Agenda - 04-17-2001-9c - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

s 2 4 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2s 26 27 2s 29 30 31 32 33 34 3S 36 37 3$ 39 40 41 42 43 44 4S 46 47 4$ 49 50 51 C. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 1. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENTS a. Area 1 b. Area 2 e. Area 3a d. Area 3b e. Area 3c Orange County Planning Director Craig Benedict presented this item. He said that the next few items have to do with the economic development district area that is south of Hillsborough. Over the last 12 months, both Orange County and the Town of Hillsborough have met to examine the existing land use patterns within and around the economic development districts that lie south of Hillsborough. The general area is around Old NC 8fi between the interchanges of 1-85/1- 40 and New NC 86 near the intersection of I-85. The comprehensive plan is a base layer of land use issues within the County. This gives general development pattems and is a guidance tool for zoning layers. He said that Gene Bell, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor, would be explaining each Economic Development District (EDD). He said that the EDD Task Force that has been meeting since February 2000 has been one of the most prolific task forces that has met over the last year. The task force has met over 20 times and has analyzed a lot of issues that could potentially affect the quality of life of residents in and around Hillsborough. There was interest within the task force to look at issues such as transportation impact, transportation capacity, and the image of the entranceway on the major interchanges. He said that in 1993, 1994, and 1995 Orange County developed Area A, which is a set of standards far economic development districts. Area A is not being amended because it is an existing economic development district. Gene Bell went over all the areas as listed above. Area 1 is currently rural residential, and the proposed change is for aten-year transition and economic development activity node. Area 2 is currently classified as 20-year transition, and the proposed change is to the economic development activity node. Areas 3a and 3b are currently commercial activity Hades, and the proposed change is to economic development activity node. Area 3c is currently 10-year transition, with. the proposed change would be to an economic development activity node. He spoke about the procedures for amending the plan. The reasons for amending the comprehensive plan are as follows: 1) because of a change or changes of conditions in a certain part of the County; 2) to correct an error or omission in the plan; or 3) in response to a change in policies, objectives, principles, or standards governing the physical development of the County. This is from Article 2 of the Zoning Ordinance. He made reference to Article 20 of the Zoning Ordinance and said that the plan was premised upon two basic strategies -activity nodes and infill development. Activity nodes serve to cluster commercial and industrial development at major:intersections throughout the County in locations appropriate far serving the needs of residents. The infill development strategy is premised on the desirability of encouraging development to occur first within the corporate limits of the towns. The proposed plan amendments that are being considered are consistent with the two basic plan strategies. Twa goals that are particularly relevant to these plan amendments are: 1) Goal #5 -the management of growth so that it is directed to areas where growth is desirable and could be accommodated; and 2) Gaal #6 -the promotion of economic development which emphasizes em}~loyment, meeting local needs while preserving the character of communities and protecting the natural environment. Gene Bell said that within the plan, each category has a set of 11 location criteria. The criteria are land slope, hydrology, flora and fauna, soil conditions, public services and utilities, the transportation system, energy use, existing land use, agriculture and forestry, population density, and