Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
17 <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> Jacob Rogers said he is with the Triangle Apartment Association and is here to express <br /> concerns about these fees. He said developers will not swallow these fees, and the residents <br /> will have higher rents and higher home prices. He said there was no proactive outreach, about <br /> this proposal, to the people it will affect the most. He said Orange County is one of two <br /> counties in the state that implement these fees. He said their association is involved with the <br /> discussion of affordability, and they want to be involved in these conversations. He asked the <br /> Board to forego a decision, and to ask staff to reach out to the stakeholders to discuss this <br /> further. <br /> Brenda Brantley said she is with the Triangle Apartment Association, and echoed the <br /> comments of Jacob Rogers. <br /> Aaron Nelson said he is the Director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of <br /> Commerce, and he just learned of this issue six days ago. He said he does not look at the <br /> classified section to read the advertisements about meetings like this. He said there should be <br /> a good conversation with all stakeholders to help Orange County create a reasonable impact <br /> fee schedule. He highlighted some of the technical issues with the current proposal. <br /> Holly Fraccaro said she is the Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of <br /> Orange County and Durham County. She said she is equally disappointed that they were not <br /> contacted to be a part of the discussion on impact fees. She asked the Board to forego a <br /> vote, and to have a discussion with the stakeholders before making a decision. <br /> Aaron Nelson said they have been encouraging developers to build three bedroom <br /> multi-family units, as housing is needed for families. He said developers will favor building two- <br /> bedroom units as it is cheaper. <br /> Commissioner Price said she would be in favor of postponing the vote. <br /> Chair McKee said he does not question the numbers analysis, but some of these <br /> columns have outrageous increases. He said these increases will have a cumulative effect <br /> over three or four years. He asked if there is any timeframe, in this proposed plan that the <br /> County comes up with less revenue than is currently being received. <br /> Craig Benedict said if more single-family homes than multi-family homes are built, there <br /> may not be as much revenue. He said the proposed mix of housing is an assumption based <br /> on the trends of development. <br /> Chair McKee asked if it also depends on what percentage of MSIF is set as the starting <br /> point. <br /> Craig Benedict said yes. He said the breakeven point is intended to be almost neutral <br /> in year one and it would increase in the ensuing two years. <br /> Chair McKee said even at 37%, it is only neutral in one year, and is not at all neutral in <br /> other categories. <br /> Craig Benedict said it is not neutral by any individual category. He said the idea of <br /> starting different categories at different percentages of the MSIF was considered, but a similar <br /> percentage across the board is needed to keep proportionality. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs asked if the increase in school construction costs since 2008 is <br /> known. <br /> Craig Benedict said the percentage increase went from 12.5-24% in the 2000s on the <br /> elementary school level. He said new numbers for building in tight urban settings can be even <br /> higher. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said to John Roberts that he understands the rates have to be <br /> statistically defensible to be legally defensible, and asked if there could be a negotiated/ad hoc <br /> arrangement that could also be legally defensible. <br />