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~~ e On January 30, without prior consultation, the Mayor of Chapel Hill presented a three-part proposal to the Chapel Hill Town Council: 1) approval of a Southern By-Pass, 2) withdrawal from the I-40 lawsuit, and 3) a request to the General Assembly to increase the Town's planning 3urisdiction beyond that agreed to by the County. After linking the planning extension to the two highway matters, the Mayor suggested that the Department of Transportation's important leverage in the General Assembly could help get this additional planning jurisdiction for the Town. The Commissioners agreed, on short notice, to a late afternoon meeting with the Town Council on February 6th. The meeting produced a sub-committee with two members from each Board and a very general assignment to discuss these. issues and bring reports and recommendations back to the Boards. However, Chapel Hi11's Council has scheduled a February I9th meeting to make a decision about requesting the planning extension from the General Assembly. IL has been suggested by several members of the Town Council that while the sub- committee discussions are going on, the Town could also request the legislation, as added insurance, and that such an act should not be interpreted as antagonistic. Regardless of the intent, the practical result of such an action would be the same - it would place the Town and the County in adverse positions. If there is any doubt whether the Board of Commissioners would oppose such legislation, let all doubt be removed now. The Orange County Commissioners are unanimously apposed to the North Carolina General Assembly overriding a carefully considered planning decision made by this Board under the authority given to it, and to the County Board of Commissioners throughout the State, by the General Assembly in 1971 (G. S. 160A 360). We believe that state legislators will -2-