Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY <br />PLANNING BOARD <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: October 4, 2017 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 10 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) – Revisions to Public Hearing Process <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1. Comprehensive Plan and Unified <br />Development Ordinance (UDO) <br />Amendment Outline Form <br />2. Statement of Consistency <br />3. Proposed Amendments <br />Craig Benedict, Director, 919-245-2575 <br />James Bryan, Staff Attorney, 919-245-2319 <br />Ashley Moncado, Planner II, 919-245-2589 <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on a <br />BOCC initiated text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) regarding <br />revisions to the public hearing process. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: As a result of discussion at the September 7, 2017 Board of County <br />Commissioners (BOCC) Work Session, an text amendment to consider revisions to the existing <br />public hearing process is currently being prepared by County staff for the November Quarterly <br />Public Hearing. The proposed amendment will allow land use hearings to occur at any regular <br />BOCC meeting instead of current standards which allow these items to be presented on a <br />quarterly basis. Allowing these items to be heard at all regular BOCC meeting shall expedite the <br />development review process and encourage a planning process which is efficient and <br />responsive to Orange County property owners, residents, and developers. No other changes to <br />the public hearing processes are being proposed. In addition, all items requiring a public hearing <br />will still allow for review and recommendation from the Planning Board prior to the public <br />hearing. <br /> <br />Attachment 1 contains additional information and analysis regarding this amendment. Proposed <br />text amendment language can be found in Attachment 3 within a “track changes” format. <br /> <br />These amendments are scheduled to be presented at the November Quarterly Public Hearing. <br /> <br />Planning Director’s Recommendation: The Planning Director recommends approval of the <br />Statement of Consistency, indicating the amendments are reasonable and in the public interest, <br />contained in Attachment 2 and proposed amendment package contained in Attachment 3. <br /> <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Consideration and approval will not create the need for additional funding <br />for the provision of County services. Costs for the required legal advertisement for the text <br />amendment will be paid from FY2017-18. Departmental funds budgeted for this purpose. <br />Existing Planning staff included in the Departmental staffing budget will accomplish the work <br /> 331