Agenda - 03-21-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PAGE 6 B. RURAL CHARACTER STUDY UPDATE Planner David Stancil reported that the Rural Character Committee has been working very diligently on (1) development of a set of guidelines for the Rural Buffer section of the County, and (2) education of the public by holding meetings in the townships to involve the citizens and respond to their concerns. Mr. Clink Burklin, Chairman of this committee, reported on the activities of this committee. He stated that the Rural Character Study Committee received the consultants recommended strategies for preserving the rural character of Orange County last fall. While these recommendations introduced new ideas, they were not responsive to a lot of the input that the committee received from the local community. The Rural Character Study Committee subsequently met in many intense sessions throughout the winter to develop a rural character preservation plan directed at the unique needs of Orange County. The Committee has now developed a draft plan for preserving the rural character of the Rural Buffer portion of Orange County. The process is to canvass the community to receive comments on the draft plan. The second task is to develop a plan for the remaining rural areas of Orange County. The committee requests that the County Commissioners grant them an additional two months to finish their work and prepare their recommendation for the Commissioners consideration. After ensued discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to give the Committee an additional month to complete its work and to report back to the Board of Commissioners at the end of this month. Carole Crumley, spoke as a member of the Rural Character Committee, and the Chair of the Education Subcommittee. They are in the process of simplifying the language that was very difficult for citizens to understand. She feels that this education process is community based in that the community is involved in telling the committee what they feel the issues are that the County face. Bob Strayhorn stated their committee worked hard in educating the public and that the education process is making progress. The citizens are listening and asking questions. It is their hope that when this goes to public hearing that the citizens will understand and support the plan. C. UPPER ENO WATERSHED RECLASSIFICATION Paul Thames provided information on the possibility of and the procedure for obtaining upgraded water supply watershed classification for the Upper Eno River basin and the Seven Mile Creek basin. Because of all the departments involved in the process of reclassification it becomes a very involved and complicated procedure. The application process for any change in the water classification would start with the governing board having jurisdiction over the land in the watershed. They would pass a resolution stating it was their intent to have DEM give them a watershed upgrade. In addition to that, the County would submit information about any watershed protection measures that are already in effect, present zoning, any programs run by the Soil Conservation for protection of erosion, the standard construction erosion sedimentation control measures and zoning densities, etc. DEM will then study the information, investigate the existing water quality and rule on the upgrading request. H.S. 156 will require DEM to identify all the watersheds in the state and determine its best use. Every local government having zoning, subdivision, etc. , jurisdiction over the newly classified watersheds is to enact local regulations which protect the watersheds to the degree specified in the new statewide classifications and regulations. He explained the options available to the County to upgrade the watershed classifications for these two basins. Motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Marshall to write a letter to DEM emphasizing that for a long time Orange County has identified Seven Mile Creek as a future reservoir and have been taking measures to protect that