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<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />PLANNING BOARD <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: May 7, 2014 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Agreement Amendments – Revisions to <br />Existing Language Ensuring Agricultural Activities are Allowed Throughout the Rural Buffer <br />as well as Density and Minimum Lot Size Clarification(s) <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> <br />ATTACHMENTS: INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1. Joint Public Hearing Materials <br />2. Excerpt of Draft Minutes from April 2, <br />2014 Planning Board Meeting <br /> <br /> <br />Michael D. Harvey, Planner III, (919) 245-2597 <br />Craig Benedict, Director, (919) 245-2592 <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To make a recommendation to the BOCC on proposed amendments to the Joint <br />Planning Land Use Plan (Plan) and Joint Planning Agreement (JPA) modifying language to <br />ensure agricultural activities are allowed throughout the Rural Buffer and clarify required <br />densities and minimum lot sizes within, and outside of, the University Lake Watershed Area. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: In the mid-1980s Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro <br />adopted a Joint Planning Land Use Plan that provided land use planning for the area of the <br />county commonly referred to as the Rural Buffer. In 1987 the participating entities adopted the <br />JPA establishing parameters for the review and approval of development projects within the <br />area. <br /> <br />The full Plan and JPA is available at: http://orangecountync.gov/planning/Documents.asp. <br /> <br />A Joint Planning Area Public Hearing was held on March 27, 2014 to review proposed <br />modifications to the Plan and JPA to address issues associated with the use of property for <br />agricultural purposes as well as to clarify allowable density and lot sizes throughout the area <br />covered by the Plan. Attachment 1 is the agenda materials for the joint public hearing and <br />includes the proposed text amendments. <br /> <br />This item was previewed at the April 2, 2014 Planning Board meeting to familiarize Planning <br />Board members with the Plan and JPA. As detailed at the April 2, 2014 Planning Board <br />meeting, staff is proposing to amend the Plan and JPA as follows: <br /> <br />i. Combine the existing Rural Residential and Agricultural Areas land use categories <br />into 1 category and add language indicating agricultural activities are permitted <br />throughout the area covered by the Plan. <br />ii. Add language establishing a density of 1 dwelling unit for every 2 acres for <br />property located within the Rural Residential land use category. <br />115