Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
299 <br />Chairman Carey asked for Board input on the process that <br />should be followed in moving the Rural Character Report recommendations <br />to their next step of approval. Carrboro has approved the <br />recommendations and Chapel Hill is currently considering them. <br />Commissioner Gordon made the following statement which is <br />hereby made a part of these minutes: <br />"As we discuss proposals for the Rural Buffer, I would <br />suggest that we follow three principles: <br />A. Support the Joint Planning Agreement and continue to <br />promote intergovernmental cooperation with Carrboro and <br />Chapel Hill. As I tried to emphasize at the Commissioners' <br />planning retreat on December 8, it is important to approach <br />any discussions in the spirit of cooperation not <br />confrontation. As co -chair of the advisory group which <br />helped to shape the Joint Planning Agreement, I believe it <br />is extremely important to support such joint planning. <br />During the coming decade joint planning and regional <br />cooperation are going to be increasingly significant. <br />B. Follow Rrocedures that will resolve the remaining issues <br />as quickly as is Rrudent and ROssible. We owe that to the <br />residents in the current rural Buffer area and we also owe <br />it to the members of the Rural Character Study Committee who <br />have worked so long and so fruitfully. <br />C. Ado t proRosals which are environmentally sound. As we <br />deliberate we need to know the carrying capacity of the land <br />for development. I believe there is a considerable amount <br />of information already available on the amount of groundwater <br />in the buffer and the capability of the land to support <br />septic tanks, as well as other information on soils and <br />slopes. we should have that information presented to us in <br />the course of our deliberations and we should consider it <br />carefully." <br />Commissioner Willhoit feels that the only way to resolve the <br />issues is to have a forum in which all views can be heard and discussed. <br />He sees the remaining issues as (1) Rural Buffer and (2) Alternative <br />Sewage Disposal Systems. The real issues to be decided have to do with <br />option D -- planned residential development and option E -- rural <br />villages. The real issue is the desirability of D & E as a, means of <br />addressing the concerns about rural character. Commissioner Willhoit <br />listed the issues he feels need to be discussed in considering options <br />D & E. <br />1. LOCATION - are the locations of planned residential <br />developments and rural villages to be directed, identified <br />on the Land Use Plan, or are they to just happen? This <br />decision will impact on the planning for utilities and other <br />services. <br />