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ORANGE COUNTY <br />PLANNING BOARD <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 3, 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) No <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Flow Chart of Possible Process for <br />Quasi-Judicial items <br />2. Example of Checklist Used for Quasi- <br />Judicial 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 review a possible public hearing process for quasi-judicial items, as discussed <br />at the November 5 Planning Board meeting. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: The Planning Board discussed proposed changes to the public hearing <br />process at its October 8 and November 5, 2014 meetings. At the November 5th meeting, the <br />Board agreed that the flow chart for a possible process for legislative items (included in the <br />agenda materials: http://orangecountync.gov/planning/documents/11.5.14PBPacket.pdf) <br />captured the discussion at the October 8th meeting. Discussion at the November 5th meeting <br />focused on a possible process for quasi-judicial items (draft Minutes for the November 5th <br />meeting are part of the agenda packet for the December 3rd Planning Board meeting). Staff <br />has prepared a flow chart for quasi-judicial items for the Planning Board’s review (see <br />Attachment 1). <br /> <br />Attachment 2 is the Findings of Fact checklist used during the review of quasi-judicial items. It <br />is included so that Planning Board members can be informed/reminded of the review process <br />that is necessary for quasi-judicial items. <br /> <br />At the November 6, 2014 Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, the BOCC <br />received the information available at that time and discussed the topic (agenda materials are <br />available at: http://orangecountync.gov/occlerks/141106.pdf and the video may be viewed at: <br />http://orangecountync.gov/occlerks/granicus.asp). The BOCC also voted to close the public <br />hearing on this topic at this time, as staff recommended. The hearing has been closed because <br />it is expected that the proposed text amendment will be changed significantly enough from the <br />materials presented at the September 8th quarterly public hearing that a new public hearing will <br />be necessary. At this time, staff expects that the topic will be an item for discussion at a future <br />BOCC work session. Part of the work session materials will be the Planning Board’s input, as <br />reflected in the flow charts and meeting minutes. <br /> <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Existing staff will complete the necessary work required for this project. <br />Changing the public hearing process is not expected to cause significant financial impacts <br />15