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8 <br /> PROGRESS REPORT <br /> COMMUNICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE <br /> Since its formation on January 29, the Communications <br /> Subcommittee of the Rural Character Study Committee has been <br /> attempting to open channels of communication with rural <br /> residents - particularly in those areas where rumors of 25- <br /> acre lot requirements (alleged to be from the watershed and <br /> rural character studies) have many residents concerned. A <br /> definite need for accurate information in rural areas was <br /> identified by the Committee. <br /> At their February 5 subcommittee meeting, the group <br /> identified an immediate goal of meeting with small groups in <br /> each township. These informal discussions would be held "on <br /> the road" in each rural township, where a few committee <br /> members and staff could outline and distribute an information <br /> sheet,, go over the proposed Rural Boundary district standards <br /> as an example of their work to date, and get input from <br /> residents on the progress of the study. It was decided this <br /> would be the focus of the subcommittee' s current efforts . <br /> In opting to utilize small group discussions at this <br /> point, the Subcommittee felt that, in light of the emotional <br /> concerns on several issues, a large public meeting in each <br /> township would not accomplish much at this time. However, <br /> the Communications Subcommittee did recognize the need for <br /> large public meetings in the townships at a later date. <br /> On February 13, a very positive meeting was held in Cedar <br /> Grove, where a number of residents and landowners indicated <br /> that they felt better about the thrust of the study and <br /> further stated that the current "Rural Boundary" <br /> recommendations looked workable to them as a strategy. <br /> The Subcommittee has also made itself available to speak with <br /> other groups informally about the Rural Character Study. <br /> In February, different study committee members and/or staff <br /> have met with the Chapel Hill Landowners Association (where <br /> another positive response was elicited) , the Bingham Township <br /> Advisory Council, and the Hillsborough Ruritan Club, to brief <br /> these rural groups on the study. <br /> Prior to the March 1 Rural Character meeting, several <br /> committee members met informally with the township presidents <br /> of the Orange County Landowners Associations in what both <br /> groups have termed a constructive discussion. <br /> r <br />