Orange County NC Website
Pat Crawford stated that she felt it was important that citizens <br />understand the Ordinance and to know that the County will benefit from <br />such an Ordinance. <br />Andrew Dobelstein stated that the recommendation which was made by <br />the Planning Board had two 'problems which bothered him. 1) The substance <br />of the Subdivision Regulations and 2) concerning the process of the <br />Regulations. He stated that he felt the Planning Board and the County <br />Commissioners had reviewed the document thoroughly and changes had been <br />made to the Ordinance. The second concern was with loading the Advisory <br />Councils with the additional responsibility of the Subdivision Ordinance. <br />He added that he had voted against the Planning Board's recommendation. <br />Commissioner Willhoit asked if the delay recommended by the Planning <br />Board was a planning problem that needed to be worked out, or a political <br />problem. <br />Lindsey Efland responded by stating that the Planning Board had not <br />had sufficient time to research the document, and the intent of the motion <br />of the Planning Board was to provide time to look at the document. He <br />added that perhaps with more citizens input, citizens can see some of the <br />probelms the Planning Board and the County Commissioners are facing in <br />Planning for the County. <br />Commissioner Willhoit reminded the two Boards that a 90 day delay <br />had been granted in March, and the Land Owners Association had presented <br />13 recommendations to the Ordinance. He asked what is the problem with <br />the Ordinance, and what needs to be done to it? <br />Discussion ensued concerning the need for additional citizen input <br />regarding the proposed Ordinance. <br />Andrew Dobelstein stated that he felt the Planning Board should get <br />down to the real work of planning, that the Planning Board should not be <br />involved in a political issue such as the Subdivision Ordinance, but this <br />should be the responsibility of the County Commissioners, <br />Lindsey Efland stated that by having the Subdivision Regulations <br />in effect in Eno and Chapel Hill Townships this will provide a "trial run" <br />and will provide insight as to the effect of the Ordinance county-wide. "- <br />Chairman Whitted asked the two Bcards to look again at the work <br />program of the Planning Department and to plug the recommendation of the <br />Planning Board into that document to provide theā€¢Planning Staff with <br />clear directions. <br />Col. Breeze stated that he felt the Subdivision Ordinance was a good <br />document, however, the County was facing several critical issues ~t this <br />time and he felt a master plan was needed in the County for land use. He <br />stated that the Ordinance had stirred interest and that the County should <br />not proceed too fast. He added that he would like to know answers to two <br />questions: 1) "Can we come up with a master plan for the Ceunty in land <br />use" and 2) "How is the Subdivision Ordinance going to help the County?" <br />Commissioner Willhoit responded by citing various problems in the <br />County which had resulted from poor planning. He spoke of the sewage <br />liminatians in Chapel Hill, the lack of control to protect the quality <br />of water in the University Watershed, and to protect other watersheds. <br />He stated that growth pressures along Highway 54 needed to be controlled. <br />Mr. Willhoit stated that the population of Orange County had increased _ <br />19 percent since 1970. The Subdivision Ordinance would be a useful tool <br />for the Planning Board as they looked at various subdivisions and how.the <br />land is used. <br />Marilyn Riddle stated that she felt the Planning Board should get on <br />with the job of land use planning that will meet the problems dealing with <br />water, services, and the providing of services for a growing population. <br />She added the Subdivision Regulations are a part of that process and the <br />first step. The time is right to develop a Land use Plan. <br />Other members of the Planning Board expressed their reasons for <br />making the recommendation that was submitted to the County Commissioners <br />concerning the Subdivision Ordinance. <br />