Agenda - 03-24-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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M G3GlffV ,s 1 and Sewer Policy indirectly limit the county from spending funds to 2 extend water and sewer outside of its jurisdiction except in certain 3 cases. 4 THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR QUESTIONS /COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC 6 Mr. Peter Kramer indicated that he believes that Orange County is 7 in the forefront of this issue. He gave some historical background on 8 how this issue developed over the years. He mentioned that many people 9 have devoted a great deal of time to making this program work and he ,0 strongly supports the idea of districts. In response to his question to 11 how the 155 acre size was determined, Mr. Collins indicated that that 12 was the average size of the farms in Orange County, although there are 13 many farms smaller than 155 acres. Mr. Kramer asked the Advisory Board 14 to look into the issue of farm size and consider using other criteria to 15 promote a diversity of agriculture. His hope is that the diversity in 16 small farms as well as large farms can be recognized. -7 13 A motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by -9 Commissioner Halkiotis to refer this item to the Agricultural Districts 20 Advisory Board for a recommendation to be returned to the Board of 21 Commissioners no sooner than March 24, 1992. 22 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 23 `. 4 4 25 2. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS — MINIMUM HOUSING CODE 26 Planning Director Marvin Collins presented for citizen 27 comment the proposed ordinance modifications to the "Minimum Housing 23 Code ". These modifications, upon adoption, would clarify its 29 administration, enforcement and interpretation by staff and the public. 30 In 1984, the Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted a "Minimum 31 Housing Code ". It was recognized by the community that there were 32 dwellings unfit for human habitation due to unsafe structural 33 conditions; fire hazards, inadequate light and ventilation, inadequate 34 sanitary facilities and other inimical conditions detrimental to the 35 welfare of the occupants and the public. In 1987 the Orange County Low 36 and Moderate Income Housing Task Force Report substantiated the 37 continued existence of substandard housing. They also indicated that 38 there is an increasing rate of depreciation in the overall stock of 39 housing. Since its adoption, the Minimum Housing ordinance has been 40 administered and enforced by the Housing /Community Development 41 Department of Orange County. It is proposed that this responsibility be 42 transferred to the Orange County Planning and Inspections department 43 because G.S. 153A -351.1 now requires that inspections be conducted by 44 certified code enforcement officers. The Inspections Division, under 45 the direction of the Code Enforcement Supervisor, has four code 46 enforcement officers, who are cross trained and certified by the N.C. 47 Code Qualifications Board. The original ordinance text has also been 48 reformatted for further clarification of code provisions. Specific 49 amendments were made to simplify interpretation and also to comply with -40 N.C. State Building Codes and Regulations. The provisions of the 51 ordinance have been expanded to include all dwellings within the County, 52 not just rental units. Provisions in Article XVIII allow for the