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element. Some of the challenges include: efficient provision of public services, protection of <br />rural community character, preservation of farmland, protection of water resources, traffic <br />reduction, reduction of fiscal impacts of development, protection of natural resources, reduction <br />of air pollution, etc. The recommendation went forward to the Board of County Commissioners <br />on January 25th. The focus of tonight's agenda item is community outreach and how to educate <br />the public on these issues. <br />The first growth management tool for consideration is an urban growth boundary and <br />interim growth boundary. Additional discussion needs to occur in areas outside of <br />Hillsborough's ETJ to determine the growth potential. <br />Chair Brown said that we could pursue this with Hillsborough and it is on an agenda. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that Hillsborough was talking about doing some sort of a <br />visioning process. Craig Benedict said that this was some sort of strategic plan but he has not <br />heard anything recently. The County should be wrapped into this process. <br />Craig Benedict said that this week he would be meeting with the Durham Planning <br />Director on how we can get water and sewer in this EDD. There have also been discussions <br />with Mebane related to water and sewer. <br />Discussion ensued about having two growth boundaries. <br />Cara Crisler said that when Portland did their growth boundaries they just put one big <br />line around the area and there was no interim growth boundary. Barry Katz said that this does <br />not work well far people living in those areas but it works well for Planners. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the red line for Hillsborough is the 40-year water and <br />sewer service boundary area, which they cannot serve. He said that maybe we could have a <br />plan that articulates why there are two lines. <br />Commissioner Gordon mentioned the growth management tools. She asked if all of <br />these tools would literally be taken to the public. Craig Benedict said that they would be talking <br />about the general five areas and how the application of the tools implements the ideas. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the growth management challenges and how they <br />were addressed by the scenarios -for example, preservation of community character, <br />neighborhoods, and historical cultural features. Craig Benedict referred to the notebook and <br />said that under each challenge, it gives the benefits of addressing them. A lot of the challenges <br />are addressed by land use density reduction. <br />Craig Benedict referred to the growth scenario and said that it could be integrated into <br />where the special use permit subdivisions eventually occur so that urban style development is <br />encouraged and have a lower density in the rural preservation areas. He continued by talking <br />about density reduction. The larger projects have been occurring throughout the County and <br />not in the urban thoroughfares. The proposed density, which is growth scenario three, has a <br />reduction in density as you get away from the urban service areas. There are no changes <br />proposed in the University Lake and Cane Creek areas. There are changes proposed in the <br />Haw River area. There are also suggested changes in density in areas that are further from fire <br />and police services. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked haw farms would be factored into historical densities. <br />Craig Benedict said that any properties that were under 15 acres and more than $50,0000 in <br />value were added together. If it was more than 15 acres, the thought was that there was <br />potential for a subdivision at a later date. <br />Craig Benedict continued by reviewing a map on the amount of open space in <br />subdivisions across the County. The goal is to have more open space in the rural areas. <br />Craig Benedict answered clarifying questions for the Board and CPLUC members. <br />Chair Brown said that it appears that we are encouraging more growth, when it is <br />actually down-zoning. She does not know if it reflects a sustainable approach. <br />Craig Benedict continued and said that the largest impact that we are trying to make in <br />the County is a traffic reduction standpoint and the negative effects of extra traffic. The Triangle <br />