Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
15 <br /> Page 2 of 3 Holly Safi <br /> Orange County Housing Authority <br /> Background, education and experience relevant to this board: <br /> I am a Durham attorney practicing in land use, civil litigation, and estates. I have ample <br /> experience navigating city ordinances and state and federal statutes. In addition to my law <br /> degree, I have a masters in city and regional planning with a specialization in housing and <br /> community development. My masters thesis focused on legal and political issues facing race <br /> and class housing integration. <br /> Reasons for wanting to serve on this board: <br /> When I was in law school at UNC, I acquired an interest in land use and housing law. I <br /> supplemented my law degree with a masters in city and regional planning, also from UNC, in <br /> which I specialized in housing and community development. I understand many of the <br /> challenges faced by cities and counties as they work to provide affordable housing. I moved <br /> from Durham to the Hillsborough area of Orange County in December 2016 and would like to <br /> use my knowledge of housing law and my experience in land use to work towards ensuring that <br /> no family is ever denied access to a safe, affordable home. <br /> Conflict of Interest: <br /> Supplemental Questions: <br /> Orange County Board of Adjustment(REQUIRES DISCLOSURE STATEMENT) <br /> Please list the work/volunteer experience/qualifications that would add to your expertise <br /> for this board. <br /> I am an attorney with a masters in city and regional planning. I have worked in land use law both <br /> in Wake and Durham Counties. I have experience preparing and presenting cases before the <br /> Raleigh and Wake County BOAS, as well as ample experience reading and interpreting city <br /> ordinances and state law. <br /> What unique perspective can you bring to the Orange County Board of Adjustment? <br /> I have experience with land use law both at the municipal board level and with appeals to <br /> Superior Court. I have an interest in city planning, transportation and housing, and smart growth <br /> as well as ensuring that the proper procedures are followed through the quasi-judicial process. <br /> What do you see as the responsibilities of this board, and what do you hope to <br /> accomplish if appointed? <br /> The BOA s responsibilities are set out in the UDO. In an nutshell, the BOA makes decisions in <br /> individual situations where the strict enforcement of the UDO would not provide justice to a <br /> property owner and hears appeals from legislative boards. It is very important for the BOA <br /> members to make these decisions in a careful and informed manner to ensure smart growth of <br /> the community and substantial justice for our citizens in a manner that upholds the spirit of the <br /> county ordinances. <br /> What do you consider to be be the most important issues facing Orange County related <br /> to growth? <br /> With 20%or more families in the county living in poverty, the largest challenges facing the <br /> county are affordable housing and economic development. It is important to both create <br /> affordable housing and to bring jobs and development that will provide a living wage to our <br /> citizens. While we should be working to attract development for jobs, it is also important to <br /> protect our rural and natural areas by allowing increases in density for appropriate areas and <br /> maintaining low densities in more environmentally sensitive areas. <br /> What role should the Board of Adjustment take in guiding and regulating growth? <br />