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4 <br />ATTACHMENT 2 <br />Draft <br />For Mailing to Governor James B. Hunt, <br />Legislative Delegation and <br />Leaders of the House and Senate (letter will be altered appropriately) <br />Re: Metropolitan Planning Organization Legislation SB 1164) <br />Dear <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners has reviewed and discussed SB 1164 (An <br />Act to Establish Consolidated Metropolitan Planning Organizations Under State Law) <br />and cannot support the bill at this time. A resolution expressing the Commissioners' <br />position and recommendation regarding this. legislation is attached. <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners clearly supports the objective of sound <br />regional planning. However, we are not convinced that the consolidation of the Durham- <br />Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) and the Capital <br />Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) will achieve or even help achieve <br />this objective. We are also concerned that the interests of Orange County and other <br />smaller jurisdictions would be lost or diminished in the context of a regional MPO. In <br />addition, we are concerned that project implementation and air quality issues in Orange <br />County would be negatively affected by the creation of one MPO for the Triangle region. <br />For these reasons we respectfully request that you not support SB 1164 (or HB 1288) at <br />this time and that you refer this matter to a study commission for further study. The <br />objectives of the legislation should be clearly identified and alternative ways to achieve <br />the objectives should be explored and evaluated. Consequences (both positive and <br />negative) of SB 1164 or any other related legislation should be identified. In addition, <br />affected MPOs and other local jurisdictions should be consulted as part of the study <br />commission process. <br />Thank you for your support of the Board of Commissioners position on SB 1164. We <br />look forward to working with you further as we cooperatively explore opportunities for <br />better regional planning. <br />Sincerely, <br />Alice M. Gordon <br />Chair <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />cc: Board of County Commissioners <br />John Link, County Manager <br />Geoffrey Gledhill, County Attorney <br />