Orange County NC Website
Approved 11/01/2017 <br /> <br />13 <br /> <br />Lydia Wegman said that portion of the development being reviewed is not residential; it is light industrial and <br />research in Distirct 1 and commercial/retail in District 2, not residential. These properties have been identified since <br />the ‘80s and ‘90s that the County wanted to focus on for economic development. The current zoning is for economic <br />development. <br /> <br />Corinn Shaker commented that the Board still does not know definitely what will be developed in District 1 and 2; <br />there could be a hotel or a restaurant or a pharmaceutical company. <br /> <br />Lydia Wegman said that the Planning Board would not be able to approve any of that anyway. The Planning <br />Department will be reviewing this. The provisions of the master plan allow for specifics to come in later. <br /> <br />Corinn Shaker replied that she can understand that. She still just feels shocked that she did not know about the <br />development. Why is the County not working to fix what is inside of Hillsborough before focusing out? <br /> <br />Lydia Wegman responded that that would not be up to the Planning Board but rather individual developers and <br />business owners. It is not the Board’s job to tell them where to go. <br /> <br />Tony Blake agreed that this would be out of the Board’s scope. The Planning Board is an advisory board. <br /> <br />Corinn Shaker said that she is just putting her concern out there about how Hillsborough is evolving over time. <br /> <br />Tony Blake confirmed that Davis Rd. is in the County’s jurisdiction. He thanked Ms. Shaker for her comments. <br /> <br />Joan Kalnitsky said that she also lives off of Davis Rd. Her concern is District 1 and the light industrial permitted uses <br />described on pages 309-310. She is concerned about the noise. She tried to read the document but it was <br />exhausting to read. She read that noise and light will be governed by County standards and she does not know what <br />that means. There are over 70 homes in the Davis Road community mentioned earlier; it is a not a small community. <br />Their community has consistently voted to keep it dark in terms of lighting enhancements. She said that even though <br />residents there are not within 1,000 feet, they are within 1 mile of the proposed development. If the proposal goes <br />through, the flavor of the area is going to change drastically. She wished that the community had been invited to the <br />NIMs. She hopes that that Board will ask for more information on what light industrial uses are considered, which <br />could potentially include a textile mill, which would change their lives dramatically. She asked the Board to consider <br />her comments, to read over the packet thoroughly, ask more questions, and better understand the potential impact <br />of unknown the light industrial uses. <br /> <br />Tony Blake and Lydia Wegman looked to Michael Harvey for more information on light industrial uses that the <br />speaker mentioned (referring to page 314). <br /> <br />Michael Harvey said District 1 is, by its zoning designation, and as defined in the current UDO, a light industrial <br />zoning district. He said that the County is currently revising its Table of Permitted Uses and that the Board has been <br />participating in reimagining what the Hillsborough Economic Development Districts would be like, going back a year <br />ago. The Planning Board and the elected officials recommended expanding the uses in general, including in this light <br />industrial and research zoning district, EDH-5. The permitted uses listed in the application narrative are the same as <br />those listed in the application. <br /> <br />Tony Blake said he knows that the Table of Permitted Uses is being redone. Is it the case that if a use is not <br />identified as an allowable use in a zoning district, it is permitted by default? Is this a state ruling? <br /> <br />Michael Harvey said yes, Mr. Blake is referring to a state court ruling. <br /> <br />Tony Blake asked if the master planning process protects the area better than what the Table of Permitted Uses lists. <br /> <br />23