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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 28, 2005 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. C.3 <br />SUBJECT: Update of the Rural Character and Farmland Protection Work Group <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning Board (Planning and PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) NO <br />Inspections) <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Summary of Exempted Orange County <br />Subdivision Activity (1994 to 2003) <br />2. State Exempted 10+ Acre Tract Divisions <br />(Advantages/Disadvantages) <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Jay Bryan, Planning Board Chair, 933- <br />1200 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To receive an update from the Planning Board Chair on the activities and products <br />of the Planning Board-initiated, Rural Character and Farmland Protection Work Group. <br />BACKGROUND: At its August 4, 2004 regular meeting, the Planning Board formed a Work <br />Group charged with the following Mission: <br />"Examine strategies and make recommendations, if any, regarding approaches <br />for the protection of rural character and farmland in Orange County, taking into <br />account the comments from the public outreach process that is ongoing." <br />The Work Group consisted of five (5) Planning Board members, a local surveyor, and a <br />representative from each of the following: Agriculture P~esenration Board, ERCD, Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service, and Environmental Health Division with Planning Staff <br />providing logistical support. Between August and November 2004, the Work Group met eight <br />(8) times, and in general, discussed the following topics: American Farmland Tnast's list of <br />farmland protection tools; elements of cluster subdivisions; wastewater treatment options; <br />additional applications of temporary and permanent farmland preservation easements; and <br />existing subdivision regulations. The Work Group also discussed the implications of the State <br />10 acre lot exemption (see Staff report, Attachments 1 and 2). <br />The Work Group prepared and presented its 'Outline of Options' report to the Planning Board at <br />the January 12 and February 2, 2005 regular meetings. Before official consideration, the full <br />Board requested a joint meeting with the Agriculture Preservation Board to discuss the report <br />and receive input. This meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2005, <br />