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PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT <br />Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director <br />Administration <br />(919) 245-2575 <br />(919) 644-3002 (FAX) <br />www.orangecountync.gov <br />131 W. Margaret Lane <br />Suite 201 <br />P. O. Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> TO: Board of County Commissioners <br /> FROM: Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director <br />Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor <br /> <br /> DATE: June 16, 2020 <br /> SUBJECT: Information Item - Expansion of Hillsborough Area Economic <br />Development District (EDD) <br /> <br />In September 2017, the BOCC authorized staff to proceed in processing amendments to <br />expand the Hillsborough area EDD, to the southeast and southwest, through a Joint Land <br />Use Plan amendment and a companion County Comprehensive Plan amendment. These <br />amendments were triggered by the County’s request to expand the Hillsborough Primary <br />Service Area, as provided by the Water and Sewer Management, Planning, and Boundary <br />Agreement (WASMPBA). However, the amendments to expand the EDD were postponed <br />due to the Town’s delay in taking action on the WASMPBA amendment in order for it to <br />gain a better understanding of the desired future land uses for the area and to learn more <br />about the Settlers Point development application. <br /> <br />Since 2017, the Town of Hillsborough approved the WASMPBA amendment, as well as the <br />amendment to the Joint Land Use Plan, and Settlers Point was discontinued by the <br />developer. Because of language included in the approval resolutions, the WASMPBA <br />amendment is to become effective when the joint land use plan is amended by both parties, <br />now pending only Orange County action, to reflect the expanded Urban Service Area and <br />assign a future land use classification. <br /> <br />Due to the continued interest of developers in the Hillsborough EDD geography and the <br />County’s investment in sewer infrastructure, the Orange County Planning Director is <br />recommending that the County conclude the process it initiated in 2017 and expand the <br />Hillsborough EDD consistent with Town of Hillsborough actions and land uses it adopted in <br />2018. More specifically, on March 26, 2018, the Town of Hillsborough approved an <br />amendment to the Town of Hillsborough/Orange County Central Orange Coordinated Area <br />(COCA) Land Use Plan (a.k.a. Joint Land Use Plan) extending its Urban Service area and <br />applying the “Suburban Office Complex” future land use classification. Subsequently, <br />Orange County’s actions to amend the Joint Land Use Plan (84-acres) and its <br />Comprehensive Plan (89-acres), which effectively expand the EDD, are planned as follows: <br /> <br />July 21-29, 2020 Public Information Meeting <br />August 5, 2020 Orange County Planning Board Recommendation <br />September 15, 2020 BOCC Public Hearing/Possible Action <br /> <br />(Note: all meetings to be held consistent with any COVID-19 State and local protocols) <br />1