Agenda - 02-16-2021; 7-a - Buckhorn Area Plan (Study)

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2 January 2020, Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC) was selected as the consultant, and beginning on February 6, 2020, Orange County, Mebane, and PTRC have met monthly to discuss the geographic area of the study, the parcel development suitability criteria and mechanisms for feedback on the analysis. During the course of the study, there have been developments in Orange County brought to Mebane with a focus to rezone and to annex into Mebane. Any development proposals that are in Orange County and that fall within the study area have been noted as such in Orange County Planning's feedback to Mebane during the informal courtesy review process. While Mebane has the ability to annex properties that are willing to be annexed pursuant to state law without County `approval', Orange County Planning Staff's review of proposals has included language that informally recommends Mebane delay any further development of parcels that fall within the Buckhorn Area (but outside the existing utility service agreement) until the Plan is finalized and has been shared with the public and elected officials. The BOCC received an Information Item on the Buckhorn Area Plan in its December 15, 2020 agenda packet. THE BUCKHORN AREA PLAN (STUDY): Staff will provide an overview of the Buckhorn Area Plan, which functions as a technical study, at the BOCC meeting. Some key aspects are provided as attachments herein. A copy of the full document can be downloaded via the following link: https://www.ptrc.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=10489 The study uses GIS mapping to determine parcels most suitable for development within the focus area. The process allows for a technical review of multiple development factors including: developable acres, preservation areas, mean slope, watershed, sewer infrastructure, water infrastructure, interstate access, interstate visibility, roadway access, and access to existing rail. In addition to the parcel-level scoring based on objective suitability criteria, there are a few areas of clustered parcels that have been recommended for long-term growth based on a combination of final score and high economic development use potential. The focus area (Attachment 1) for this study was defined after significant consideration of existing land uses, environmental impacts, and economic development potential. This does not mean that all areas in the study are proposed for potential change but just an area/base element of research. The boundaries for the focus area are the rail line to the North; Ben Wilson and Mattress Factory Roads to the west, Mt. Willing Road and parcels along the 1-85 connector to the East; Bushy Cook Road and Seven Mile Creek to the South. The City of Mebane and Orange County Planning, Administrative, Public Works, and Economic Development staffs worked with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council to ensure parcels with the highest potential were included in the analysis. It is worth noting, however, that parcels with significant public utility (schools, churches, cemeteries) were marked as not available for development, regardless of how well they scored on the parcel suitability criteria. Attachment 2 indicates the suitability criteria and values used in the scoring analysis contained in the study. Through the scoring analysis, five potential areas for growth based on size, access, and needs are identified in Attachment 3. The identification of these five potential growth areas is the key outcome of the Buckhorn Area Plan (Study). If and how all five potential