Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ordinance requires that new development bury lines, but they are still working an this <br />because it is such a massive project. She will provide the cost estimate for this. <br />Commissioner Carey asked about the funds from the meals tax and if they would <br />be available to implement this plan and Margaret Hauth said that they can use 40°~ of <br />these funds for improvements. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked what the meals tax brought in and Commissioner <br />Gering said that it brought in $72,000 last year. <br />Craig Benedict made reference to the rewriting of the signage ordinance sooner <br />than later and he said that the Planning staff has been waiting for land use plan issues <br />before they begin to rewrite sections of their code. He said that he would like to tie in <br />with Hillsborough about the County's signage code. He likes what they have proposed <br />in the revisions of the Town's ordinance. <br />Margaret Hauth said that there have been two restaurants to make major <br />revisions on South Churton Street and some of the signs might not be in compliance <br />with the new code. <br />Chair Jacobs asked if any of the intersections coming out of Waterstone were <br />being proposed for a roundabout and Margaret Hauth said no because these sections <br />are much more likely to be four lanes. <br />Chair Jacobs asked about the strategic plan and Margaret Hauth said that they <br />expect to have a report to the Board of County Commissioners at the joint meeting with <br />the Town in the winter. <br />Planning Board member Sam Lasris said that there are consequences for those <br />that live in northern Orange County, particularly at the intersection of NC 86157 and US <br />70. The 2006-2012 TIP has NC 57 being rerouted. He is also concerned about the <br />roundabouts and fire and safety because there is a fire department and rescue squad <br />there. There are also some semi-trucks that have to make deliveries. He said that there <br />should be public comment on this. <br />Chair Jacobs said that when the County did the Orange Grove Road Access <br />Management Plan, it was identified that the 86/57/70 interchange was a place where a <br />study is needed. <br />4. Water and Sewer Issues <br />Rod Visser said that there are two items related to the utility enhancements in the <br />Buckhorn/Efland area - a possible water and sewer assessment policy and the staff <br />recommendation for changes in rate structures. <br />a) Water and Sewer Assessment Policy <br />County Engineer Paul Thames said that the County Commissioners have the <br />authority to finance water and sewer utility extension projects through an assessment <br />project. There is a statute for a timeline for public hearings, etc., which means that from <br />the moment it is decided to do an assessment financing, it will take three and a half <br />months to go through the public hearing processes. Almost all of the costs of utility <br />extensions can be financed through the assessment project. There are certain types of <br />properties that are exempt from the assessment project to a degree. The properties that <br />are assessed have to be able to access whatever utility is being assessed. Regarding <br />the Gravelly Hill/Buckhorn EDD project, all of the properties to the south of West Ten <br />Road, while physically accessible to the water line by bordering an it, are prohibited from <br />receiving utility service by the zoning ordinances in the County's land use plan. <br />Commissioner Carey asked about the assessment project and recapturing money <br />they have already spent and money that will be spent in the future. Paul Thames said <br />that to the extent that you capture funds that have already been spent and expend those <br />