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c. Proposed Sheriff's Department Substation at Efland-Cheeks Community School Park <br />The Board considered options to provide space for a Sheriff's Department substation at Efland-Cheeks <br />Community School Park. <br />Director of Purchasing and Central Services Pam Jones summarized the information in the agenda which <br />outlines the options for providing a substation and the associated costs. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to approve reallocating <br />two offices in the existing Community Center for use by the Sheriff's Department. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />d. Zoning Atlas Amendment: Z-4-98 - James and Patricia LaTorre <br />The Board considered amending the Orange County Zoning Atlas by rezoning a 19.96-acre lot in the I- <br />85/Buckhorn Road Economic Development Activity Node from Primary Economic Development to Secondary Economic <br />Development. <br />Planner Karen Lincoln summarized this request. The property is located on the north side of West Ten <br />Road approximately 0.5 mile west of Bushy Cook Road and approximately 1.25 miles east of Buckhorn Road. The <br />applicants have tried to market the subject property for commercial development and cannot find any interested clients <br />because of the lack of public infrastructure which is needed to attract large industrial or commercial enterprises. The <br />applicants are requesting Secondary Development Area designation for the subject property. <br />James and Patricia LaTorre read a prepared statement. They have requested this rezoning because they <br />need to sell this property. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked John Link about the intentions of Mebane for this area. John Link said that, <br />to his knowledge, there is no specific project or proposal. He noted that providing water and sewer to this area would <br />probably be a combination of Orange County extending the Efland sewer project and Mebane extending water and <br />sewer from their end. <br />John Link suggested that the County Commissioners may want to review the purposes for this area. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like to see the County either develop strategies for providing water <br />and sewer to this area or not keep this as an Economic Development District. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis agreed saying that we should decide on whether or not we are going to promote <br />this area and if we decide not to promote it, we need to abandon this as an EDD. <br />Commissioner Carey said that this EDD was placed where it is so that the use would be compatible with the <br />surrounding area. This was a long range plan. If we change to allow this particular piece to be rezoned as secondary, <br />then it will decrease the probability that much of the remainder of the site will be used as intended. He feels the County <br />needs to give some serious thought as to whether or not we want this entire area to remain a primary EDD or not. He <br />feels that it should remain an area for primary economic development because there are not many places in this County <br />that allows that kind of development. The intent was for the users to pay the cost of water and sewer extension <br />regardless of the provider. <br />Chair Gordon said that the Planning Board recommendation was a unanimous vote against rezoning <br />because they assumed that the County Commissioners wanted to keep this for a primary EDD. She will not go against <br />the Planning Board recommendation. However, she would be willing to reconsider the long term plan for this area. She <br />noted that Mebane does require that if they extend water and sewer that the property be annexed. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked Chair Gordon and John Link to write out for him what is happening with <br />Mebane on annexation issues. He agrees with Commissioner Carey that the County Commissioners need to revisit the <br />EDD issue. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he believes the County Commissioners need to take a proactive look at the <br />EDDs and make a decision as to whether or not we are committed to them and what that means. The LaTores will not <br />get an answer tonight but they will know that we are going to review this issue and make a commitment for or against <br />this area being in or out of the EDD. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to table action on this <br />item and to instruct the County Manager, County Attorney, new planning director and EDC director to reevaluate this <br />issue in the context of what is a reasonable expectation of the property owner as it relates to a long term plan. They <br />will come back with pros and cons of leaving this area the same and pros and cons for mixed uses for this area. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />e. Response to Triangle Transit Authority's Proposed Expansion in Orange County <br />The Board considered issuing a formal response to the Triangle Transit Authority request for input on <br />expansion plans for the next 18 months, and identifying a parkiride lot west of Hillsborough. <br />Director of the Department on Aging Jerry Passmore distributed a map showing three locations for park and <br />ride lots for which they are requesting TTA's support. He said that as the County's Transportation Board develops their <br />transportation plan for the next four years, they will work closely with the TTA to better serve citizens of Orange County.