Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> area and (2) it would simplify the oversight of the new joint planning <br /> area. <br /> Mayor Wallace proposed that a planning board consisting of <br /> members from the Chapel Hill and Orange County Planning Boards be formed <br /> to oversee this new joint planning area regardless if the three extra <br /> miles are granted or not. He made reference to the General Statutes of <br /> North Carolina and indicated that under the statutes, municipalities may <br /> extend their extraterritorial jurisdiction into areas outside their <br /> corporate limits so that they can plan and control development which <br /> they will at some point annex into the corporate limits. He asked that <br /> the Board of Commissioners consider this request and pledged cooperation <br /> in this endeavor. He supported his request stating the three mile <br /> margin would allow for development to proceed in a matter acceptable to <br /> Chapel Hill. The Town is boxed in on all four sides with no where to <br /> go. He noted it a specious argument that the 1,500 or 2, 000 people who <br /> now live in the extraterritorial jurisdiction would be denied <br /> representation. He pointed out the people in that area would be able to <br /> voice their opinions to the Chapel Hill Planning Board and the Board of <br /> Adjustment. <br /> Commissioner Carey asked Mayor Wallace for clarification on <br /> how the request for extraterritorial planning jurisdiction does not <br /> encroach on the abandonment of the joint planning effort that has been <br /> put forth. <br /> Mayor Wallace explained that the transition and the rural <br /> buffer added together is too small for the circumstances of today. The <br /> Council is asking that the transitional area be moved out three miles to <br /> establish a new transition and buffer zone. He added that Chapel Hill <br /> has had to inherit, over the years, the mistakes made by others in areas <br /> which were beyond Chapel Hill 's jurisdiction and later annexed. <br /> Commissioner Carey emphasized that the desires of the people <br /> of Chapel Hill have been considered in the Joint Planning land use plan <br /> and subsequent procedures. At the time Chapel Hill annexed those areas <br /> they will, at that time, have exclusive jurisdiction over those areas. <br /> Chair Willhoit gave background information on the Joint <br /> Planning effort which has lead to the cooperative spirit that now <br /> prevails. The Joint Planning Agreement proposes that the urban <br /> standards developed by the Town and jointly adopted would be imposed in <br /> the area called the transition area which may eventually become part of <br /> the town. At the present time there are four (4) different proposals on <br /> where the line may be. The rural buffer would be an area which would <br /> not be destined to become part of the Town and therefore under the <br /> County's regulation. Willhoit further agreed that the Joint Planning <br /> process does need to be simplified and eventually will need to involve <br /> Durham County, Durham City and Chatham County to work out a plan to <br /> solve jurisdictional disputes. <br /> Commissioner Marshall concurred with the statements made by <br /> Chair Willhoit and Commissioner Carey. She commented on the statement <br /> made by Mayor Wallace about the disinfranchisement of several thousand <br /> people and emphasized it would be a specious argument. It is important <br /> to get people informed and involved early about what the County is <br /> doing. There has never been any argument that the land must be prepared <br /> for municipal annexation. The people who live in the area involved <br /> should be a part of the process and represented. She questioned the <br /> size and jurisdictional makeup of the Chapel Hill Township Advisory <br /> Council and suggested that perhaps it may be necessary to have three <br /> Chapel Hill township advisory councils to represent the north, south and <br />