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ORANGE COUNTY <br />PLANNING BOARD <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 5, 2014 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment - Public Hearing Process <br />Changes <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Discussion Points Between Planning <br />Board Chair and Planning Staff <br />2. Flow Chart of Possible Process for <br />Legislative items <br /> <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: (919) <br />Perdita Holtz, Planning, 245-2578 <br />Craig Benedict, Planning, 245-2592 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To continue discussion on the public hearing process changes presented at the <br />September 8, 2014 quarterly public hearing, with a focus on the quasi-judicial process, and <br />provide input to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: The quarterly public hearing materials (available at <br />http://orangecountync.gov/occlerks/140908.pdf) provide background on this issue and are not <br />included as part of this item in order to minimize the length of the materials included. The <br />discussion that occurred at the public hearing can be viewed at http://orange- <br />nc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=754. As was briefly discussed at the <br />public hearing, some points of the process are related to policy and do not need to be written <br />into the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) while other aspects of the process do need to <br />be included in the UDO. If there are concerns or questions about whether particular points are <br />policy-related or necessary for the UDO, staff (Planning and Attorney’s Office) can assist in <br />making this determination. <br /> <br />At the conclusion of the public hearing there were three points of consensus among BOCC <br />members: <br />1. Allow the public to make comments at the end of the process. <br />2. Do not require a quorum of Planning Board members at public hearings. <br />3. Public hearing legal ads do not necessarily need to be Consent Agenda items, circulation <br />via e-mail is likely OK. (Note that this is an internal process component that is not written <br />into the UDO and does not require Planning Board involvement). <br /> <br />The original impetus regarding this topic was as follows: <br />1. Remove the Planning Board as an official board at the public hearing (e.g., do not require <br />a quorum of Planning Board members). <br />2. Increase the frequency of public hearings (currently held 4 times per year on dates <br />specifically set aside only for public hearings). <br /> <br />47