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Having previously supported the Haw River State Park by resolution, it is imperative that the Guilford County commissioners now support the Haw River State Park in their actions.

On Aug. 8, the Guilford County Planning Board approved a rezoning request by Bluegreen Corp., based in Boca Raton, Fla., to develop approximately 691 acres along the banks of the Haw River. The proposed development will comprise 775 housing units in a gated golf course community.

The primary issue here is not the development of the land but the preservation of the integrity of the Haw River State Park. The parcel in question, which is primarily in Guilford County but also crosses into Rockingham County, is essential for the expansion of the fledgling Haw River State Park; it is also an integral link for the proposed Mountains to Sea Trail. The offer made to the landowners by Bluegreen has now clearly defined the market value of this property, and the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation has sufficient funds set aside to make a comparable offer to the landowners.

If the Guilford County commissioners deny the rezoning request made by Bluegreen, the property owners will be fairly compensated by the state, the property will be entered into the Haw River State Park, and all of the residents of Guilford County and North Carolina will benefit from the preservation of this ecological treasure.

The next essential step is for the county commissioners to overturn the Planning Board's decision and deny approval to Bluegreen for its proposed development, to be called Patriot's Landing, along the banks of the Haw River.

In addition to the importance of this parcel to the Haw River State Park, the following are critical considerations:

1. With the permission of the state, for five to seven years, Patriot's Landing will confiscate an average of 100,000 gallons of water per day over five to seven years from the Haw River to water its golf course. This will severely deplete the natural flow of the Haw River, already limited due to our major drought.

(Water for new housing units will be piped in from Rockingham County. Bluegreen's wastewater treatment plant also will be located in Rockingham County, meaning that Bluegreen will take fresh water from Rockingham County and return wastewater and pollutants to Rockingham County!)

2. The community wastewater treatment system for this development will produce nitrogen-rich treated water that is regularly sprayed onto the golf course. The overflow will find its way into the Haw River, disturbing the delicate ecological balance and potentially polluting water downstream.

3. Chemicals and erosion from the construction of the golf course and the more than 750 housing units also will pollute the Haw River with toxins and sediment.

4. Traffic patterns and public school access will create many future problems in this part of the county that will be handled only at significant expense to Guilford County taxpayers.

Granting Bluegreen's rezoning request is win-win for Bluegreen and lose-lose for Guilford County. The county commissioners need to be fully aware they are choosing whether to support a short-sighted development proposal or to support the Haw River State Park and all of the residents of Guilford County and North Carolina, present and future, who stand to benefit from the park.

I urge both the county commissioners and N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation to work in concert to protect and preserve this beautiful property.

John Young is a member of a newly formed group, Citizens for Haw River State Park.