Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
The developers submitted text amendments, which were all accepted by the Board of Aldermen with minor <br /> changes. At the same public hearing, the HOTZ suggested other text amendments that were not considered. <br /> They do not expect any action to be made on these suggestions. He said that HOTZ was only tolerated at <br /> the Board of Aldermen meetings, not embraced. He read a statement from the Carrboro Appearance <br /> Commission as follows: "By agreeing to consider any number of changes to the land use ordinance at the <br /> behest of one developer, the town sets a dangerous precedent -treating developers like customers and the <br /> land use ordinance like a product for sell." He said that the Northern Transition is an area of joint planning. <br /> The Joint Planning Agreement provides a mechanism whereby each government got something and gave up <br /> something. The towns gave up the right to poach lands and they gave up the right to gain sole administration <br /> over a northern transition area land by annexation. He said that neither Chapel Hill nor Carrboro can exclude <br /> Orange County from joint administration of a northern transition area simply by annexing the property. The <br /> land does not come out of the northern transition area until it is voted on jointly. He gave the County Attorney <br /> a written legal analysis of the JPA and what he believes are the County Commissioners' rights with respect to <br /> annexation. He asked the County Commissioners to use their joint planning power. <br /> Bob Chapman is one of the three developers for the Winmore development. He said that he <br /> thought they had a very productive session with HOTZ last week. He extended an invitation for HOTZ to <br /> meet with the developers on a weekly basis. He said that no planning has been done on the UNC parcel at <br /> this time. He said that this is an important process. He spoke about his background. He said that they were <br /> delighted to work with the County Commissioners on this project. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis asked for answers to some of the questions raised. He said that he heard <br /> that some of the land was purchased from the University to make this project possible. He wants to know the <br /> process that the University uses to sell land. He would like for the County Attorney to give us an update on <br /> the Joint Planning Area and what part of the Northern Transition area is in the JPA and thus covered by this <br /> agreement. Also, what are our legal rights according to this agreement. <br /> Commissioner Gordon supports finding out the University's process and she supports finding out <br /> what our role is in terms of annexation. She has been struck by the comments of the citizens about <br /> environmental protection. She feels that it is important for the County Commissioners to look at the text <br /> amendments because she understands that the County Commissioners will still need to vote on the text <br /> amendments. Regarding the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, we are moving ahead at a good pace, <br /> which means that the ordinance could be in place as early as February of next year for the Chapel Hill- <br /> Carrboro district. She thinks the County Commissioners should move very quickly and fulfill their <br /> responsibilities. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked Mr. Chapman some questions. She asked how the process with <br /> Carrboro got to the point where the County Commissioners were not involved. Mr. Chapman said that they <br /> anticipated making presentations to the County. The three families that own the property submitted an <br /> annexation petition to Carrboro. The developer did not submit the petition to Carrboro. <br /> Commissioner Brown said that the County Commissioners feel that they have a responsibility to <br /> the citizens of the County and in particular the people in the transition area who do not vote in Carrboro but <br /> are under the authority of Carrboro planning. She said that to go around the County Commissioners with an <br /> annexation does not sound like a benefit in any way. <br /> Bob Chapman said that he understood that the only ones who could apply for annexation were the <br /> property owners. The property is titled to three families. They have submitted annexation requests to <br /> Carrboro in three individual applications. He said that his impression was that once a village rezoning took <br /> place, it was a matter of policy that it would be annexed. <br /> Commissioner Brown said that this was not the case. She gave the example of Southern Village, <br /> which stayed in the County for nine years before annexation. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked how Mr. Chapman feels the project will impact the schools. Mr. <br /> Chapman said that the number one criterion for creating a walkable neighborhood is to be within walking <br /> distance of a school. He said that they want to work with the County in any way to be part of the process of <br /> making more schools more walkable to people throughout the County. He said that there would be a very <br /> gradual increase in demand. They believe that the right place for a village is near a school. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked how the University sold this property. Bob Chapman explained how <br /> they obtained the property from the University. He said that Professor Horace Williams gave the property to <br /> the University under the condition that it would be sold someday and part of the proceeds would be used to <br />