Minutes - 02-26-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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a. Area 1 b. Area 2 c. Area Sa d. Area 3b e. Area 3c Orange County Planning Director Craig Benedict presented this item. He said that the next few items have to do with the economic development district area that is south of Hillsborough. Over the last 12 months, members from the Orange County Board of Commissioners and members from the Town of Hillsborough Commissioners have met to examine the existing land use patterns within and around the economic development districts that lie south of Hillsborough. The general area is around Old NC 86 between the interchanges of I-8511-40 and New NC 86 near the intersection of I-85. The comprehensive plan is a base layer of land use issues within the County. This gives general development patterns and is a guidance tool for zoning layers. He said that Gene Bell, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor, would be explaining each Economic Development District (EDD). He said that the EDD Task Force that has been meeting since February 2000 has been one of the most prolific task forces that has met over the last year. The task force has met over 20 times and has analyzed a lot of issues that could potentially affect the quality of life of residents in and around Hillsborough. There was interest within the task force to look at issues such as transportation impact, transportation capacity, and the image of the entranceway on the major interchanges. He said that in 1993, 1994, and 1995 Orange County developed Area A, which is a set of standards far economic development districts. Area A is not being amended because it is an existing economic development district. Gene Bell went over all the areas as listed above. Area 1 is currently rural residential, and the proposed change is for aten-year transition and economic development activity node. Area 2 is currently classified as 20-year transition, and the proposed change is to the economic development activity node. Areas 3a and 3b are currently commercial activity nodes, and the proposed change would designate this area as an economic development activity node. Area 3c is currently 10-year transition. The proposed change would be to an economic development activity node. He spoke about the procedures for amending the plan. The reasons for amending the comprehensive plan are as follows: 1} because of a change or changes of conditions in a certain part of the County; 2} to correct an error or omission in the plan; or 3) in response to a change in policies, objectives, principles, or standards governing the physical development of the County. This is from Article 2 of the Zoning Ordinance. He made reference to Article 20 of the Zoning Ordinance and said that the plan was premised upon two basic strategies -activity nodes and infill development. Activity nodes serve to cluster commercial and industrial development at major intersections throughout the County in locations appropriate for serving the needs of residents. The infill development strategy is premised on the desirability of encouraging development to occur first within the corporate limits of the towns. The proposed plan amendments that are being considered are consistent with the two basic plan strategies. Two goals that are particularly relevant to these plan amendments are: 1}Goal #5 - the management of growth so that it is directed to areas where growth is desirable and could be accommodated; and 2) Goal #6 -the promotion of economic development which emphasizes employment, meeting local needs while preserving the character of communities and protecting the natural environment. Gene Bell said that within the plan, each category has a set of 11 location criteria. The criteria are land slope, hydrology, flora and fauna, soil conditions, public services and utilities, the transportation system, energy use, existing land use, agriculture and forestry, population density, and historical and cultural resources. Of the five areas, Area 1 complied with 10 out of the 11 criteria. There was an inconsistency related to agriculture and forestry. The Orange County land records system indicates that lots 15, 16 and 17 on map 49, block B and lot 8 on map 50 are taxed under forestry use value taxation. Lots 15 and 17 are taxed as forestland and lot 16 is taxed as agricultural land. These lots which are contiguous account for approximately 70 acres of the total 97.67 in the area. All other areas complied with the eleven criteria. The Planning staff recommends approval of the proposed amendments for the reasons as outlined in the agenda abstract.