Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
11 <br />not favor impact fees because of the impact they have on housing in general. <br />However, since there is already an impact fee and it may be increased, he <br />suggested how it should be administered. He feels there should be a clear <br />policy on who should get relief from the impact fee. Also, he feels there <br />should be a waiver, not a reimbursement, for low income housing and that the <br />waiver be extended to individuals as well as organizations. <br />BOB REDA, President of the Chapel Hill Alliance of Neighborhoods, <br />stated he moved to Chapel Hill because of the quality of schools. He asked <br />that the County Commissioners look at the community as a resource and provide <br />the leadership necessary to make the decisions that will solve the <br />overcrowding problem in the schools. There is support in the community for <br />an increase as shown by the citizens who have spoken this evening. <br />ALLEN SPALT talked about zero period classes at the high school as a <br />way to alleviate the overcrowding. He feels the quality of the education has <br />substantially suffered because of the overcrowded conditions. He talked about <br />another community that experienced similar growth who implemented a $3400 <br />impact fee to build new schools. He feels that what the County needs is a <br />balanced way of financing the schools. While the impact fee is not the only <br />answer, it is clear that new development is causing the largest portion of <br />student growth. He supports an impact fee with a sliding scale and other <br />features to help avoid the burden on low income families. He asked that the <br />Board come up with a formula to include impact fees, bonds, property taxes, <br />whatever it takes to provide the needed facilities. <br />ANTHONY LOFTUS emphasized that criminals are being let go because of <br />overcrowding jails. The judges feel it is cruel and unusual punishment to <br />make them go into an overcrowded situation. However, children are being kept <br />in overcrowded schools with less concern .for them. He talked about <br />overcrowded conditions in New York. <br />WITH NO FURTHER COMMENTS, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. <br />Chair Carey said that this item will be placed on the next agenda for <br />consideration by the County Commissioners. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked that the County Attorney look into the <br />possibility of the County doing a moratorium on development. He feels that <br />developers are not paying their fair share. <br />B. 1995-2000 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN <br />No presentation was made. The public hearing was open for citizen <br />comments. <br />Keith Cook, Finance Chairman of the Orange Community Housing <br />Corporation, made reference to a letter sent to the County Commissioners on <br />March 8 asking that money be allocated to help purchase property for <br />affordable housing opportunities. They have requested that $50,000 be set <br />aside for purchasing 10 lots in Efland for affordable housing that they will <br />build. They want to offer some good faith money for the property to hold it <br />until the HOME grant or the CDBG grant becomes available. <br />This item will be placed on a future agenda. <br />