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r.� <br />Y � <br />ORANGE'COUNTY <br />'MMORROW <br />PRESERVATION- PROGRESS- P EOPLE <br />DRAFT Environmental Impact Ordinance <br />Economic Development Commission Comments <br />May 29, 1990 <br />As one representative of the Economic Development Commission on the <br />Environmental Impact Ordinance Review Committee, I would like to present <br />comments on behalf of EDC's representatives, John McKee and I. <br />The Economic Development Commission supports the need to have environmental <br />regulations to minimize environmental damage and realizes that it is <br />difficult to write an ordinance that will cover needed impacts while not <br />inhibiting appropriate economic development and non - residential tax base <br />expansion. We applaud the efforts of the Review Committee, but still feel <br />that some changes should be made to limit the -need for an additional layer <br />of governmental regulation. <br />Generally, the EDC is concerned that the Draft Environmental Impact <br />Ordinance (EIO) will adversely affect businesses coming into Orange County. <br />In order to increase Orange County's non - residential tax -base and the job <br />supply for residents, new and expanding businesses need to know <br />specifically what is required of them and when approval /denial decisions <br />will be made. <br />1) EDC suggests that the requirements now included in the EIO be <br />incorporated into existing local development ordinances to avoid an <br />additional level of regulation. This would best serve our citizens by not <br />lengthening the approval process. Delays cost money and severely limit the <br />number of companies willing to go through the approval process necessary to <br />locate in Orange County. <br />2) EDC suggests that the threshold for requiring an Environmental <br />Assessment (EA) be adjusted so that Planning Department staff could inform <br />builders /developers of EA requirements as well as approve projects within <br />15 days of their submittal. EDC also suggests that the Planning Staff have <br />broad authority to approve /accept the EIS. <br />3) The Environmental Impact Ordinance needs to be specific as to what would <br />be required by Orange County, in addition to any required federal or state <br />permits. <br />Comments given by the EDC on March 22, 1989 are still relevant to this EIO <br />review. A copy of these comments are available from the EDC office. <br />ORANGE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION <br />P.O. BOX 712 • 110 N. CHURTON ST. • SAWYER BUILDING • HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. 27278 <br />(919) 732 -8181 (919) 968 -4501 (919) 688 -7331 (919) 227 -2031 <br />