Agenda - 04-04-1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vii,. t ;7; ` y ri ..�iI,Y,.ilm" and taxes. It might be well to remember that any of these instruments which are not acceptable to the property by owners, developers, and the trades will fail in the end. Building codes and specifications originated with designers, engineers and builders--not government bureaucrats. They must be prepared by those who have in-depth knowledge of sound design principles, and good engineering practices, which serve as the basis. When the content goes beyond these sound design principles and good engineering practices, and attempts to deal with the specifics of design on an individual basis, then it is not only ineffective it is counter-productive. The zoning requirements, conditions, covenants, restrictions, and reservations for the Research Triangle Park were written in 1959. they have been opened twice in the intervening period for two minor changes--a period of almost 30 years. They were prepared and administered by the Research Triangle Park Foundation , the land owner. The administrative staff for most of the 30 years consisted of four people--the maximum at any time was 6 people. The Park is a model for such developments and one of North Carolina 's greatest achievements. Delegations from all over the world have come to study it. At this time the covenants can be changed only by majority vote by the property owners--one acre one vote. Compare this to orange county. The size of the administrative and planning staff is orders of magnitude greater The Ann Lander ' s syndrome prevails: i . e. there are only two solutions, one or both of which are applicable to any and all problems--either see a professional (a psychiatrist) or have the government pass another law. Arbitrary ancj capricious decisions are made daily. The planting of a shrub at point A or point Fl becomes a point of . contention. Sound design principles and good engineering practices are rhetorical terms, don 't confuse the issue with facts. The rules are changed daily, dependent upon the mood of the bureaucrat. The system is out of control . The staff has grown sa large that it generates it 's own work solving non--problems. If the system is to be brought under control , the size of the county government staff must be reduced , not expanded as you propose A reduction of 50% should be made as a first step Hopefully that would be enough to put the system back in control so that the real problems would . receive attention. Sound design principles and good engineering practices would cease to be rhetorical terms and become the basis for prudent planning again. At that point . it would be possible to work with the property owners in rural orange county, the developers, and the . trades to try to establish a reasonable set of rules by which the game will be played. Given the right conditions, development will occur at some point in time. Holding back development is like trying to hold back the wind with your hands; the best one