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Chair Jacobs suggested, after listening to two public hearings and citizens in other <br />venues, that they restart the land use plan update process. He said that they have all tried to <br />be receptive to the responses of the public, but they find themselves with no overt public <br />support for this. He suggested asking Planning Director Craig Benedict and the Planning Board <br />to come back with a proposal far restructuring the update process that puts the Planning Board <br />in charge of the process and to come back April 10th with a proposal.. <br />Commissioner Gordon agreed that this program should be restarted, except that we <br />should keep the principles already adopted by the Commissioners, and also keep the structure <br />describing which boards and commissions are responsible for the various elements of the <br />comprehensive plan. Also, when the land use element is being developed, the affordable <br />housing element and the water resources component should be developed at the same time. <br />She indicated that there had not been enough public support to proceed with the <br />comprehensive plan as presented. <br />Commissioner Carey said that it would be good to restart the process, but it would not <br />surprise him if the Planning Board came to the Board of County Commissioners for direction. He <br />said that one of the key elements that got everybody up in arms was the 5-acre minimum lot <br />size. The Board should be clear with the Planning Board about whether this should be a key <br />element or not. <br />The Board agreed to restart the process. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he would be glad to meet with the Planning Board Chair and the <br />Planning Director. He said that the way he envisions it is that there are no options on the table <br />because there have been no recommendations. He knows that the Planning staff has worked <br />very hard, but he thinks that they should start as though there are no proposals and see what <br />people come up with. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis suggested that since the Board has two of the historically most <br />forceful Planning Board chairs that the County has ever had -Commissioner Gordon and Chair <br />Jacobs - he suggested that they take the current Planning Board Chair to lunch to discuss this <br />issue. He said that both Commissioners were very forceful and this is what it takes to get things <br />done. <br />Commissioner Carey made reference to the county problem of having to spend revenue <br />to address Medicaid issues, and he said that Senator Rand correctly assessed the sense of the <br />legislature that no one over there has the stomach to increase taxes to raise the revenue to <br />address this county problem. He said that as long as it is a county problem, no one in Raleigh <br />is going to fix it. He thinks that Senator Rand sensed this and put this proposal on the table that <br />could address it. <br />Chair Jacobs asked about how many states have this problem and Commissioner Carey <br />said that North Carolina is one of three states that the legislature has passed part of the burden <br />down to the counties. <br />4. County Manager's Report <br />No report. <br />5. Items for Decision--Consent Agenda <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to <br />approve those items on the consent agenda as stated below: <br />John Link read the items on the consent agenda for the public. <br />a. Minutes <br />The Board approved the minutes for October 17, 2005, November 9, 2005, and January 20, <br />2006 as submitted by the Clerk to the Board. <br />