Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Gordon said that she was told that this information would also go on the website <br />February 10tH <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he has the highest regard for Valerie Foushee and Gloria Foley, <br />but there was a 2'/ month lag between when the High School Planning Task Force finished meeting <br />and then Commissioner Gordon was invited to the first meeting and yet they were public meetings. <br />There is still a failure of the process that needs to be addressed. He would like this to be addressed at a <br />work session. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that we need to have a mechanism to get information to the Board of <br />County Commissioners. She suggested that a staff member get the information to help her out. She <br />said that we would need to work out a concerned how closed session items of the school board would be <br />handled. <br />Chair Brown said that she does not think that it is the Board of County Commissioners' <br />responsibility to monitor the school board's meetings. It should be the School Board Chair's <br />responsibility to get information to the County Commissioners. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she hopes that if there are going to be collaborative efforts that we <br />figure out a way to have everyone involved. <br />4. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT <br />John Link asked County Engineer Paul Thames and Planning Director Craig Benedict to come <br />forward. He said that they just learned today about an adjacent property owner of a potential petition <br />that relates to zoning and approval of a piece of property adjacent to the Orange Enterprise building. <br />The proposed function at this location is an asphalt manufacturing plant. He suggested that the Board <br />authorize staff to create a letter to the Town of Hillsborough far the public hearing, which is scheduled for <br />next week. <br />Paul Thames showed where the proposed plant would be. Valley Forge Drive runs southwest from <br />NC 86. <br />Geoff Gledhill said that Orange County also awns the property diagonally across Valley Forge <br />Drive to the southwest. Orange County has significant landholding in this area. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if we were hearing about this as a government or as a neighbor. It <br />was answered that the County has been notified as an adjacent property owner and not as a <br />government. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that this is unbelievable. <br />Craig Benedict said that this is in Hillsborough's jurisdiction. A concrete mixing plant is a permitted <br />plant within their industrial zoning district if it does not have any adverse impact upon adjoining <br />properties. This decision is made by the Board of Adjustment and is a site plan decision. It is not a <br />rezoning decision. The Board of Adjustment will meet February 12t" at 6:30 p.m. to have evidence <br />provided by adjoining property owners and any other property owners to provide testimony on whether <br />the plant has adverse impacts upon the property. This would not go before the Town Board; it is only a <br />Board of Adjustment process. <br />Chair Brown asked about the County's process for addressing the evidence to the Board of <br />Adjustment. John Link suggested that the Board authorize the staff to develop a letter and a body of <br />information that represents this Board's position on this and have someone go and convey this to the <br />Board of Adjustment on February 12tH <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that these plants smell and there is a sheltered workshop with <br />mentally challenged people next door. He said that we have to object to this. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked that the letter be worded strongly that the County Commissioners <br />object. <br />Discussion ensued on the nature of the evidence that must be presented. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that we might need mare time to produce sufficient evidence. Geoff <br />Gledhill said that he would see if there was an opportunity to postpone the hearing or leave the public <br />hearing open for additional time. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if this would have come up if there were a courtesy review agreement <br />with Hillsborough. Craig Benedict said that site plan issues are not the focus of the agreement. <br />Geoff Gledhill said that we should not assume that the Town of Hillsborough officials know about <br />this. <br />3 <br />