Orange County NC Website
D R A F T <br />2 <br />AGENDA ITEM 6: CHAIR COMMENTS 55 56 <br />Pete Hallenbeck: I would like to mention that part of being on the Planning Board is attending the Quarterly Public 57 <br />Hearings. We have had a few close calls. We need to be able to contact you in case we do not have a quorum. I 58 <br />would like Michael to remind us of the ground rules. 59 <br /> 60 <br />Michael Harvey: The last Quarterly Public Hearing we began to review the Class A Special Use Permit application 61 <br />for a solar facility off Mount Sinai Road. The hearing ran about four and one half hours when it was determined that 62 <br />the BOCC wanted the applicant and the adjacent property owners who were expressing concern over the project to 63 <br />submit additional information. They adjourned that public hearing until the September 8 regular quarterly public 64 <br />hearing. That means the public hearing is still technically open. It has not been closed. Remember that special 65 <br />use permits are reviewed in a quasi-judicial setting which means they are based on sworn testimony and material 66 <br />evidence has been introduced into the records by those in favor or against by public application. There is a 67 <br />prohibition in you engaging in communication meaning you should not talk to anyone about the project. It is 68 <br />reasonable to ask myself or my staff for information that you need. 69 <br /> 70 <br />Craig Benedict: You are like the jury so that any information that is presented to you is what you base your 71 <br />decision on. 72 <br /> 73 <br />Pete Hallenbeck: These meetings normally start and stop in one evening. 74 <br /> 75 <br />Tony Blake: Fortunately, this is the first quarterly public hearing I have missed. What is my position in the next 76 <br />quarterly public hearing? 77 <br /> 78 <br />Craig Benedict: If you looked at all the evidence in the hearing, you could read the minutes and ask questions. 79 <br />You had to attest that you have read everything that was in the documents to vote. 80 <br /> 81 <br />Pete Hallenbeck: Quasi-judicial means everyone gets sworn in and give evidence and you will have all the 82 <br />evidence available to read so when you get to the next quarterly hearing, you will have the same as everyone else. 83 <br /> 84 <br />Craig Benedict: Our Unified Development Ordinance allows someone to provide written documents to the planning 85 <br />board and they can read that script. The reason we ask for written documents is that when it comes back to the 86 <br />BOCC, they see that specific information. 87 <br /> 88 <br />Buddy Hartley: For the Chair’s information, I was ready and on call if I needed to be there. 89 <br /> 90 <br />Michael Harvey: The question was asked if members are prohibited from visiting locations where special use 91 <br />permits applications are being reviewed. My opinion is there is no technical prohibition on a member visiting the 92 <br />site after the public hearing is held but you cannot engage, or allow yourself to be engaged in, conversation with 93 <br />anyone. I believe that site visits can be helpful but if you have not done so, I would ask that you don’t. 94 <br /> 95 <br />Pete Hallenbeck: If you do see the site, you can’t say I saw the site and I think this. 96 97 98 AGENDA ITEM 7: MAJOR SUBDIVISION CONCEPT PLAN: To review and make a decision on an major subdivision 99 <br />concept plan application seeking to sub-divide a 25.33 acre parcel of property into 14 single-100 <br />family residential lots with 16.29 acres of common open space near the intersection of 101 <br />Stroud’s Creek Road and NC Highway 57 in Hillsborough Township. 102 Presenter: Patrick Mallett, Planner II 103 104 <br />Patrick Mallett: Presented a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed abstract. 105 <br /> 106 <br />James Carter: Where is that fence and will it remain there? 107 <br /> 108 <br />6