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1 <br /> • <br /> 3 <br /> involved that the Board is concerned and determined to find a solution for <br /> those families affected. <br /> Planning Director Marvin Collins informed the public of changes which <br /> had been implemented to help make the public notices in the newspaper <br /> easier to locate such as the logo which has been added to the top of the <br /> notice and the addition of bold print for each topic listed. In addition, <br /> he has been working with the news reporters to have lead stories as well as <br /> articles in other areas of the papers concerning the public hearing items. <br /> He indicated that the public hearing notices are placed in the Durham <br /> Morning Herald , The Chapel Hill Newspaper , the News and Observer and the <br /> News of Orange . He noted there was a miscommunication about the mailing <br /> of the postcards. It was decided to send them out late rather than not <br /> send them at all. <br /> OPENING STATEMENTS <br /> Marvin Collins explained that there are two items scheduled for public <br /> hearing. The first item has to do with a rural buffer study that was <br /> prepared by the Orange County Planning Department at the request of the <br /> Board of Commissioners. The second item has to do with a citizens ' <br /> petition that was presented to the Board of Commissioners on January 5, <br /> 1987 which requested the Joint Planning Land Use Plan (plan for the <br /> southeastern portion of the County) which was jointly adopted by the Board <br /> of Commissioners and the Town of Chapel Hill be amended to change the text. <br /> The specific text provision requested for amendment is the minimum lot size <br /> standard in the Rural Buffer. That minimum lot size standard was set at <br /> one dwelling unit per two acres when the plan was jointly approved on <br /> October 13 , 1986. The requested amendment is to reduce that standard back <br /> to the original one dwelling unit per 40, 000 square feet (0. 92 acre) . <br /> Because both items are separate but interrelated they will be considered at <br /> the same time. <br /> Collins recognized the planning staff members who would be involved in <br /> the presentation -- Greg Szymik (current planning) , Gene Bell and Brad <br /> Torgan (comprehensive/long range planning) , and Emily Crudup (current <br /> planning) . He announced that following the Orange County presentation, the <br /> Chapel Hill Planning Director Roger Waldon would make a brief presentation <br /> of the Chapel Hill perspective regarding the Rural Buffer concept. <br /> Collins began the presentation highlighting some of the points in the <br /> history of joint planning. <br /> On October 13 , 1986, the Orange County Board of Commissioners and the <br /> Town of Chapel Hill adopted the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan. On <br /> November 24, 1986, a public hearing was held by the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners to consider the amendment of the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning <br /> Atlas to create the Rural Buffer District and to apply that district <br /> designation to 38, 000 acres of land surrounding the Chapel Hill-Carrboro <br /> area. The most significant change proposed was an increase in the minimum <br /> residential lot size requirement from 40, 000 square feet (0. 92 acre) to two <br /> (2) acres. <br /> One of the concerns of the residents who live within the rural buffer <br /> was the issue of property rights. The property owners felt that the two <br /> acre minimum lot size requirement denies them reasonable use of their <br />