Orange County NC Website
priority areas" in order to direct growth away from agricultural areas is one of <br />those suggestions. <br />Bob Hogan commented that the areas around Chapel Hill which are suitable <br />for farming are already developed beyond the point of needing this type of <br />planning. <br />Commissioner Carey stated that a vision has been talked about for years. <br />Discussion has been ongoing about Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and <br />Purchased Development Rights (TDR). The breakdown occurs when decisions are <br />being approached about "sending" and "receiving" areas. The issue of <br />jurisdictional lines and how to transfer across those lines is always a challenge <br />to resolve. After that is resolved it will be necessary to determined how to <br />finance the transferring of these development rights. <br />Dr. DeGrove recommended a solution to the issue of jurisdictional lines <br />which is being used in some areas. That would be to establish a multi- <br />jurisdictional Co~rmission and to request power from the Legislature so that the <br />jurisdictional lines are not at issue. He stressed that it was critical to <br />actually reach closure rather than to stop short of final resolution. He also <br />suggested that the counties and municipalities consider changing from a <br />"billion's Rule" form of government which requires that the Legislature give <br />permission for all changes. <br />Rep. Joe Hackney indicated that the "billion's Rule" is not the issue here. <br />The Legislature grants almost all Board of Commissioners requests. <br />Sallee Jesse Brown commented that "infill" has been considered unacceptable <br />in Orange County. She would like to see higher density be permitted in <br />appropriate locations. <br />Allan Spalt stated that a clear vision is lacking for this community. <br />Dr. DeGrove indicated that although sprawl may initially appear to be less <br />expensive, in the longer view it is much more affordable to repair and upgrade <br />older infrastructure than it is to allow sprawl. <br />Commissioner Rose indicated that although Hillsborough is in better <br />financial shape than it has been in the past, it needs to increase its tax base <br />in order to survive. <br />John Link indicated that Orange County, Carrboro, Hillsborough and Chapel <br />Hill have been working together over the past several years. Learning to "reason <br />together" is an ongoing goal. He indicated that within the next 9 months the <br />county will address many issues, including the following: <br />rural character study <br />"volunteer farmland preservation programs <br />"a Purchased Development Rights (PDR) proposal with a land evaluation system to <br />protect the proper farms will be presented to the county <br />"a growth impact analysis to determine which kinds of growth will be positive <br />"economic district proposals <br />3 <br />