Minutes 05-14-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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have actually done so. He said the requirement for applicants to disclose personal financial information has been off putting for some potential applicants. Chair McKee said unfortunately financial disclosure is part of the process to insure that the grants go to the neediest. Commissioner Rich asked if the One to One initiative, which Orange County uses with technology for schools, has been expanded to consider getting internet access to students in their homes versus only at school. Jim Northup said the County has spoken with Resource Technology staff at CHCCS to pursue ways to get the internet in places where it is difficult to attain. Commissioner Rich asked if Orange County Schools (OCS) was also being helped by the County. Jim Northrup said Orange County Schools has been approached, but thus far OCS has not desired the County's help. He said the County would like to expand internet awareness and the schools are a good place to do this. Commissioner Price asked if there is a deadline for the Business Grants. Steve Brantley said currently there is not a deadline which is part of the problem. Proprietary Projects (Water& Sewer, Solid Waste, and Sportsplex Projects) Water and Sewer Paul Laughton provided an overview of this category, which can be found on page 65 of the CIP. He said there are also some maps starting on page 76. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there could be some standards for how the monies for the Hillsborough Economic Development District (EDD) are spent. He expressed concern about Hillsborough developing too much residential housing instead of commercial or industrial spaces. He said once the project is annexed, the County will have no control. He suggested prior to allocating funding the Board should have a policy. Bonnie Hammersley said she would look into possible options. Steve Brantley said he wished Waterstone was a large business park. He said it is surrounded by some out parcels; for example, the northwest quadrant of Old Highway 86 and Interstate 40, which is about 50 acres. He said the properties on the southeast quadrant of Old Highway 86 and 1-40 are being explored by various real estate companies. He said the southwest quadrant was originally shown to Morinaga, but the lack of existing sewer was an impediment to it moving forward. He added the entire southwest corner is prime real estate for commercial and business ventures. Commissioner Jacobs said even at the southwest quadrant there is a very preliminary discussion to go into the Rural Buffer, and possibly move it, for mixed use development. He said Waterstone is also mixed use, and the percentage of residential versus commercial use keeps tipping in favor of residential. He said if money is being set aside for Economic Development then it should be used for Economic Development. Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director, said there are two agreements with the Cities of Durham and Mebane regarding joint utilities and a similar one needs to be brought to the Board for Hillsborough. He said the utility service agreement will be brought to the Board this fall with language pertaining to agreed upon land uses. Commissioner Rich asked if the monies allocated for Hillsborough EDD in 2015-2016 are not available for use until such an agreement is signed. Craig Benedict said that is correct. Commissioner Rich said she felt better knowing that but she sees a lot of the concerns raised by Commissioner Jacobs happening in Chapel Hill, where mixed use developments often have more residential space than initially expected.