Agenda - 05-19-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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15 1 original language(currently crossed out on the bottom of page 34)and delete the new 2 language line (topof page 35). 3 4 VOTE: Ayes, 6; Nays 1 (Chair McKee) 5 6 7 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier,seconded by Commissioner Price to 8 adopt the Statement of Consistency, contained within Attachment 2, and the Ordinance 9 amending the ComprehensivePlan, UDO, and Zoning Atlas contained within Attachment 3, as 10 recommended by the Planning Board and staff. 11 12 VOTE:UNANIMOUS 13 14 Commissioner Dorosin said he does believe sidewalks are vital,and he is interested in 15 them. 16 Commissioner Rich agreed with Commissioner Dorosin.She said it is shortsighted and 17 a disservice to the community. 18 Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioner Dorosin andCommissioner Rich. He 19 saidin the future people, especially parents, may curse the BOCCfor not addressing the issue 20 of sidewalks. He said that current residents are not being burdenedto make this requirement. 21 He also said there may be legal way to address the problem. He does not feel the only option 22 was for the County to address the problem. He said as there isa motion, and no friendly 23 amendment,they would have to vote no but he recalled in the past that voting no meant the 24 issue could not be considered for a year. 25 Commissioner Price said she seconded the motion and therefore cannot make a friendly 26 amendmentto include the sidewalks. She asked if a friendly amendment could be made by 27 someone else. 28 Chair McKee said anyone can make a friendly amendment except those who made and 29 seconded the motion. 30 Commissioner Burroughs said sidewalks are a valuable asset. She said this is 31 important for future conversation even if it cannot be addressed this evening. 32 Commissioner Pelissier said she is not yet ready to decide about sidewalks without 33 knowing more details. 34 Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director,said the sidewalk issue had been 35 discussed for years,and pedestrian connectivity is within the Department of Transportation 36 (DOT) publicright of ways. He said the DOT does not want sidewalks in the right of way. He 37 said that putting sidewalks on private property is an option. He added when sidewalks are on 38 private property,then someone else must maintain them.He saidthe ability to put sidewalks 39 within transition areas in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, under Orange County jurisdiction prior to 40 annexation, hadbeen addressed. He said a municipality, through a multiparty agreement, 41 could take responsibility for the sidewalk maintenance. He said there is not an easy solution. 42 He said there are a lot of ideas. He said discussions with DOT are ongoing as there continue to 43 be urban-like areas in County jurisdiction that are not easily annexable by municipalities. He 44 said a solution that all parties can agree upon has yet to be determined. He agreed with Chair 45 McKee that the UDO is not set in stone and the BOCC can review the issue again along with 46 the DOT counterparts,if so desired. 47 Commissioner Rich saidas more urban like communities get approved,the sidewalk 48 issue will be difficult to resolveif the precedence of “we’re not in the sidewalk business” has 49 been set.