Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> • The newspaper legal advertisement for Special Use Permits will be retained. Staff will <br /> work on language to be included in the legal ads to clarify who may testify in quasi-judicial <br /> matters since the general public does not have standing in quasi-judicial matters, but may <br /> attend the hearing. <br /> • The notice distance requirement for all types of amendments or projects that require <br /> mailed notification is proposed to be increased from 500 feet to 1,000 feet. Staff is <br /> proposing that notices be mailed via first class mail instead of certified mail, as is currently <br /> done, to keep costs and staff time lower. <br /> o The Planning Board has recommended that the outside of envelopes or postcards <br /> be marked with "Notice of Public Hearing" so that recipients are more aware of the <br /> contents of the notification. This recommendation has been included (in greeil text) <br /> in the amendment package in Attachment 3. <br /> The BOCC requested input from the Planning Board on whether a quorum of Planning Board <br /> members should be necessary in order to hold a Quarterly Public Hearing. This topic was <br /> discussed at the October 7, 2015 Planning Board meeting and an excerpt of the draft minutes <br /> are included in Attachment 5. The majority of Planning Board members felt that, while the <br /> Planning Board should be expected to attend the quarterly public hearings, a quorum of Planning <br /> Board members should not be required in order to proceed with holding a public hearing. <br /> The Planning Board also suggested the addition of language to the Planning Board Policies and <br /> Procedures to provide clarity for members regarding attendance at quarterly public hearings. <br /> The language of the text amendments in Attachment 3 does not require a quorum of Planning <br /> Board members in order to hold a quarterly public hearing and additional language has been <br /> added to the Planning Board Policies and Procedures (in greeil text) to clarify attendance <br /> expectations. <br /> Timeline examples for the revised processes are included in Attachment 6. Review timeframes <br /> for Comprehensive Plan actions, UDO text amendments, and general use zoning district <br /> amendments could be shortened to as little as eight (8) weeks from application submittal <br /> deadlines if the revised processes are adopted. The current timeframe for these types of actions <br /> is approximately four (4) months. For Class A Special Use Permits and conditional districts, the <br /> review timeframe could be shortened to as little as ten (10) weeks from application submittal <br /> deadlines if the revised processes are adopted. The current timeframe for these types of actions <br /> is approximately 4-5 months. The ability to have additional review time when warranted is <br /> retained in the proposed processes. <br /> The Ordinance in Attachment 3 includes the following clauses: <br /> • The effective date of the Ordinance is January 1, 2016. If adopted, the revised process <br /> would begin on this date (e.g., items proposed for February 2016 Quarterly Public Hearing <br /> would be the first items processed under the revised procedure). <br /> • A review of the revised process will be conducted after one year to ascertain if the revised <br /> process is working as expected/desired. A report will be made to the BOCC in early 2017. <br /> Procedural Information: In accordance with Section 2.8.8 of the UDO, any evidence not <br /> presented at the public hearing must be submitted in writing prior to the Planning Board's <br /> recommendation. Additional oral evidence may be considered by the Planning Board only if it is <br /> for the purpose of presenting information also submitted in writing. The public hearing is held <br />