Agenda - 05-22-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1.0- INTRODUCTION 1.1 ORANGE COUNTY LAND USE PLANNING PROCESS Since the mid-1970s Orange County has been involved in the process of upgrading its land use ordinances and developing a land use plan for the-County. On February 6, 1967 a Zoning Ordinance was adopted for Chapel Hill Township. On December 4, 1967 Subdivision Regulations were adopted for this same township. Both these ordinances were prepared by the Triangle J Council of Governments' planners. One enforcement officer, together with the Planning board and Board of Adjustment, had the responsibility to implement these ordinances. On March 2, 1970 the Zoning.Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations became effective in Eno Township. In September, 1974 the County began to enforce the North Carolina State Building Code. This code is enforced by the County in all Townships and in the Town of Hillsborough. Thus, by 1975 Orange County was enforcing several land use related codes and ordinances. In early 1975 the Orange County Planning and Inspections Department was formed to handle these various codes and ordinances under one director. In June, 1976 the Department produced a report entitled A Planning/Management Process for Orange County with Recommendations for sound Land Development. The report contained a Land Classification System for the County and a Sketch Development Plan for Chapel Hill Township. Both were adopted by the County Commissioners. The Sketch Plan for Chapel Hill Township contained policies related to land use and general guidelines for growth and development in the area of the County. The Planning and Inspections Department sought to involve citizens in the development of the plan. A list of County organizations and leaders was developed and meetings held to acquaint citizens with the Planning Department staff and to familiarize the staff with local planning issues. In the fall of 1977, township Advisory Councils were organized in all seven Townships for the purpose of involving people in the development of a county-wide Land Use Plan. The membership of these councils is open to all interested people. The Councils for two years until January, 1979 when additional amendments to the ordinance were adopted. The Advisory councils immediately became involved in reviewing revisions to the Subdivision Ordinance in the preparation for extension of the ordinance to all areas of the County. The ordinance was extended county-wide in March, 1978, but the process of, adoption and subsequent amendment fully involved the Advisory Councils for two years until January, 1979 when additional amendments to the ordinance were adopted. In that same month, January 1979, the Board of Commissioners adopted a work program for the Planning Department which included as an objective the adoption of land use plans for Bingham, Hillsborough, and Cheeks Townships. That objective was subsequently expanded to include