Orange County NC Website
10 <br /> <br />explain his vision and get everyone on the same page. She said it was her understanding that 1 <br />the roamer is gone, and most of their conversation in the past was about educational purposes. 2 <br />David Stancil said he has heard a lot of new things tonight, and staff will be glad to have 3 <br />a neighborhood meeting. He said much of what has been voiced tonight is about other 4 <br />properties that are owned by the same owner, and tonight’s item was about one specific 5 <br />property. He said the Planning Department has not received any requests pertaining to the 6 <br />other portions of land. 7 <br />Bonnie Hammersley said there was a meeting between Mr. Fisher, Commissioner 8 <br />Jacobs, Commissioner Marcoplos, Commissioner Rich, Travis Myren and herself, where a 9 <br />request was made beyond what the staff felt could be done. She said she has heard a lot of 10 <br />new information this evening. She said this evening’s item contains all that the staff felt it was 11 <br />able to do, and it is not nearly as much as Mr. Fisher originally requested. 12 <br />Commissioner Jacobs said there are two issues: 1.) He would like to see the original 13 <br />abstract that proposed the conservation easement for Dr. Keith’s arboretum; and 2.) He 14 <br />wonders if this is being used as a stalking horse for something else, and this would involve 15 <br />planning as well as DEAPR. He said it is important to discuss everything with those most 16 <br />impacted, including the present owner. 17 <br />Commissioner Jacobs said the Board’s first priority is to protect the conservation 18 <br />easement, for which the County paid, and suggested deferring this item until questions have 19 <br />been resolved. 20 <br />Commissioner Price agreed with Commissioner Jacobs. 21 <br />Commissioner Burroughs supported tabling this item until discussions have taken place. 22 <br />Commissioner Marcoplos agreed. 23 <br /> 24 <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs 25 <br />Consensus to table this bring back with more information about original easement, community 26 <br />meeting and also to get as much information as they can around this property. 27 <br /> 28 <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS 29 <br /> 30 <br />4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations RESUMED 31 <br /> 32 <br />b. Board of Adjustment (BOA) Overview 33 <br />The Board received information regarding the purpose and operations of the Orange 34 <br />County Board of Adjustment, including a brief presentation from Professor David Owens, 35 <br />Gladys Hall Coates Professor of Public Law and Government, of the UNC School of 36 <br />Government, and the Board will discuss this matter as necessary and provide direction to the 37 <br />Manager. 38 <br /> 39 <br />BACKGROUND: 40 <br />Orange County residents have expressed concerns regarding the operations of the Board of 41 <br />Adjustment and staff appointed to assist the Board of Adjustment. The Board of 42 <br />Commissioners directed staff to recruit a neutral third party to present an overview of the 43 <br />purpose and operations of boards of adjustment. The County Manager, County Attorney, and 44 <br />staff have been reviewing the issues raised and associated solutions and costs. In addition to 45 <br />questions related to process concerns were expressed regarding availability of public records. 46 <br />Orange County is in the midst of converting to a process in which most public records subject to 47 <br />requests would be published on the County’s website. This conversion is ongoing, but once 48 <br />complete will eliminate situations in which a record may be provided in a format not acceptable 49