Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Commissioner Gordon reported next on Phase I I of the regional transit project <br />and said that the TAC would be in charge of funding and has asked TTA to initiate the <br />NEPA process for 15-501. TTA is going to point out that there are not any funds <br />allocated, so the two staffs are going to have to work together about where to get funds. <br />The other project that the TAC is looking at is the I-40 high occupancy vehicle lanes. <br />The study has been completed and is available. It is clear that 15-501 is now the <br />preferred project. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that Orange County is updating its comprehensive <br />plan and the County Commissioners need to know if there is something that needs to <br />be set-aside in the land use plan for transit. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that Durham County has instituted impact fees for <br />schools and now Durham County is being sued by the Durham-Orange Homebuilders <br />Association. He thinks this is a constitutional issue. He asked the Board of County <br />Commissioners to authorize the County Attorney to work with the NCACC to file a brief <br />in support of Durham County. He said that development does not pay for itself, despite <br />the assertions of the Homebuilders Association. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis agreed and asked the Clerk to research the video library <br />of the evening when the then President of the Durham-Orange Homebuilders <br />Association and former Mayor of Durham Nick Tennyson testified before the County <br />Commissioners and was against impact fees in Orange County, but was for impact fees <br />far water and sewer improvements to aid residential development projects, but not for <br />schools. <br />Commissioner Carey agreed and said that he is sure this will be an issue with the <br />Board of Directors of NCACC. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked for the County Attorney to report back to them. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that in today's News and Observer, there was an <br />article about a group called the Canary Coalition that has been urging local <br />governments to contest a recent decision by the Bush Administration to make it easier <br />for industries to expand without upgrading pollution controls. A lot of attorney generals <br />are suing the U. S. government to block this from happening. He asked the staff to find <br />out if this group would like to come and make a presentation. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he brought up the concern at the last meeting <br />about the pace of inspections. He asked for a report at the next meeting because this is <br />still an issue. There is another group of builders that wants to meet with him and talk <br />about this next week. <br />John Link said that they are going to present a report and also to do what it takes <br />to reduce the time it takes to get an inspection. <br />Commissioner Carey asked for information about the standard time it takes for <br />surrounding counties to do inspections. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that they need a report on the Whitted Building <br />renovations and they have not had a comprehensive look since before the renovations. <br />He would like to address the concerns of the public. He said that he did not realize that <br />they were going to put the library into a mobile unit for eight months. He said that they <br />are trying to open up a library branch at the Northern Human Services Center in Cedar <br />Grove. Another group is meeting Thursday to try and decide how to address the library <br />issue in Carrbaro where there is a branch at McDaugle. There is also a proposal to <br />