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Page 2 of 3 Holly Safi <br />Supplemental Questions: <br />Orange County Housing Authority <br />Background, education and experience relevant to this board: <br />I am a Durham attorney practicing in land use, civil litigation, and estates. I have ample <br />experience navigating city ordinances and state and federal statutes. In addition to my law <br />degree, I have a masters in city and regional planning with a specialization in housing and <br />community development. My masters thesis focused on legal and political issues facing race <br />and class housing integration. <br />Reasons for wanting to serve on this board: <br />When I was in law school at UNC, I acquired an interest in land use and housing law. I <br />supplemented my law degree with a masters in city and regional planning, also from UNC, in <br />which I specialized in housing and community development. I understand many of the <br />challenges faced by cities and counties as they work to provide affordable housing. I moved <br />from Durham to the Hillsborough area of Orange County in December 2016 and would like to <br />use my knowledge of housing law and my experience in land use to work towards ensuring that <br />no family is ever denied access to a safe, affordable home. <br />Conflict of Interest: <br />Orange County Board of Adjustment (REQUIRES DISCLOSURE STATEMENT) <br />Please list the work/volunteer experience/qualifications that would add to your expertise <br />for this board. <br />I am an attorney with a masters in city and regional planning. I have worked in land use law both <br />in Wake and Durham Counties. I have experience preparing and presenting cases before the <br />Raleigh and Wake County BOAs, as well as ample experience reading and interpreting city <br />ordinances and state law. <br />What do you see as the responsibilities of this board, and what do you hope to <br />accomplish if appointed? <br />The BOA s responsibilities are set out in the UDO. In an nutshell, the BOA makes decisions in <br />individual situations where the strict enforcement of the UDO would not provide justice to a <br />property owner and hears appeals from legislative boards. It is very important for the BOA <br />members to make these decisions in a careful and informed manner to ensure smart growth of <br />the community and substantial justice for our citizens in a manner that upholds the spirit of the <br />county ordinances. <br />What role should the Board of Adjustment take in guiding and regulating growth? <br />What unique perspective can you bring to the Orange County Board of Adjustment? <br />I have experience with land use law both at the municipal board level and with appeals to <br />Superior Court. I have an interest in city planning, transportation and housing, and smart growth <br />as well as ensuring that the proper procedures are followed through the quasi-judicial process. <br />What do you consider to be be the most important issues facing Orange County related <br />to growth? <br />With 20% or more families in the county living in poverty, the largest challenges facing the <br />county are affordable housing and economic development. It is important to both create <br />affordable housing and to bring jobs and development that will provide a living wage to our <br />citizens. While we should be working to attract development for jobs, it is also important to <br />protect our rural and natural areas by allowing increases in density for appropriate areas and <br />maintaining low densities in more environmentally sensitive areas. <br />13