Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Halkiotis asked that the County provide the services of the County Engineer to <br />help the citizens in Heritage Hills. <br />The Board approved asking the County Engineer to help in this situation and asking County <br />staff to help in submitting the application. <br />Mike Rorgue, an artist in Chapel Hill, said that he had renovated a bus to use as an out <br />building on his property and someone in the neighborhood complained. He said that this was supposed to <br />be a fun project and has turned out to be controversial and against rules and regulations in Orange <br />County. He said that he understands that the ordinance that he is in violation of is designed to prevent a <br />lot of junk vehicles on a piece of property. He feels that in his case it is not his intent to have a junk <br />vehicle. He wants to allow something like this to exist on his property. He does not want to be in violation <br />of an ordinance. <br />Chair Gordon asked Geoffrey Gledhill how the Commissioners should proceed on this issue. <br />She said that the staff has turned down this request. She asked if there was a provision for appeal to the <br />Commissioners. <br />Geoffrey Gledhill said that the Board of Adjustment could review the determination by the <br />Zoning Officer and the decision could be appealed by either the County or the property owner to the <br />courts. He said that the Board of County Commissioners have no role in this process. <br />Chair Gordon asked Mr. Rorgue to check with the County Manager and the County Attorney on <br />how to proceed. <br />John Link said that this decision was made by the Zoning Officer and has not been reviewed by <br />the administration, which includes the County Manager, the County Attorney, and the Planning Director. <br />He recommended that this issue be referred to the administration. <br />Commissioner Carey agreed with John Link and said that if the situation arises that Mr. Rorgue <br />wants to go to the Board of Adjustment, that the staff advise him on what conditions the Board of <br />Adjustment will make a decision. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that this is one of the most artistic uses of a spent school bus that <br />he has ever seen. He said that he knows of a lot of places with abandoned school buses that look horrible <br />and he encouraged Mr. Rorgue to go through the process of appeal. <br />PUBLIC CHARGE <br />The Chair dispensed with the reading of the public charge. <br />3. BOARD COMMENTS <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to the fatal accident yesterday on highway 70. Since he has <br />been on this Board he has seen the introduction of five traffic lights between 1-85 and Highway 86 and 70. <br />He requested that DOT be asked to review the speed limits on Highway 70. He thinks that 55 mph is too <br />fast for Highway 70. He feels that there is more tragedy just waiting to happen. The Board agreed with <br />this suggestion. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the Board's legislative agenda. He serves on a <br />subcommittee with Commissioner Halkiotis and will meet on November 2nd to discuss what has happened <br />to the local legislation introduced during the 1999 session of the general assembly. He would like the staff <br />to bring a report by November 2nd, letting the Board know what happened with all of the legislative <br />initiatives that Orange County took in the last legislature. <br />Commissioner Jacobs suggested setting up a meeting with the Durham County Commissioners to <br />talk about issues of mutual concern. Durham City could also be invited. He would rather focus on finding <br />a date for just the County Commissioners to attend. The Board agreed with this suggestion. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to lunches that are catered and proposed to continue to try to <br />set an example not to accept any containers that are not biodegradable. The Board agreed with this <br />suggestion. <br />4. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT - NONE