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lot of large acreage that could be developed for a subdivision. The 100,000 gallons would include all <br />of the bond area and Richmond Hills Subdivision. It does not include any land peripheral to the <br />service area. <br />Mayor Johnson asked about the Buckhorn Raad area and the people who want sewer <br />service for that area. Paul Thames said that this project does not include that specific area. The <br />western mast boundary line would be just west of Richmond Road. He said that there was not a way <br />to get those people into the system, which is 1-112 miles west of where the system is now. This is not <br />part of the area the County Commissioners have included in the Efland sewer area. These people <br />could be served by a small gravity system and it would have to be pumped. He said that Buckhorn <br />Road does not fit into Mebane's sewer extension policy either. <br />b. Watershed Preservation <br />Planning Director Craig Benedict said that our new planning process has divided the <br />County into watersheds called Sustainable Planning Areas. He showed the Upper Eno Watershed on <br />a map. This watershed is a critical watershed in the County. With the County's watershed planning, <br />anything within '/ mile of the water sources are classified as watershed critical areas. The areas of <br />Efland are 10-year and 20-year transition areas where we anticipate development and a transition <br />from rural to urban. The Orange-Alamance water system has a one million-gallon allocation from the <br />Upper Eno. Out of the one million gallons, 200,000 gallons are used within Orange County and <br />800,000 gallons ga outside of the basin into the Back Creek and Cape Fear basins. He said that this <br />was not a suggested way to do watershed planning in the future. Since the area is limited north of the <br />two reservoirs, the staff is considering reexamining the densities of development in the northern <br />Upper Eno and suggesting lowering densities below the two-acre and one-acre minimum. The <br />justification for reducing this density is primarily for watershed reasons. He spoke about the <br />advantages of lowering the density. He said that he wanted Hillsborough to understand the reasons <br />for potentially reducing densities in the watershed areas. The County will be doing community <br />outreach before reducing density in this area. Avery important aspect is water quality and <br />preservation. <br />Mayor Johnson said that he attended a meeting of the Upper Neuse Organization in <br />which they talked about limiting the amount of growth. He asked that Commissioner Jacobs call Pat <br />Davis and request the information. The Upper Neuse Organization gat a $300,000 grant to do a <br />watershed model for the rest of the State. <br />Commissioner Jacobs feels it is important for Hillsborough to understand that this is <br />their watershed and that OWASA does set aside money far acquisition of land in their watershed. It is <br />important for Hillsborough to be partners with the County in protecting this area. <br />Planning Director Craig Benedict said that a way to reduce density in an area was to <br />reduce it in that area and increase it in another area. <br />c. Update on Water Treatment <br />Hillsborough Town Manager Eric Peterson said that the water plant project is a 3.3 <br />million dollar upgrade to the plant that is about 27 years old. There was a two million-dollar grant for <br />the project and they plan to bid in May and start construction in the summer. This project will only <br />upgrade the plant, not expand it. <br />d. Water CapacitylSewer Capacity <br />Eric Peterson said that Hillsborough has plenty of water. He said that Hillsborough had <br />the capacity to provide 1.5 million gallons a day of water and to treat 1.5 million gallons a day of <br />sewage. They are currently treating 700,000 - 800,000 gallons a day of sewage. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if Hillsborough sells water to Orange-Alamance. Eric <br />Peterson said that they do have an agreement to sell water to Orange-Alamance. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if the Tawn would consider selling water to Orange- <br />Alamance to service the Buckhorn area and Eric Peterson said that they would consider selling water <br />to anyone at this time. <br />