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22 <br /> Mebane has an obligation to update its long-range plan so that its actions on development <br /> proposals, rezoning and annexations are consistent with its adopted plans. The City of Mebane <br /> and Orange County have coordinated to provide utilities in the greater Buckhorn area (Efland <br /> and westward to Mebane city limits) and have a Utility Service Agreement (2012 was the most <br /> recent update) that identifies a service area that, to a significant degree, coincides with the <br /> scope of the Buckhorn Area Plan. This Agreement is in need of an update due to new <br /> developments and growth pressures in and around the existing Mebane LDP, Efland Mebane <br /> Small Area Plan, and City of Mebane/Orange County Utility Service Agreement. The Buckhorn <br /> Area Plan may help inform future agreements or amendments. <br /> As suggested by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in late 2018, staff was to <br /> research the development potential of existing designated economic development zones, as <br /> well as other viable sites. A prior engineering analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, <br /> and threats (SWOT analysis) by Timmons Group of the economic development districts <br /> bolstered the need for additional study. Orange County's Planning and Economic Development <br /> departments worked together with their Mebane counterparts on this plan. As such, both <br /> jurisdictions funded the planning study to help inform future land use and potential utility service <br /> that could be mutually beneficial. <br /> Orange County utilized funds available in the FY 2019-2020 budget to reimburse the City of <br /> Mebane for half of the consulting expenses of the Buckhorn Area Plan. The original goals have <br /> been to work together with a consultant to further analyze areas within Orange County— <br /> adjacent to and near Mebane — and to develop recommendations for a growth strategy. In <br /> January 2020, Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC) was selected as the consultant, and <br /> beginning on February 6, 2020, Orange County, Mebane, and PTRC have met monthly to <br /> discuss the geographic area of the study, the parcel development suitability criteria and <br /> mechanisms for feedback on the analysis. <br /> During the course of the study, there have been developments in Orange County brought to <br /> Mebane with a focus to rezone and to annex into Mebane. Any development proposals that are <br /> in Orange County and that fall within the study area have been noted as such in Orange County <br /> Planning's feedback to Mebane during the informal courtesy review process. While Mebane has <br /> the ability to annex properties that are willing to be annexed pursuant to state law without <br /> County `approval', Orange County Planning Staff's review of proposals has included language <br /> that informally recommends Mebane delay any further development of parcels that fall within <br /> the Buckhorn Area (but outside the existing utility service agreement) until the Plan is finalized <br /> and has been shared with the public and elected officials. <br /> The BOCC received an Information Item on the Buckhorn Area Plan in its December 15, 2020 <br /> agenda packet. <br /> THE BUCKHORN AREA PLAN (STUDY): <br /> Staff will provide an overview of the Buckhorn Area Plan, which functions as a technical study, <br /> at the BOCC meeting. Some key aspects are provided as attachments herein. A copy of the <br /> full document can be downloaded via the following link: <br /> https://www.i)trc.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=10489 <br /> The study uses GIS mapping to determine parcels most suitable for development within the <br /> focus area. The process allows for a technical review of multiple development factors including: <br /> developable acres, preservation areas, mean slope, watershed, sewer infrastructure, water <br />