CASE STUDY!

As I mentioned before, I have been working on a case study in my environmental class. The case study has focused on Jordan Lake and the proposed development within the lake’s watershed boundary. The controversy that has evolved with the development around Jordan Lake has become very heated in the past year and is still unresolved. The company called Southern Durham Development in Durham County wants to build a development that is called 751 South. The development would be considered high density development. 751 South would consist of 164 acres of dense development. It would also be located in southwest Durham County. The development would be composed of 1300 residences, 600,000 square feet of office and retail space, fire station, elementary and middle school, and other amenities that would accommodate for its location outside of the city limits. It is estimated that the total development is would cost about $500 million. The development would be considered high density development because so many people would be living close to each other. One of the goals of the community set forth by the developers is to make the community compact so that it will be more sustainable. There are a number of steps that Southern Durham Developing Inc must follow in order to go ahead and build on this piece of land around Jordan Lake. First, the watershed boundaries of Jordan Lake must be changed then the zoning of this area has to be approved from low density to high density. Currently, the necessary watershed boundaries have been passed through the Durham County Board of Commissioners but the rezoning process is still continuing. Rezoning of this area will allow high density development near the lake. The controversial issue regarding Jordan Lake has created a fine line between those that support the zoning changes and those that do not. Those that are opposed to the zoning changes argue that the development will provide too much exposure to pollutants from human societies. The Lake is already on the EPA’s list of impaired waters so it already does not meet quality expectations determined by the state. Jordan Lake is also the drinking water for Apex, Cary, Chatam County, and Mooresville County. Those that are opposed to the changing zones and boundaries of Jordan Lake live in the areas that get their drinking water from this lake. It is safe to say that almost everyone wants to drink the cleanest water possible.