Minutes 02-16-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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as possible for so long as we do not seek to urbanize our real property, or as defined by procedures set forth in Section 160A-360 of the North Carolina General Statutes. We further request that this matter be placed on the respective agendas for discussion at the next possible scheduled public hearings of both the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Orange County Board of Commissioners, with an advance notice of at least two weeks. The basis for our request is as follows: Whereas, Carrboro's leadership repeatedly has claimed that it has no interest in annexing our land; and Whereas, Carrboro has no expertise in managing farms or rural land; and Whereas, we believe that ETJ land should be governed by those who have experience with governing farms and rural land, and not by an urban management principles and urban land-use ordinances; and Whereas, the application of Carrboro's land use ordinances to farms and rural land is inappropriate and threatens our existence, our livelihood, our culture, our family life, and overall, our survival; and Whereas, we believe that town policies foster continuing development of Carrboro's urban area and, thus, increasingly pose threats to our land, livestock, and livelihood; and Whereas, there exists no statutory mandate that requires Carrboro to govern the region known as its ETJ; and Whereas, we receive no benefits and do not seek benefits from Carrboro's urban management; and Whereas, we believe in the democratic process and inalienable rights guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution and, as such, require the opportunity to elect those who govern our land and the opportunity to serve on those elected governing bodies; and Whereas, there is precedent for remanding development jurisdiction to counties from municipalities; and Whereas, North Carolina has adopted a Farm Protection Plan administered by the NCDA; and Whereas, Orange County's pending version has been described as "farmer friendly" and was expected by year-end of 2009 We hereby request that Carrboro's leadership agree to relinquish development jurisdiction, as above, and make a concerted effort to seek support for an approval of the above from the Commissioners of Orange County at this time; that this effort be initiated in good faith by all parties hereto by no later than November 15, 2009; and that an amendment reflecting this change of jurisdiction be formally adopted and acknowledged in the Joint Planning Agreement, and any and all other relevant legal resources or mechanisms as deemed necessary to ensure acknowledgement and complete compliance by the governments of Orange County, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill. In the interim, we require that Carrboro cease to apply its urban land use ordinances to ETJ land and farms for so long as we do not seek to urbanize our real property; and proceed henceforth as if our land is presently governed by Orange County's ordinances from this day forward, and not by Carrboro's LUO. The Board received the petition.