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<br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL COUNCIL <br />TOWN OF CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN <br />JOINT PLANNING AREA (JPA) JOINT PUBLIC HEARING <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 27, 2014 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. C.1 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Text Amendments to the Joint Planning Land Use Plan and Agreement - <br />Revise Existing Language to Ensure Agricultural Activities are Allowed Throughout the Rural <br />Buffer, Clarify Density and Allow Cluster Subdivisions Outside of the University Lake <br />Watershed Area, and Clarify the Minimum Required Lot Size Within the University Lake <br />Watershed Area. <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: (919) <br />Pages of Joint Planning Land Use Plan and <br />Agreement Proposed for Amendment <br />(includes Agreement in its entirety for <br />reference) <br /> <br />Michael Harvey, Orange County Planning, <br />(919) 245-2597 <br />Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning, <br />(919) 245-2592 <br />J.B. Culpepper, Town of Chapel Hill Planning, <br />(919) 968-2728 <br />Trish McGuire, Town of Carrboro Planning, <br />(919) 918-7324 <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To receive public comment on a proposal to amend the Joint Planning Land Use <br />Plan and Joint Planning Agreement modifying language to ensure agricultural activities are <br />allowed throughout the Rural Buffer and clarify required densities and minimum lot sizes within, <br />and outside of, the University Lake Watershed Area. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: In October 1986 Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro <br />adopted a Joint Planning Land Use Plan (hereafter ‘the Plan’) outlining acceptable levels of <br />development within what became the County’s Rural Buffer general use zoning district. In <br />1987 the participating entities adopted a Joint Planning Agreement (hereafter ‘JPA’) <br />establishing parameters for the review and approval of development projects within the area. <br /> <br />The Plan envisions two (2) distinct types of development areas, namely: <br /> <br />• Transition Areas: Areas of future urban growth administered by the Towns of Chapel Hill <br />and Carrboro under their individual land use and zoning regulations in accordance with <br />the Plan. The County’s role in the Transition Areas is to review and comment on <br />development proposals, as well as text and atlas amendments, as detailed within the <br />JPA. <br />• Rural Buffer: Areas outside of the aforementioned Transition Areas under County <br />regulatory control intended to remain rural in character where annexation is prohibited <br />117