Agenda - 02-21-2017 - 7-a - Zoning Atlas Amendment - Modification of the Existing Zoning Boundaries for Non-Residentially Zoned Parcels

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7 23 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Rich to: a.) adopt the proposed amendments by approving the Statement of Consistency (Attachment 6) and Ordinance amending the Zoning Atlas (Attachment 7), with the exception of the Efland Real Property LLC properties: PIN 9844881230, 9844788137, 9844786242, 9844786236, which will be held over for further discussion with the community, and be brought back to the Board of County Commissioners no later than February 7th Commissioner Price asked if the community had been invited to the Planning Board meeting. Michael Harvey said letters were sent to residents that lived within 1,000 feet, including the Ashwick HOA. He said staff met their obligation under the ordinance, and provided notice of the Planning Board meetings and the Board of County Commissioners meetings. Commissioner Price said she respected the residents, but felt that this has been going on for a long time, and there have been opportunities for the neighborhoods to come to the meetings. She said this new designation is making the area better. Commissioner Dorosin referred to his question about keeping this parcel open, and asked if options could be reviewed. He said this process was designed to clarify the zoning based on what is actually on these properties now and avoid creating non-conforming uses. He said the option of changing this property to general commercial is consistent with the fact that there is some type of commercial operation on the property now. Michael Harvey said when staff started meeting with the property owners there was concern with an existing industrial operation or manufacturing operation in this particular area of the County. He said rather than modifying or altering the existing industrial, staff was asked about rezoning the area to general commercial. He said staff reviewed numerous studies of the area, and found the suggestion was consistent with those documents, and moved forward with the change. He said this brings the property more into compliance with the Efland-Mebane Small Area Plan and the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Dorosin said the neighbors may want a residential zoning for this parcel, but that would be an unrealistic expectation. He said continuing the conversation may lead to a false hope. Commissioner Jacobs said he agreed with both Commissioner Dorosin and Commissioner Price, and he also thinks staff made good points. He said he knows from experience that residents do not understand the process, and he would like to create another forum for them to have a conversation with staff to be able to ask questions about how this affects their community. Commissioner Rich said she agreed with Commissioner Jacobs. Chair McKee asked Craig Benedict, Planning Director, if he could identify how long it would take to bring this item back, and if, during conversations with staff, the residents have expressed a desire for any of the proposed changes. Craig Benedict said when HOAs turnover from the developers to the HOAs, staff usually has meetings with them. He said the Ashwick HOA has turned over again, and staff can meet with the HOA to provide information and answer questions. He said staff did look at the existing zoning, and feels the proposal is a better solution for the property owners and the neighborhood. Commissioner Pelissier said she is fine with delaying a vote on this set of properties, but she would not want to wait until spring. VOTE: UNANIMOUS