Minutes - 19971206 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 availability to services are key issues that will be addressed. Also, the information and referral systems must work for Orange County residents. A preliminary report will be given in the spring. Chapel Hill Northwest Area Plan * Commissioner Crowther noted that the jurisdictions are interested in having this item at the next Joint Planning Area public hearing. The plan is ready. The issues that still need to be resolved center around solid waste management and the Greene Tract. He suggested that these could be identified on the plan as issues and the remainder of the plan could be considered in that context. Planner Gene Bell said that the conceptual Land Use Plan for this area was prepared by Chapel Hill in 1995. It was held up at that time because of landfill issues including the siting of the next landfill. This plan could be moved ahead excluding the Greene Tract. Chapel Hill approved in November, 1996 a resolution asking that it go forward and Carrboro approved a resolution in January, 1997. Nothing has happened since that time. It is not much of a plan without the Greene Tract because that is where most of the dense development lies. Geoffrey Gledhill noted that all the proposals east of the railroad are not included in the Greene Tract. Commissioner Crowther stated that he would like for this plan to be presented publicly, with the notation that the Greene Tract is still a question. Chapel Hill should determine if it is not much of a plan without the Greene Tract. It was decided that if Chapel Hill feels this plan needs to be moved along excluding any use of the Greene Tract, that it should go ahead and present it at the next JPA meeting. John Link pointed out that the County Commissioners have as one of their principles for solid waste management that the Greene Tract continues to be one of the assets of the landfill. That will need to be decided before moving ahead on recommendations for the Greene Tract. Followup to this item includes Chair Margaret Brown talking with mayors about this topic and John Link writing a letter to the town of Chapel Hill . Impacts of Growth and Development * Commissioner Gordon clarified that "impacts of growth and development" includes the infra- structure impacts of development such as the impacts that development has on the existing capacity of roads and parks and the fiscal impact. Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that the work being done by Miriam Coleman in the Planning Department and Roscoe Reeve in GIS will provide information to forecast where the growth is taking place. Commissioner Carey noted that the County Commissioners are provided information on fiscal impacts and other impacts everytime they approve new developments. While he sees an advantage of getting that information, he also realizes the impact this has on County employees because of their already heavy workload. Commissioner Gordon emphasized that this is information that is necessary for effective planning and an overall view of what is happening. Planning needs to be in place for new schools and other infrastructure. John Link made reference to the agenda information which describes a process that uses a template to produce this information. The information in the template will need to be adjusted for each project. This can be moved up on the priority list with a report coming back to the County Commissioners on January 20. He noted that they are also looking at how GIS can be used to do an accumulative report. They will also look at other software packages that will give an accumulative report. Chair Margaret Brown said she is only interested in those impacts which can be tracked. Communications (strategic plan) _ Commissioner Gordon asked that this be placed at the top of the priority list to do this fiscal year. In answer to a question from Chair Margaret Brown, John Link said that they should be able to begin televising the County Commissioners meetings in August. Both the Judge F. Gordon Battle Courtroom