Orange County NC Website
9 <br />Questions and Answers (Q &A) <br />Focus on Properties to be Removed from the Town of Hillsborough ETJ <br />What is an Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)? <br />The ETJ is an area outside of the Town's corporate limits over which the town exercises its <br />zoning and planning authority. <br />Why are adjustments to the Town's ETJ proposed? <br />Through a previous joint planning process with Orange County, the Town identified an Urban <br />Service Area within which it is anticipated that municipal services will be provided, and within <br />which property is expected to be annexed into the Town Limits of Hillsborough as <br />development occurs. It is not expected that Hillsborough will extend water and sewer service <br />outside of this Urban Services Area except for reasons of public health, safety, and general <br />welfare. To establish consistency with the Town's Urban Service Area, properties outside of <br />the Urban Services Area but presently within the ETJ are proposed to be removed from the <br />ETJ. <br />How will this affect my current residential property? <br />All new additions, decks, porches, fences, pools, storage sheds, etc. will be required to be in <br />compliance with the County's zoning requirements. <br />How will this affect my current non - residential property? <br />All new buildings and /or additions, signs, parking areas, landscaping, etc. will be required to <br />be in compliance with the County's zoning requirements. <br />How will this affect my undeveloped property? <br />All future developments will be subject to the County's Unified Development Ordinance <br />(UDO) requirements including zoning, site plan and subdivision regulation. <br />Does this change affect the issuance of building permits? <br />No. Orange County Building Inspections currently issues building permits for both areas, <br />within and outside the ETJ. <br />Will police and fire protection change? <br />No. The Orange County Sheriff's Department and local fire station now serving your area will <br />continue to serve your property. <br />What are the next steps? <br />The Orange County Board of County Commissioners will consider a resolution to support the <br />Town's adjustments to its ETJ at its January 23, 2014 meeting. With a County approved <br />resolution, the Town of Hillsborough will schedule a special public hearing, date to be <br />determined, to consider adopting an ETJ ordinance and to apply its zoning. <br />Will I receive additional notification of any future public hearings that may affect the <br />zoning of my property? <br />Yes. Counties and Towns are required by law to mail public hearing notices to property <br />owners when considering rezoning. <br />