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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING ON THE RURAL CHARACTER STUDY JANUARY 24, 1989 6:00 P.M. A special meeting was held on January 24, 1989 at 6:00 p.m. at Huey's Seafood Restaurant, Hillsborough, North Carolina for the purpose of receiving a report from Consultant Lane Kendig on the Rural Character Study: BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr „ and Gommissioners Stephen Halkiotis, Jahn Hartwell, Shirley E, Marshall and Don Willhoit. ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill. STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr,, Planner Gene $ell, Clerk to the Board Beverly A, Blythe and Planning Director Marvin Collins. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Chair Moses Carey emphasized that the Board of Commissioners is interested in preserving the rural character for all of Orange County. Mazvin Collins made additional remarks about the study. REMARKS FROM CONSULTANT LANE KENDTG Kendig explained the process that is being followed to encourage citizens to participate in the process and voice those things now that usually come out later in the process. The procedure he uses involves listening to the people to find out what their concerns are. The consulting firm has met with special interest groups as well as citizen groups and are looking at four things: (1) Agricultural Preservation (2) Rural Buffer (3) Resource Protection (4) Visual Resources All have basically the same issue -- they are viewing the land as a resource that needs to be protected and something that doesn't renew itself automatically. On the other side is the commodity view of the land, The two views are fully compatible with each other. Kendigs' next visit will involve taking the four components of farmland, natural resources, growth management and ,visual resources and begin to set down all the kinds of policies that may provide guidance for the County to preserve the rural character of the County. He explained that their focus is on all four components although the study may, in the final analysis, be focused on only one of those components. He explained that they are using several techniques and are listening to the people. The process includes going out to the people and listening to find out what their real concerns are. On this trip the emphasis is shifting to more of an educational program. The next trip they will be doing the issue statements. "Community Character" is very important and essential. The landowners want to do what they want with their land. Part of the problem is that the growth is changing what is happening in the County. On the one hand is the urban community and this study is