Minutes 04-10-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Thomas Fenske is a Mebane Planning Board appointee, and he said he represents the small sliver of ETJ in Mebane that is in Orange County. He said Mebane has a very comprehensive Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and very attentive staff. He said he reads the minutes every month for the regular Orange County Planning Board, but he has very little business there. He said he has gotten involved in the public hearings about the Buckhorn jockey lot. He said the Mebane Planning Board deals primarily with Alamance County issues, and Orange County issues are only 5 percent or less of the agenda. He said he is an active member on the board, and it is quite a contrast to the issues of the previous speakers. He said he has enjoyed his time on the Mebane Planning Board and he has learned a lot. Commissioner McKee said Thomas Fenske would be welcomed at an Orange County Planning Board meeting. Thomas Fenske said he would be happy to do this. He said he always asks if there are any Orange County issues, but most of the issues involve Mebane specific planning, and the UDO is very comprehensive. Chair Jacobs said one idea is to have the planning board representatives attend the annual joint meetings with the municipalities. He said this would help get them acquainted with the issues that the County is interested in. Commissioner Price asked Deboroah Fulghieri if she feels her voice is being heard on the Chapel Hill Planning Board. Deboroah Fulghieri said if she says something it goes in the minutes. Commissioner Price asked if her point of view seems to be heard, and if she feels as if her work was a good use of time. Deboroah Fulghieri said a lot of development issues can be fraught, and people can jump down your throat if you disagree. She said she has realized that the Planning Board is a sort of lightening conductor meant to take some of the fire rather than have it all directed at the Town Council. Chair Jacobs said this does happen. He said he was on the Orange County Planning Board during the discussion of mobile home park standards, and the Planning Board took fire for this. Deboroah Fulghieri said she feels as much a part of the board as anyone. Chair Jacobs noted that there are nine external boards with County representatives. He said what he has heard from the two here is that there is a need to for some type of orientation with Orange County Planning. He said these appointees need to be invited when there is a joint meeting of the government with which they are affiliated. He said there also needs to be a protocol for communicating, but in the absence of this protocol, the Board is interested in whatever the appointees feel like sharing. He said the larger projects are more likely to be of interest. Susanne Haff asked the Board if they felt informed by their outside appointees to external boards. Chair Jacobs said with some of them yes. He said there will be a work session about this in the future, but he does not know the details. Commissioner Gordon asked the attendees to let the Board know about any big projects that have regional impacts, or any projects that affect County services or capital. Commissioner Price made reference to the list of concerns expressed in the hand out at their places from Amy Jeroloman from the Northern Transition Advisory board. Chair Jacobs said the Board should read them, and she can be contacted to discuss the conversation from this meeting. He said he would also try and put her in touch with Craig Benedict.