Orange County NC Website
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21 <br />1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />47 <br />48 <br />49 <br />50 <br />51 <br />many qualified applicants. Most recently, we received 60 applications to provide homeowner <br />slots and over 1/3 of those applicants met all of the qualifications. By the end of 2013, we will <br />have completed a 15-unit development in Phoenix Place in southern Orange County. We will <br />continue working at Fairview where we own about a dozen lots. But Tinnin Woods represents <br />the next major source of building lots so that_we can continue to provide affordable home <br />ownership. Additionally, increasing density allows Habitat to be good stewards of land in <br />Orange County. As a practical matter, to get more affordable homes on the ground here; our <br />minds will need to-be open to increased densities that current zoning may allow. Because <br />underdeveloped sites that are on water and sewer are very scarce, and developing at the <br />current density at the property in R-1 would not be financially feasible for Habitat. Please note <br />we understand-that the requested density is within the anticipated density contained in the 10- <br />year Transi#ion Area: <br />Finding #2: Maintain or enhance the value of contiguous properties. The design for Tinnin <br />Woods was worked on and refined over many-months, incorporating the ideas and expertise of <br />Habitat- staff members on the site, which includes planning and design professionals. We <br />devote organizational resources to provide training and mentoring for our homeowners to <br />support there in the transition to homeownership and provide the leadership training to help <br />develop-strong homeowners' associations. Homes are built to very high quality standards using <br />volunteers, but overseen by a professional staff. All of our homes are Energy Star green <br />certified, and have fu-e and safety sprinkler systems. We are also proposing curb and gutter to <br />create and maintain a positive curb appeal over time. We are committed to improving <br />neighborhoods where we build. Fairview is an example of that. We will be cleaning up the <br />existing property, which currently has been a dumping ground for trash and garbage. 1've <br />walked that property, I know that. And there are unsafe, dilapidated structures that we will <br />remove. Additionally, upgrading the water line from three to eight inches and crossing the ??? <br />possibly with Richmond Hills will increase the water pressure in the area and probably decrease <br />homeowners' insurance for those surrounding properties. <br />Finding #3: Location and harmony_ in the area in which we are located. The surrounding area is <br />residential and our homes will be similar in size of those currently in the area. The proximity of <br />the elementary school within the community and the fact that the property has access to public <br />water and sewer and will add additional customers to the Efland sewer system, making it more <br />financially sustainable. <br />Thank you for your consideration and I urge your support of our application. <br />David Godschalk: I'm a member of the Habitat Site Committee and a land use planning <br />professor at the University of North Carolina for some 45 years. From a planning perspective, <br />does this project make sense? Well, I think it does because it fills a large need for affordable <br />housing in Orange County. The density is appropriate near the elementary school, you want to <br />put the students and the people closer to the public facilities that serve them. It provides public <br />utilities, water and sewer service, public roads. The buffers seem to be appropriate, since it's <br />not necessary to separate adjacent residential land uses. It's better to connect them. The <br />proposed subdivision attributes to the public welfare in providing access roads and increased <br />size water mains that will benefit the adjacent properties. This is the well design, low to <br />moderate intensity subdivision in an appropriate location, and it's consistent with the Orange <br />County Comprehensive Plan. Thank you. <br />Joann Mitchell: I live on Cain Drive in Efland, in Efland Estates. I'm a Habitat homeowner and <br />I also serve on the Habitat board of directors. As a resident of Efland, I have been very active in <br />