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and open space . Municipal records are reorganized to assign the cost of local public <br /> services to privately owned farm , forest and open lands , as well as residential , commercial <br /> and industrial lands . The result is a set of ratios - that compare the annual income to the <br /> annual expenditures for different land uses . <br /> Hitchings said Wake County 's COCS ( now underway ) is one of the first in North Carolina . A <br /> coordinated Triangle regional COCS had been considered , but the different counties were on <br /> different timetables and funding was an issue . Wake County was ready to begin and <br /> researchers from NC State provided cost savings . The study is going through final review <br /> for release to county commissioners later this month . It was found that farmland and <br /> forestland is a significant net contributor to the local fiscal balance with the use value <br /> assessment being taxed as resource value . <br /> Hitchings then answered questions from the CFE . He agreed to share copies of the final <br /> Wake County report as soon as it is released . He offered that the Triangle J COG would be <br /> willing to serve as a project manager for an Orange County study if that was desirable . <br /> Hitchings noted that one idea of a possible expansion of a base study might be to further <br /> analyze the benefits of a purchase of development rights program . <br /> Stancil noted that the Agricultural Preservation Board ( APB ) has been interested in the <br /> COCS issue for several years and that the CFE Environmental Indicators/ Education <br /> Committee may want to consider coordinating an effort with the APB . Stancil said he would <br /> gauge interest in this idea from the APB at their next meeting . Tucker thanked Hitchings for <br /> his report . <br /> IV . Joint Ordinance Work — Planning Board <br /> Stancil proposed forming a work group comprised of members from the CFE and the <br /> Planning Board to evaluate issues and make recommendations related to a potential light <br /> pollution ordinance , the County 's existing Environmental Impact Ordinance , and forest <br /> harvesting issues that have been discussed over the past two years . <br /> Stancil gave reasons for a coordinated effort between the two boards . It was suggested <br /> that both boards appoint two to three members to work on separate committees about each <br /> of the three issues . Stancil said he would speak with Planning Director Craig Benedict about <br /> forming a joint CFE/ Planning Board committee to work on these issues of mutual interest . <br /> For light pollution , CFE members decided that the Planning Board should take the lead , as <br /> they are the lead agency in implementing , and send over their proposal for CFE comment <br /> and input . The CFE identified the following members to work on these ad hoc committees : <br /> Light Pollution Ordinance : Mark Smith , Julie Tucker <br /> Environmental Impact Ordinance : Lee Rafalow , Chris Wachholz , Julie Tucker <br /> Forestry : Hervey McIver , Laura Cotterman <br /> The idea of enlisting citizen volunteers to work on committees was discussed . Alice Gordon <br /> recommended that there be a systematic approach to involving non - commission members . <br /> DRAFT - Meeting Summary Page 2 of 5 <br /> CFE September 10 , 2001 <br />