Orange County NC Website
transition area or utility service area. He indicated that page 37 of this proposal states that "Systems are <br />permitted only in accordance with applicable water and sewer, and land use policies...." <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />47 <br />48 <br />49 <br />50 <br />51 <br />52 <br />53 <br />54 <br />There was a question concerning whether the groundwater study initiated by the Water Resources <br />Committee would give information about adequate groundwater capacity. Commissioner Gordon stated that <br />the study being conducted by USGS is somewhat generalized and will not give data about specific sites. <br />Commissioner Crowther thanked Marvin Collins for working on the neighborhood public meetings. <br />He felt that the wording was appropriate. He asked if the County had received any conservation easements. <br />Marvin indicated that the County had not received a conservation easement but it is being worked on now. <br />Commissioner Crowther asked how the median income is established for affordable housing. Marvin Collins <br />indicated that HUD establishes that figure based on local figures which are updated annually. <br />Chair Carey asked why a provision was being added to count land already dedicated under <br />conservation easement as open space. Marvin Collins stated that it is counted as open space only if it <br />remains in the ownership of the person developing the property. If it is subdivided it could not be counted. <br />The assumption is that if a piece of property has something significant enough on it to lead to the approval of <br />the conservation easement, then the owner should continue to be given credit for it. The further assumption <br />is that this is fair because they have already limited the amount of development that can occur on that <br />property. <br />Chair Carey supported the idea that developers who create affordable housing projects could <br />submit only one plan. He asked if the provision under discussion could enforce that. <br />Geof Gledhill referred to page 45 of the proposal. He mentioned that the second bullet "in lieu of a <br />three-part Concept Plan, one Concept Plan may be submitted if" is being recommended for deletion. This is <br />because of the staff's recommendation, following the Planning Board's vote, not to exempt affordable <br />housing projects from the requirement to submit a Flexible Development Option. Geof Gledhill suggested not <br />including an exception to the requirement to submit a Flexible Development Option until after the Ordinance <br />is revised to require review of those projects after the plat is required. He then referred to pages 42 and 43 <br />where affordable housing was also discussed. He recommended that Page 42, G.2, 1st paragraph be <br />changed to read "A density increase is permitted, pursuant to Section 6.28 of the Zoning Ordinance". He <br />suggested that developers interested in affordable housing be required to go to the Zoning Regulations which <br />will explain how affordable housing can be accomplished with density bonuses. At the time the Zoning <br />Regulations were adopted not all of Orange County was zoned. That might have explained the necessity of <br />having affordable housing provisions in the Subdivision Regulations. The County is now entirely zoned and <br />the Zoning Ordinances applies throughout the County. He also commented that there may be questions <br />about whether the provisions do what the Board of Commissioners want. Further consideration of them in <br />the future could be accomplished. However, his current recommendation is to leave out the reference to <br />affordable housing. Page 43, G.3 should be changed to read "Location of open space bonus units only: <br />Density increases as permitted above to encourage additional open space are limited to flexible development <br />proposed in the following locations......" <br />Commissioner Gordon questioned whether the Board of Commissioners wanted to follow Mr. <br />Gledhill's recommendation. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Crowther, seconded by Commissioner Gordon, to <br />adopt the County Attorney's recommendation to change the language as stated above. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Commissioner Willhoit mentioned his desire for a mechanism which would require that housing <br />which is approved as "affordable housing" stay affordable. He referred this to the staff and Planning Board <br />for recommendation to this Board.