Minutes 05-23-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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providing growth for the community; you're allowing people that can't afford in Chapel Hill to live nearby Chapel Hill. This works. This works on a lot of levels for this County. This County needs it. It fits squarely in the mindset of the future, what you're trying to do, what you're trying to develop, and the direction that you're going. I urge you to approve this project. Thank you. Larry Wright: Mr. Harvey, I'd like to ask staff, number one, if they have any comments, but I'd like to ask you if you could please—the lady that testified before this — if you could address some of her concerns please, especially pertaining to the schedule. Michael Harvey: I'll address what concerns I feel I can. Before doing that, though, I wanted to call to the Board's attention what I handed out prior to the meeting. You have two blue pieces of paper at your places pertaining to this project. One is a letter authored by Hewearl Holman, a property owner, addressed to Mr. Craig Benedict, which we received via fax indicating their opposition to this project. The second is a memorandum completed by Mr. David Sykes on the 17th of May. Mr. Sykes is a member of the Orange County Emergency Management Service Division. This is detailing his review of the Tinnin Woods subdivision. I just wanted to call those to your attention. In attempting to address Mrs. Whitted's questions concerning schedule, what will happen this evening is the County Commissioners and the Planning Board will ask questions of the staff and the applicant. After the conclusion of the questions, this meeting will be adjourned to a date and time specific, staff is recommending September, where the County Commissioners will reconvene to accept the Planning Board recommendation. If anyone has any additional questions, Planning Board meetings occur on the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage anyone that has questions to contact staff and they'll be happy to provide you with the documentation that's going to be reviewed at the meeting. After tonight, those decisions being made will be forwarded to the Planning Board. Ultimately, the Planning Board will be asked to make a recommendation in time for the September County Commissioners' meeting. This public hearing will be reconvened when this item is discussed. Commissioner Jacobs: I think it goes without saying that Orange County has been and remains very supportive of Habitat and very appreciative of the fact that Habitat is building housing all over the County. Richmond Hills was a breakthrough in that regard and it's been the start of a number of houses in the central part of the County and we appreciate that. I think that the area would have gotten the name of Habitat houses as the Rogers Road neighborhood. My first question, and I just want to clarify what Mr. Harvey just said about the process to more directly address Mrs. Whitted's concern. Since the public hearing will remain open, other people will have another opportunity to speak before we make any kind of decision. Michael Harvey: Correct. Commissioner Jacobs: Because that was part of my question. Michael Harvey: And the Planning Board will be accepting written comments. Commissioner Jacobs: The issue with the variable buffer, would we do something similar for any developer, or are we making a special case. When is the case to be made? Michael Harvey: The case has been presented by the applicant through the initial use permitting process just like the planning development permitting process. The developer has an