Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT <br />Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director <br />Special Projects <br />(919) 245-2575 <br />(919) 644-3002 (FAX) <br />www.orangecountync.gov <br />131 W. Margaret Lane <br />Suite 201 <br />P. O. Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> TO: Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> CC: Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Planning & Inspections Director <br /> FROM: Perdita Holtz, AICP, Planner III <br /> DATE: January 4, 2017 <br /> SUBJECT: Report on Public Hearing Process for UDO-, Zoning Atlas-, and <br />Comprehensive Plan-Related Items <br /> __________ <br /> <br />When the BOCC adopted amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) in <br />November 2015 that revised the public hearing process, the Board also directed staff to <br />review the process after one year to ensure it was working as intended and satisfactorily <br />and provide a report to the BOCC on the revised process in early 2017. This <br />Information Item serves as the report. <br /> <br />Purpose and Primary Revisions <br />There were several purposes to the public hearing process revisions: <br />• Streamline and speed up the project review/decision process when possible. <br />• Provide the opportunity for resident input earlier in the review process. <br />• Allow residents to comment at the end of the legislative process. <br />o The former process had required only written comments after the public <br />hearing. <br />• Address Planning Board quorum requirements for the quarterly public hearings. <br />o There had been instances where public hearings could not proceed in a <br />timely manner because a Planning Board quorum was not present. <br />• Address legal sufficiency concerns regarding review of Class A special use <br />permit applications (a quasi-judicial process) and discussions occurring <br />subsequent to the public hearing for such permits. <br /> <br />The main revisions to the public hearing process included: <br />• Having the Planning Board make its recommendation prior to the quarterly public <br />hearing. <br />• No longer requiring a Planning Board quorum in order to hold a quarterly public <br />hearing. (Planning Board members are still expected to attend the hearings). <br />1