Minutes - 02-29-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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may be amended a second time to allow additional time for this process. He makes these recommendations with the understanding that the County would take over the management of solid waste by March 20th. He said that the Commissioners' intent could be expressed in writing to Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough as soon as possible. This matter could be brought back to the Board after the staff has amended the interlacal agreement in the appropriate areas sa that formal action could be taken at the next meeting. He asked that the County Commissioners consider acting favorably on his recommendation. Commissioner Gordon said that at the public hearing there were a lot of arguments from the citizens. She said that the interlocal agreement was very delicately balanced and there were a lot of compromises. She thinks that before formal action is taken, the staff analysis and recommendation should be considered. She said that if the rezoning is pulled out of the interlacal agreement, then there is no distinguishable site. She listed some possible immediate options such as, if there are problems with the rezoning, the County will stand ready to work with Chapel Hill and the solid waste management would be put on hold; ar the County could hold a discussion about what to do if the rezoning is taken out. She said that if there are implications for the site, then all of the citizens of the County should know about it before any action is taken that is irrevocable. She said that if there is a situation where the County is negotiating with the other three jurisdictions, then the extension of the water lines to the historic Rogers Road neighborhood proceeds on schedule. She thinks that one key point is that; "Orange County would assume solid waste management responsibility when a zoned site for solid waste activities, including a transfer station and a recycling facility, but not a burial facility, is made available." She feels very strongly that if the Greene Tract is not used, that it needs to be made clear what tract is going to be used. She feels that it was not clear at the public hearing held on February 21St that the Greene Tract was not the County's first choice and that it would not be used as a landfill. She said that the question of how to dispose of solid waste is a difficult one, even though we have already excluded the option of burying mixed solid waste anywhere in Orange County. She said that we are all in this together and it is important to work together to solve the problem of where to site solid waste disposal activities. The site question must be resolved before the County assumes control of solid waste activities; otherwise the County may literally find itself left holding the trash bag. She thinks the Board should adapt steps A through F and not take any irrevocable action. She said that she received a fax today from Madeline Levine, who asked the Commissioners if they were prepared to accept the incomplete surveys {biological resources) at this time without revisiting the question of when the zoning of the Greene Tract would occur. Commissioner Brown made reference to the Interlocal Agreement and said that she tried to see which parts could be amended. When this process started, the initial Interlocal Agreement was developed which had the Greene Tract as an asset that would be transferred to the County. She has always thought that the Greene Tract would remain for public uses that did not use the entire tract so it could remain in an undisturbed state. She feels the transfer could be postponed for two pay periods because she feels bath surveys are needed. She would like to have the support of Chapel Hill and Carrboro in whatever needs to be done along Eubanks Road, particularly for a transfer station. She said that almost anyplace that the County needs to proceed along Eubanks Raad is going to require some kind of permitting through Chapel Hill or Carrboro. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the February 21St public hearing and said that the Greene Tract was a last resort and the County only wanted to have a fallback position. He realizes that there is not sufficient reason to support the rezoning of the Greene Tract. He does not feel that the County can enter into this agreement without a fallback position. He feels the County can look at other options and other locations in the County. He feels that the County Commissioners have been sensitive and will continue to be sensitive to the people who live near the present landfill. He said that the perfectly honest position is that if all else fails, the closed landfill site north of Eubanks Road would be the only viable place to anticipate in advance as a place that is largely currently available to be used. He thinks that the County aught to incorporate within the interlocal agreement some language to this effect that Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough would have to agree to or at least acknowledge that this is the County's intent.