Minutes - 04-12-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1. JPA-1-00 requests a 75.20-acre expansion of the extractive use plan category as contained in the JPA Land Use Plan. The extractive use category encompasses mining and quarry operations. The application requests that the extractive use category be extended to a 15.20-acre parcel (PIN 9759-63-9813) owned by American Stone Company and a 60-acre parcel (PIN 9759-62-1992} owned by OWASA. Amendments to the JPA Land Use Plan require the approval of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County as specified in the Joint Planning Agreement. 2. CP-1-00 requests the establishment of a 180.51-acre rural industrial activity node. A rural industrial activity node is land focused on designated road intersections in the rural areas that is appropriate for industrial uses, which do not require urban- type services. The request includes the properties referenced in JP-1-00 as well as five acres of a parcel {PIN 9757-44-2780) owned by American Stone Company and a 100.31 acre parcel (PIN 9759-54-4097) owned by Philip and Alice Durham. Comprehensive Plan amendments require only the approval of the Orange County Commissioners. IV. Staff Presentation Planning Director Craig Benedict made a presentation. He said that there had not been any public hearings on this matter since April 1994. He pointed out that tonight's meeting had nothing to da with the zoning of the property. The zoning of the property would be another step after the public hearing. He made reference to a map showing the existing quarry and the surrounding land use elements. He followed the outline in the handout entitled, "Joint Planning Area Public Hearing." He made reference to the table in the handout of the various uses. He said that the 75.2 acres would be a new extracted use combined with the existing extracted use that is subject to existing extracted use activities with an existing special use permit. When all of the comprehensive plan uses are added together, there are 180 acres of rural industrial node. This is roughly 105 acres north of Bethel Hickory Grove Church Road, and 75 new acres south of the road. The 75 new acres south of the road is a 60-acre parcel owned by OWASA and a 15-acre parcel owned by American Stone Company. He made reference to the 'locational' review standards and said that there were 11 review criteria. These are on page 9 of the handout. He said that the Planning staffs from Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Orange County reviewed these criteria. These are the same criteria used in any case of a change in the land use plan of the joint planning area. When these issues were reviewed, they were in compliance with 10 of the 11 criteria that are used to evaluate land use plan amendments in an area. He pointed out criterion #2, which is Hydrology. This area is within the University Lake Watershed and is very close to Phil's Creek. He said that Phil's Creek runs northwest to southeast through the site. The staff evaluated whether there were any affects upon the environmental conditions of the creek and the watershed. He said that as a result of the quarry operation, by 2030, this would be an additional water supply that could augment University Lake. He said that in 1994, there was an original request to relocate the asphalt plant, and this has been removed from the application. There is an agreement for the existing asphalt plant to close down in May 2000. He explained haw University Lake could be augmented as a result of the reservoir. He said that when the staff analyzed the hydrological concerns, they found very important benefits that outweighed the initial hydrological impacts that are addressed by putting a quarry within the future reservoir area. He addressed the JPA Operating Principles that are also on page 9 of the handout and are listed below: a. Open Space -the eventual reservoir will have open space around it b. University Lake Watershed -water supply augmentation c. Higher Intensity Use/Transition Area -this does not create any additional higher intensity uses for residential populations d. Rural Areas -mining activity is considered a primary economic resource and fits in with the rural character of an area