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z <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL COUNCIL <br /> TOWN OF CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN <br /> JOINT PLANNING AREA (JPA) JOINT PUBLIC HEARING <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 27, 2014 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. C.1 <br /> SUBJECT: Text Amendments to the Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Agreement - <br /> Revise Existing Language to Ensure Agricultural Activities are Allowed Throughout the Rural <br /> Buffer, Clarify Density and Allow Cluster Subdivisions Outside of the University Lake <br /> Watershed Area, and Clarify the Minimum Required Lot Size Within the University Lake <br /> Watershed Area. <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: (919) <br /> Pages of Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Michael Harvey, Orange County Planning, <br /> Agreement Proposed for Amendment (919) 245-2597 <br /> (includes Agreement in its entirety for Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning, <br /> reference) (919) 245-2592 <br /> J.B. Culpepper, Town of Chapel Hill Planning, <br /> (919) 968-2728 <br /> Trish McGuire, Town of Carrboro Planning, <br /> (919) 918-7324 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive public comment on a proposal to amend the Joint Planning Land Use <br /> Plan and Joint Planning Agreement modifying language to ensure agricultural activities are <br /> allowed throughout the Rural Buffer and clarify required densities and minimum lot sizes within, <br /> and outside of, the University Lake Watershed Area. <br /> BACKGROUND: In October 1986 Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro <br /> adopted a Joint Planning Land Use Plan (hereafter `the Plan') outlining acceptable levels of <br /> development within what became the County's Rural Buffer general use zoning district. In <br /> 1987 the participating entities adopted a Joint Planning Agreement (hereafter `JPA') <br /> establishing parameters for the review and approval of development projects within the area. <br /> The Plan envisions two (2) distinct types of development areas, namely. <br /> • Transition Areas: Areas of future urban growth administered by the Towns of Chapel Hill <br /> and Carrboro under their individual land use and zoning regulations in accordance with <br /> the Plan. The County's role in the Transition Areas is to review and comment on <br /> development proposals, as well as text and atlas amendments, as detailed within the <br /> JPA. <br /> • Rural Buffer: Areas outside of the aforementioned Transition Areas under County <br /> regulatory control intended to remain rural in character where annexation is prohibited <br />