Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
developed. She said that the paved road will end at a natural spring at the edge of the Tuscany Ridge <br /> land and she is concerned about this spring if the road is paved. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked the Manager to ask the Planning Director and the County Attorney to <br /> discuss these issues that were spoken to tonight and report back to the Board. He also asked the <br /> Manager to speak to DOT District Engineer Mike Mills about the safety of paving this curve on Arthur <br /> Minnis Road and to clarify what our powers are with DOT and to prepare that in writing and go with what <br /> is in our purview and to share with the public. He said the Board of County Commissioners cannot <br /> guarantee that the County can do anything or change anything. He said they will be updating the land <br /> use plan and it is important to participate in this process. He encouraged citizens to apply for County <br /> boards such as planning, etc. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis commented that he was personally troubled by the pink sheet (paving <br /> of Arthur Minnis Road). He read parts of this sheet and asked why there was a partial paving of 800 <br /> feet, which is less than three football fields. He said that he has been on this Board long enough to know <br /> that DOT does not like doing partial pieces of road. He said this has a bad taste. He asked that we take <br /> this information (which none of the Board of County Commissioners knew about) and have the County <br /> Manager call Mike Mills and ask to hold off on paving this stretch of road. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Carey to take the <br /> procedural steps necessary to implement the Planning Board's recommendation that Orange County <br /> require public notification of major subdivisions within the rural buffer. This action requires a change in <br /> the existing subdivision regulations. <br /> Chair Jacobs added to the motion that we informally authorize the Planning Department to <br /> give notice to residents of the rural buffer anytime there is a subdivision proposal. Notification will be <br /> given for residents within 500 feet of the proposed development just like it is for major subdivisions <br /> outside the rural buffer. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked to review the sign ordinance because there was a lot of <br /> dissention over it. This was added to the motion. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Brown to ask <br /> DOT to suspend paving of Arthur Minnis Road indefinitely until we have a hearing to clarify the issues. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Commissioner Brown made comments about the Board of County Commissioners having <br /> limited powers sometimes, especially with DOT. She said that septic issues are controlled by the State. <br /> She has always been extremely concerned about the septic systems. She thinks that we need to have a <br /> more elaborate understanding of how the Planning Department is going to deal with erosion control and <br /> how it is going to impact the neighboring properties. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to have <br /> the Planning Department to investigate erosion control and septic systems and the impact on <br /> neighboring properties. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Craig Benedict clarified the direction to the staff. He said that Environmental Health would <br /> help Planning with any septic system issues. Planning can report on erosion control. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to page 19 of the minutes and verified with Craig <br /> Benedict that from a well standpoint, there is no minimum flow limit. He suggested that the staff examine <br /> this also, even though it is a State standard. <br /> Chair Jacobs mentioned the comment about the spring right next to the road and asked staff <br /> to review the tape and listen to the issues that were raised. Those issues that are within the Board's <br /> purview, we ought to address, and those that are not within our purview, we ought to identify as such. <br /> Marion Wilson said that at the meeting last night with Mr. Byrd, he reported that his well <br /> expert had looked at all the wells in the area and looked at the water flow and they were an average of <br />