October 24, 2006
at Town Hall. At that meeting, the consulting engineers/planners for
American Assets presented their area plan. Many of those present in
the audience that night were connected to the CLLC, and many of them
expressed their concerns about the development. (We really appreciate
those of you who were able to attend this meeting as well!) A couple
of other neighboring landowners also spoke, and they were more in
favor of the development, but hoping it would occur in an organized
way.

Now, the American Assets engineers/planners are going to develop
their site plan for the shopping center, taking into account what
they heard that night. They will present their proposal again to the
Town Commissioners, probably in a December town meeting. The
Commissioners will then decide about passing it on to the Town
Planning Board.

Those of us connected to the CLLC now have an opportunity to have an
impact on the decision of the Board of Commissioners and the Planning
Board by writing them to voice our concerns and opinions. Our
starting position is to oppose commercial development on that site as
completely incompatible with the mission of the CLLC. However we must
also give some thought to what we will ask to be included in the site
plan if the development goes forward.




Some of the concerns already expressed include:

- The shopping center's activities, with its noise and smells,
the delivery trucks, the stores, restaurants, etc. will be very
attractive – sometimes compellingly so – to some of our clients. This
will decrease their quality of life, interfere with treatment, and
present dangers to their safety.
- Some clients are likely, at various times of the day and
night, to attempt to go to the shopping center, without supervision
or money, to make purchases or watch trucks. They do not have the
skills to do so safely.
- The traffic at the entrance to the CLLC would probably
increase, as shoppers turn toward our entrance in attempts to take
short-cuts or just out of curiosity. This could lead to unsafe and
unwanted traffic at our entrance and perhaps even on our driveway.
- The security of our clients could be jeopardized if this
increased traffic brings people who could take advantage of our
vulnerable clients or our open setting.
- The existence of a shopping center so close to the CLLC would
detract from our farm setting. It would make the area seem
commercial, not rural. It would detract from the look and feel of the
farm.
- The shopping center interferes with what many clients'
parents see as a great attribute of the CLLC: being a sanctuary away
from higher-populated areas and city distractions, while CLLC staff
help teach clients how to better handle those things in an
individualized and planned manner.
- Given the sensory sensitivity of many of the individuals with
autism, the shopping center's lights, noise and smells will be
distressing to some of the clients.
- The increased traffic on Russet Run would be a serious safety
hazard to clients, such that clients would no longer be able to take
walks or ride bikes on Russet Run and Suttles Road.

Please take time now to write the mayor, the Town Planner, members of
the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners and Planning Board about the
negative impact this development would have on the CLLC. That way,
they can consider your input when making a decision in December. The
most effective approach would be to send an individual letter to each
person. As another option, you can send one letter to the Town
Planner, Dave Monroe, and ask him to distribute it to the others. Use
the attached addresses.

Also, please let us know what action you've taken so we can ensure
enough voices are being heard.

Thank you for your support.


The CLLC Administrative Team
Town of Pittsboro
Administrative Officials:
Mayor:
Randolph Voller
21 Randolph Court
Pittsboro, NC 27312
randy@...

Commissioners:
Clinton E. Bryan, Jr.
PO Box 357
Pittsboro, NC 27312 C

Christopher L. Walker
27 Hillcrest Drive
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Gene T. Brooks
PO Box 83
Pittsboro, NC 27312

Pamela Baldwin
1195-B Hillsboro Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312

Max. G. Cotten
133 Pittsboro School Road
Pittsboro, NC 27312


David Monroe, Town Planner
E-mail: dmonroe@...
Address: Town of Pittsboro
Phone: 919-542-4621 ext 34
P.O. Box 759
Fax: 919-542-7109
Pittsboro, NC 27312



TOWN PLANNING BOARD
Jimmy Collins
1867 Hanks Chapel Road
Pittsboro , NC

Shannon Plummer
116 Thrift Street
Pittsboro , NC

Ethel Farrell (Co-Chair)
86 Davie Street
Pittsboro , NC

Harold Howard
455 E. Providence Church Rd.
Pittsboro , NC

Alfreda Marsh
1370 Hillsboro Street
Pittsboro , NC

Kenneth Hoyle (Chair)
51 Bynum Rd.
Pittsboro , NC