Minutes 04-04-2019 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 Commissioner Marcoplos said the rural buffer is designed to provide density in the urban areas, and he said trees may be cut down in Chapel Hill, but overall more trees are being saved because sprawl is not occurring, due to the rural buffer. He said it would be helpful to promote this information. Commissioner Marcoplos said it is important to quantify what these trees are doing for the community. Bradley Saul said the Commission is gathering data on one area in 2008 and 2018, and said there is little change in the rural buffer, but bigger changes countywide. Commissioner Greene referred to his notes, and the desire to "develop a plan for researching potential environmental impacts on the rural buffer," and asked if there if anything other than the size of the tree canopy will be measured. Bradley Saul said the plan is to reach out to the Planning Department and UNC and develop a larger set of research questions around the rural buffer. He said carrying out the research is the bigger challenge. Commissioner Greene said she recently attended the Climate Reality Conference, where trees were heavily emphasized. David Stancil, DEAPR Director, said staff has learned that there is an amazing amount of activity, regionally, looking into tree protection. Chair Rich asked if the Commission feels it representing the entire County on its membership Bradley Saul said that is an area of weakness, and there are only 1-2 members that live north of 70. Chair Rich said it would be nice to recruit more from the northern and western portions of the County. Commissioner Price asked if the Commission is looking at reforestation. Bradley Saul said the Commission has considered creating a net-gain policy, but this has yet to be worked out in detail. Commissioner Price said she would like to pursue such a policy. Bradley Saul said the Commission is looking at this in a general manner. Commissioner Price asked if the Commission was working with the Planning Board. Dave Stancil said to his knowledge, no, and he said the focus has been on protecting the forest canopy. Commissioner Price said one idea is having trees in parking lots, as opposed to only asphalt. Dave Stancil that conversation was consumed by a larger, bigger picture conversation. Commissioner Price said these types of details would require partnership with the Planning Board. • Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Art Menius, Vice Chair Art Menius reviews some of the HPC's accomplishments from 2018: • Historic Resources Publication Project: The HPC is nearing completion of its major project to publish a book documenting the historic resources of Orange County and Hillsborough, in partnership with the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough/Town of Hillsborough. The author is now under contract and is preparing a manuscript for this long-awaited book, to be printed in 2020. Obtained a grant of$25,000 from the Alliance, to match County funds made available in FY 2018-19 budget. (ongoing) • Schley Grange National Register Nomination: Initiated a project to have the historically significant Schley Grange Hall nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. Contracted with a historic preservation consultant to prepare the nomination report, to be approved by the State Historic Preservation Office in 2019. Project funded jointly by the