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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 17, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-c <br /> SUBJECT: Water and Sewer Management, Planning, and Boundary Agreement <br /> (WASMPBA) <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Petition from Property Owners Craig Benedict, Director, 919-245-2575 <br /> 2. Vicinity Map and Map Depicting Affected Perdita Holtz, Planner III, 919-245-2578 <br /> Parcels <br /> 3. OWASA/Town of Chapel Hill Water & <br /> Sewer Extension Policy <br /> 4. Resolution Approving Amendment <br /> PURPOSE: To: <br /> 1. Consider an amendment to the Water and Sewer Management, Planning, and Boundary <br /> Agreement (WASMPBA) in the Town of Chapel Hill's planning jurisdiction in response to <br /> a petition from property owners. <br /> 2. Provide feedback on potential future consideration of a policy for staff interpretation of <br /> the mapped boundary, to provide a path for resolving minor discrepancies. <br /> BACKGROUND: In mid-February, the petition in Attachment 1 was received by the five <br /> signatories of the WASMPBA. (Link to the Agreement). An Information Item regarding the <br /> petition was on the April 7, 2020 Board of County Commissioners agenda. While the petition is <br /> in regards to two lots that were formerly (pre-2000) within the Town of Chapel Hill's "urban <br /> service area" and the ability to tie-on to OWASA facilities that are currently "stubbed out" to the <br /> lots, further analysis by staff is recommending that all or part of 11 lots (31.88 acres total) be <br /> added to the "OWASA Primary Service Area" (see map in Attachment 2). The nine additional <br /> lots currently have homes on them and are served by OWASA services. Water and sewer lines <br /> were installed to serve the neighborhood in 1997. <br /> The neighborhood in question predates adoption of WASMPBA in 2001. At that time, the Town <br /> of Chapel Hill had an interest in reducing the size of the water and sewer service area in <br /> southern Chapel Hill. OWASA and the Town put a policy in place that allowed lots to still receive <br /> water and sewer service if the "structure existed before May 8, 2000 and is located on a lot <br /> adjacent to an OWASA water or sewer line that was installed before May 8, 2000" (Attachment <br /> 3). <br /> During meetings on this matter, staffs of the five signatory parties discussed the <br /> appropriateness of a minor boundary amendment to prevent the boundary line from bisecting a <br /> neighborhood and makes all lots in the same neighborhood eligible for public water and sewer <br /> service. Staffs believe that, particularly in cases such as this where services already exist <br /> and/or are being provided and property owners are requesting inclusion, it is appropriate to <br />