Agenda - 11-05-2015 - 5-e - Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment – Public Hearing Process Revisions - Closure of Public Hearing and Action (No Additional Comments Accepted)

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5 B. RATIONALE 1. Purpose/Mission To consider revisions to the current public hearing process for Comprehensive Plan Unified Development Ordinance, and Zoning Atlas amendments. County staff and elected officials received comments during development of the Comprehensive Plan (2008) and Unified Development Ordinance (2011) about the perceived need to streamline and speed up decisions on applications. 2. Analysis This topic was discussed extensively in 2014, after being heard at the September 2014 quarterly public hearing. The public hearing for the amendments, as proposed in 2014, was closed in November 2014 when it became apparent that the proposal would change significantly enough to require another public hearing. The topic was recently discussed at the May 12, 2015 BOCC work session. Work session materials include links to prior materials and are available at: htt p://www.orangecountync.gov/150512.pdf. The Ordinance Review Committee (ORC), a function of the Planning Board, reviewed draft language in July and August 2015. At the time, internal staff/attorney review was ongoing and the materials to be presented at public hearing have been modified from the versions the ORC reviewed. ORC agenda materials and meeting notes are available at- http://www.orangecountync.gov/ORC Agenda Packet July 2015.pdf http://www.orangecountync.gov/7 1 15 ORC Notes.pdf http://www.orangecount�nc.gov/O C Agenda Package Aug 2015.pdf http://www.orangecountync.gov/8 5 15 ORC Notes.pdf Proposed Revisions The following revisions are being proposed: • Planning Board review/recommendation would occur prior to the public hearing for both legislative and quasi-judicial (Class A Special Use Permit) items. (The existing process is for Planning Board review/recommendation to occur after the public hearing). o Notification of the Planning Board meeting would be mailed/posted for items requiring such notice (e.g., map amendments or development projects) and the public would be able to address the Planning Board at its meeting. The proposed process would allow for public notification and involvement earlier than the existing process. • No longer require a quorum of Planning Board members in order to hold a quarterly public hearing. Planning Board members would still be expected to attend the hearing but a quorum of members would not be necessary in order for the hearing to be held. This revision would mean that the quarterly public hearings would no longer be considered joint BOCC/Planning Board hearings since, without a quorum requirement, the Planning Board could not be considered an official board in attendance. o Revise the Planning Board Policies and Procedures to require that the 2