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someone should not pay more for an impact fee just because their house costs more. He <br /> pointed out that Chapel Hill's homes average $800,000 and Orange County's homes average <br /> $300,000. He said that it appears to be a problem that Chapel Hill and Carrboro should solve, <br /> since their home prices are so high. <br /> Frank Thomas yielded his time to Rick Williams. <br /> Rick Williams of Williams Construction Company asked the County Commissioners not <br /> to increase the impact fees to the amount that has been discussed. He said that people are <br /> not buying his houses. He said that, at this point in time, with the economy, to double the <br /> impact fee is not right. He said that it cannot all be laid on the builder or the homeowner. <br /> Eric Chupp is a builder in Orange County and said that he is struggling and has been <br /> for the last year. He echoed Mr. Perry's thoughts. He said that the builders will not always be <br /> able to subsidize these costs. <br /> Keith Dixon said that most of what he wanted to say has been said. The housing <br /> permits for this area are down and he requested that the County Commissioners think of the <br /> economic times before they make a decision and to not raise the impact fee. <br /> Greg Andrews is with THD Construction and he works in Orange County and other <br /> counties. He said that he has houses in Alamance County that are less and are selling, but his <br /> houses are not selling in Orange County. He asked the County Commissioners to not raise <br /> the impact fees because it is bad timing. <br /> Frank Thomas said that he represents the Homeowner's Association of Durham, <br /> Orange, and Chatham Counties. He said that they renew their objection to impact fees on the <br /> philosophical grounds that they are inconsistent with and destructive to the sense of <br /> community that should prevail. He said that the timing was ill-advised. He said that single- <br /> family detached permits are off over 50% since 2001. Chapel Hill and Carrboro have not <br /> produced 100 new housing starts since 2005. He questioned the statistics concerning student <br /> generation rates for new housing. He said that there would be no meaningful revenue from <br /> this source to build schools because there are not many houses being built. He said that <br /> impact fees are the wrong answer, at the wrong time, and for the wrong question. <br /> Joe Phelps welcomed the new County Commissioners and congratulated them. He <br /> said he has been an active real estate agent for 20 years and he opposes the raising of the <br /> impact fee. He said that people are concerned about the costs of housing now with the high <br /> taxes they have now versus what they had several years ago. He said that people cannot <br /> afford to live and work in Orange County. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Pellisier to <br /> direct the consultant to finalize the reports; close the public hearing; and (changed language <br /> from recommendation) direct staff to bring back amendments to and effective date of the <br /> Educational Facilities Impact Fee Ordinance, including student generation rates, for adoption <br /> and consideration at the December 11, 2008 regular Board meeting. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 6. Regular Agenda <br /> a. Budget Process FY09-10: Outside Agency Grant Funding <br /> The Board reviewed the Outside Agency Grant allocation process used in preparing the <br /> current fiscal year operating budget and considered approving changes for the upcoming fiscal <br /> year. <br /> Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey provided a brief overview. This item has been <br /> deferred on several occasions. She pointed out the review of changes in the abstract, which <br /> were authorized by the Board during the budget process for outside agencies in 2008-09. The <br />