Orange County NC Website
~ a <br />2 <br />a mix of residential and commercial development. What he has heard is that <br />the process for locating in this-area takes too long. That is the reason to <br />create EDDs -- to shorten the process but maintain the controls which would <br />give a quality end product. The County needs to have a clear process for <br />businesses to follow. <br />Commissioner Gordon stressed that a cost benefit analysis needs to be <br />done for the EDDs. She agrees that it is advanta eous to have stability in <br />a process to locate and that the Permitted Use Tae should be reviewed. <br />Marvin Collins explained that approving the EDDs would mean for someone <br />who wants to locate in this district a process of submitting a site plan and <br />if it conforms with the Design Standards, they can start building. If the <br />plan does not conform with the Design Standards, they have the option of <br />following the current policy. <br />The Board discussed the I-40, Old 86 node. It was decided that they <br />need to meet with the Town of Hillsborough to ascertain what they expect to <br />happen in this area. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked for information about the Efland <br />Interchange location and what will be permitted in this water quality <br />critical area. <br />In response to a comment made by Commissioner Halkiotis about providing <br />jobs for kids coming out of college or technical schools, Chair Carey <br />stated that providing quality jobs with a livable wage can only be achieved <br />through the Permitted Use Table and this will not guarantee that the jobs <br />will be filled by people who live in Orange County. One thing the County <br />Commissioners can control is the training that Orange County residents can <br />receive. It was decided that one of the goals is to provide jobs fors_people <br />in Orange County. <br />Commissioner Willhoit said that with regard to underemployment, quality <br />jobs and specific training programs would provide upward mobility for the <br />underemployed. <br />John Link noted that there is a need to improve the training <br />opportunities for those who live in the County. If the County built a <br />training facility, there would be all kinds of opportunities for retraining <br />and educating the citizens. This is one thing the County can do to reduce <br />the poverty level. Everything is driven by whether or not a person has a <br />job. He feels that the EDDs will produce better jobs and help reduce the <br />poverty level. <br />Ted Abernathy noted that "those people who need jobs live primarily in <br />west Chapel Hill, East Carrboro and the area along I-85 west of <br />Hillsborough. In answer to a question about transportation, he noted that <br />the Buckhorn node and the Hillsborough node will be on the rail line going <br />through that area. Carrboro and Chapel Hill are studying areas for <br />commercial development. <br />It was decided that staff would work on tailoring the Permitted Use <br />Table for each node. Also, the cost benefit analysis will be done using <br />assumptions on how each district will be developed. <br />The Board continued discussing the type of growth that may be generated <br />by the EDDs. Chair Carey asked that the Board focus on those things they <br />can control. He feels there is going to be growth pressure no matter what <br />they do and the important thing is to concentrate the commercial and <br />residential development in specific areas and decide how they want this <br />growth to occur. <br />