Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
, Y G�'i� � <br /> _ .. <br /> ORANGE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION <br /> P.O. Box 712 i 117 N. CHURTON ST. <br /> HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. 27278 <br /> (919) 732-8181 <br /> (919) 968-4301 EXT. 279 <br /> STATEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE <br /> JOINT PLANNING AREA LAND USE PLAN, 14 JANUARY 1986 <br /> My name is Pat Crawford. I am one of Orange County's repre- <br /> sentatives on the Economic Development Commission [EDC) . Mr. John <br /> Gastineau, the Chair of the Economic Development Commission, Last <br /> Thursday at our regular meeting appointed a subcommittee to study <br /> the Draft Land Use Plan (LUP) before us tonight and make comments <br /> at this hearing for the Economic Development Commission. It is as <br /> Chair of that subcommittee that I appear before you. <br /> One of the purposes of the EDC is to aid the County in the <br /> promotion of its economic resources and economic development. Much <br /> of our time is spent speaking with and informing both new, <br /> prospective businesses and existing businesses about available <br /> sites in the County for new construction or relocation. We serve <br /> at the pleasure of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners <br /> (MCC) . <br /> In order to serve effectively, the EDC needs sites to show to <br /> prospective clients. These firms and businesses want the protection <br /> of zoning, but do not want the battles and the time required to <br /> achieve zoning. To accomodate this need of the EDC, we endorse the <br /> timely preparation of a LUP. We recognize that such a document is <br /> within the purview of the BOCC. The role of the EDC is to follow <br /> the guidelines set forth therein. The EOC believes the following <br /> actions should be taken: <br /> - We endorse enactment of a firm plan for a definite period of <br /> time with regular subsequent reviews. <br /> - We urge you to stick to the proposed timetable and have it in <br /> place by April. This is important because an update of the <br /> county-wide LUP is scheduled for review and update in 1986. <br /> This should be done expeditiously. <br /> - We note that in this draft and we hope to see in the county-wide <br /> plan the creation of commercial and industrial designations. <br /> Without such designations, the EDC simply is unable to do its <br /> job as charged by the BOCC. <br /> From our brief history, we can identify several problems which <br /> have caused impediments to our functioning effectively; with a well <br /> drafted, carefully conceived LUP these problems can be avoided. We <br />