NS Contract - Strategic Growth Rural Conservation Consultant Implementation Update Amendment

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Jay Bryan: In summary, basically we have heard from Jeff about general concerns about continuing to • spend money on a process that is flawed or not supported. We have had two people that attended the meeting and have concerns. If anyone wants to make a motion to address the concerns, we can pass on a resolution if it passes a vote, to consider another presentation. Staff has worked hard in keeping with the Board of County Commissioners direction on this for following through. The Planning Board can take a different position. Craufurd Goodwin: I think Craig demonstrated a real problem, which is that this Board has never had an opportunity to think about the fundamental issue. It seems we are trying to accomplish preservation of rural land by relaxing zoning for a few people in the receiving areas. We don't understand why we are in this Phase III and it seems reasonable to express our views at that level. I Conservation Program? Why can't we take this as a final document to study and stop it there? This will give this Board and other boards time to understand it. This has come before the Planning Board before and it was put on the back burner. Craig Benedict: We are still talking about it 18 years later. MOTION made by Judith Wegner I would like to offer a Resolution; Whereas.the planning board believes that it is necessary to bring the comprehensive plan process closer to fruition before a meaningful discussion can be had about an detailed technique involving transfer of development rights (or related variations of such techniques designed to transfer density bonuses in return for the acquisition of conservation easements); • Whereas we believe that there is need for full blown consideration of related issues of equity, transparency, balance, public understanding, and possible alternatives within the planning board. Whereas we believe it's premature and wasteful to spend additional time and money at this juncture to work through details of program design and administration until we are further along in the comprehensive planning process. We resolve to ask the Board of County Commissioners to ask the consultants to bring the project to a temporary hiatus, and to defer further work on this initiative by consultants or staff until the comprehensive planning process is brought to closure and the Planning Board recommends further action. Jeffrey Schmitt seconded the motion. VOTE: Unanimous Judith Wegner: It was the sense of the Board of County Commissioners that they had some sense of unsure. Renee Price: It was to move forward. Judith Wegner: If we give them a resolution that this is not the right time for it. Renee Price: Could we ask the consultant to provide us with a temporary final version. Craig .Benedict: The consultant said he would meet with the ad-hoc committee in two to three weeks to make further adjustments to those documents. That is the closure the committee had asked for. There were six people in the committee meeting, three that were not interested in moving forward in the timeframe, two said we have to bring it to closure and one that said we have to move forward and not let it linger. This was not a fully cooked document so we have not brought this to the public. • Judith Wegner: You want us to bring this to a place to solve some of the policy matters and put in on the shelf. Craig Benedict: At least do that.