Minutes 11-19-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Rachel Phelps Hawkins asked what obstacles the citizens/businesses are still finding so hard to overcome when they go through the planning process. Chair Pelissier said one of the obstacles is that in the EDD districts there has been no water and sewer infrastructure and that is what businesses need — infrastructure. Steve Brantley said the pieces are finally coming together with utilities and pre-zoning in some of these EDD areas but when they are competing with other counties, these other counties already have these in place, which leaves Orange County at a disadvantage. He said they are surrounded by communities with a very competitive product but Orange County is moving forward. Commissioner McKee said there has always been a perception that Orange County was not friendly to economic development in the past 20 years. He said that with the AKG expansion last year in Mebane, that this may have broken the ice on that perception. He said they need to continue down that road so that Orange County's perception is now that Orange County is "open for business". He does not envision our UDO cutting back to 77 pages from 700 pages like Alamance's UDO is/has, but we are moving forward. Pete Hallenbeck said with the mention of utilities, water and sewer, that they also need data in these EDD areas. Commissioner Jacobs said when the Planning Board meets with other county advisory boards to also include reaching out to other planning boards in the county that has Orange County reps on these boards and perhaps get some ideas that would be mutually beneficial. He also said that they to encourage people on the planning board who want to follow their own passions to work with staff closely on these assumptions. Commissioner Gordon said she appreciated what the Planning Board does since she used to be on this board and she appreciated their informative minutes. Chair Pelissier agreed. 5) BOCC Planninq Retreat 2013 Chair Pelissier said that the Commissioners' retreat is currently scheduled for February 1, 2013 and Board of County Commissioners' retreat representatives are Commissioner Jacobs, Commissioner McKee and Commissioner-Elect Mark Dorosin, She asked Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Jacobs to elaborate on what the retreat may entail. Commissioner Jacobs said one some of the suggested topics include what comprises economic development in Orange County; reviewing BOCC goals and objectives with new board members; discussion on poverty in Orange County; and intergovernmental relationships and how to do a better job in this area. The meeting adjourned at 6:26 PM.