Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to senior housing and said that transportation <br />becomes an issue when seniors need to go for non-emergency appointments, etc. This also <br />needs to be considered. <br />John Link said that this is an excellent point to include in proposals for senior housing <br />facilities and whether the facility would provide transport for medical appointments. The <br />facilities should provide this transportation. This is done in other communities. <br />Craig Benedict said that since they have done the courtesy review agreement, there is <br />more awareness of public transit and the programs that the County and Town have been <br />discussing regarding traffic situations in downtown Hillsborough. Orange County is in the <br />process of putting together a plan of handling downtown parking needs. <br />b) Eno Mountain RoadlMaya Street Realignment <br />Craig Benedict made reference to the Orange Grove Road Access Management group <br />and said that there were two Commissioners each from the County and the Towns in 2003 with <br />some community involvement. The recommendations were that, as growth continues, that the <br />road would not be overburdened with traffic. There have been some road improvements. One <br />of the discussions was to realign Eno Mountain Road and Maya Street so that signalization <br />could occur. This would provide better access to west Hillsborough. If right-of-way can be <br />acquired during the development process, there are funds from DOT for economic <br />development. DOT will not spend money if they have to acquire right-of-way. <br />Chair Jacobs said that this was one of the Orange Grove Road Access Management <br />Plan's chief recommendations. He also thinks that it was recognized in the TIP. <br />c} Renovatiansllnspectians far Historic Structures <br />Margaret Hauth said that in September, the Town forwarded a letter to the County <br />regarding the support of the rehab code and an issue raised by the Historic District Commission <br />about the separated nature of the processes. Projects can be reviewed and approved by the <br />Historic District Commission to achieve the appropriate look and material composition and by <br />the time the appropriate building code is applied, it might change the look and materials. There <br />is not a good feedback process established. One suggestion was a series of workshops far <br />cross-training and cross-education so that the Commission will understand the building code <br />and the building inspectors might understand what the Commission does better. <br />Susan Mellot said that the rehab code was adopted by the State of North Carolina in <br />January 2006, and was made available as an alternate code last year. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked about some of the stumbling issues. Margaret Hauth said <br />that when someone wants to expand or renovate an upstairs that was previously an attic and <br />raise the roof slightly, there is a requirement for an appropriate sized egress, which requires a <br />certain sized window that might not be compliant with the look. This is one example. <br />Craig Benedict said that there are two codes -there is an existing building code and a <br />rehab code and you cannot mix and match those. <br />Susan Mellot said that they have a quick response team that they worked on with the <br />Historic Preservation Committee in Orange County, and one ar two members are part of the <br />team. When they did a demolition permit application through their office within Orange County's <br />jurisdiction, they alert the quick response team member, and they ga out and assess whether or <br />not the building is of historic district interest. They also have set rules to weed out any newer <br />structures. If the building cannot be salvaged, they at least get a photographic registry of the <br />building. This is a pilot program that started last fall. <br />Eric Hallman said that he wants to relay a request from a citizen that they not only <br />consider structures, but "things in the ground." He said that a beautiful millrace was pushed <br />down recently. <br />