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� <br /> Commissioner Jacobs echoed what the Manager said in the forward-thinking on this <br /> issue. He asked why there is not a public hearing first before bringing this to the Board of <br /> County Commissioners for a rezoning and putting in sewer. <br /> Craig Benedict said that there was one community outreach meeting in March to bring <br /> this area up to speed on this proposal. He said that the focus is still to put gravity sewer at <br /> Gravelly Hill Middle School. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that Orange County has an agreement with Mebane that <br /> they are not going to move outside the economic development district. He asked if there was <br /> any kind of agreement with Mebane that they will respect this same line the way that there is <br /> an agreement with the EDD. <br /> Craig Benedict said that staff is looking to expand the current agreement they have with <br /> Mebane to include Area A and some other areas, and honoring the Bowman Road line for <br /> water and sewer. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that it looks like the County is going to get a lot of design at <br /> a basement price and he does not think a delay is necessary since this is only at the design <br /> stage now. <br /> Chair Pelissier concurred with Commissioner Yuhasz and said that she did attend the <br /> community meeting. She said that a lot of people thought that Orange County did not own <br /> land in Area A. <br /> Craig Benedict said that there were some large landowners there that were very <br /> positive. <br /> Chair Pelissier asked how long the design process would take before construction. <br /> Craig Benedict said that there would be two different design parts. One is a gravity <br /> system in E1. The contract has some things unfolding by September or October of this year. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that outreach meetings are useful but they do not take the <br /> place of a public hearing. She thinks the Board should follow the usual process of having a <br /> public hearing first. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that he thinks the County needs to be clearer with the public <br /> and to let them know this is only the design phase and not a decision to proceed. Also, this <br /> will happen in phases, and the second phase of design will not even take place until after the <br /> public hearing. He thinks that the County Commissioners are not making any commitment yet <br /> that precludes public comment. <br /> Commissioner McKee agreed that this is talking about design and not moving forward <br /> without a public hearing. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to <br /> approve design Option 2 to add a `backbone' gravity sewer to 423 acres; direct staff (Attorney, <br /> Planning, Financial Services) to initiate any contract amendment necessary; authorize the <br /> County Manager to sign the contract amendment; and authorize staff to begin necessary Land <br /> Use Plan amendments. <br /> VOTE: Ayes, 6; No, 1 (Commissioner Gordon) <br /> Commissioner Jacobs asked to please communicate to the public these points about <br /> the process. <br /> Frank Clifton said that staff will emphasize that the County Commissioners have <br /> authorized the design only. <br /> 9. Reports <br /> a. Reqional and Local Transportation Planninq Initiatives <br /> The Board received an overview of ongoing transit planning activities. <br />