Minutes 11-22-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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would encourage this type of commercial development. She said that in Site Selection Magazine, North Carolina is nine times out of ten the top placement in the country for business. Ben Lloyd agreed with Kathleen Ferguson. He said that what is in the current rules is what bothers him, which are over-stringent regulations that have prevented any economic growth in Orange County. This has resulted in a property tax that is unbearable. Only 13-14% of the revenue comes from commercial or industrial development. There are lifetime residents leaving Orange County because they cannot afford to live here. There are three economic development districts that have been here for 19 years. He said that Orange County has created an anti-business image. He suggested that the boards scrutinize the document carefully, make any necessary changes, and then pass it. Desiree Goldman was speaking for two organizations. She spoke on behalf of Aaron Nelson with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. She said that the Chapel Hill- Carrboro Chamber of Commerce urges the County to move forward on the UDO as soon as possible. They see it as very important to economic development. As the Legislative Affairs Director for the Greater Chapel Hill Association of Realtors, she urged the County Commissioners to pass the UDO as soon as possible and to immediately initiate Phase II. She sees this as a way to creatively find ways to build in incentives for economic development. The process needs to be streamlined for economic development (reducing fees, etc.). Also the process needs to be clear and predictable. Dolly Hunter said that she has been an Orange County resident for the past 30 years and she has participated in the following: planning, Farmland Preservation Board, Rural Character Study, Cane Creek Reservoir Study, Economic Development Infrastructure Committee, and the design of the EDDs. For many years, she has done voluntary farmland preservation work for farmers. Recently, she was on the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coalition following the Comprehensive Plan 2030 creation. Concerning this UDO, she knows of which she speaks and she said that it is good that the UDO combines the existing land use regulations and asks that the new revisions are flagged for more review. Secondly, the County needs to initiate Phase II. The existing land use regulations need to be redesigned to be fair, clear, and predictable. Concerning Phase II and the Comprehensive Plan, no part of small area plans should supersede what should be designed for the benefit of the entire County. She said that the Orange County UDO website states that, "Future UDO phases are expected to consist of additional changes to regulations and that the consultant will produce a list of potential phase work." She asked that the County Commissioners initiate a Phase II, but that it will strive to simplify the development regulations in order to encourage the creation of economic development with greater coherency in land policy. Pat Karom spoke for Darrell Chandler. Darrell Chandler 9925 NC Hwy 57 Rougemont, NC 27572 "I have been working on trying to have some type of commercial zoning for almost 7 years. The County put together a small area task force that I was a part of. We went over many issues and I thought we had come to a conclusion that the area around Orange County Speedway, Go-Kart track, Concrete Company, and the Quarry should be allowed to have some type of commercial use. It's gone on for weeks, months, and years and there has not been one thing done as far as getting something finalized. The County has spent a lot of taxpayer's money looking into this area and it is time to sign some conditional use into law. The parcel of land I own is 37 acres. My land is at the intersection of Mile Branch Rd. and NC Hwy. 57. Approximately 4 acres is adjacent to the concrete company with loud trucks coming and going all day. On the other side of the concrete company is the quarry with trucks coming and going