Orange County NC Website
32 <br /> Craig Benedict said local ordinances are being compared side by side to insure proper <br /> development. He said whether annexation occurs early or late, the land development <br /> standards do not want to be changed dramatically. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said there may be a nature preserve around Seven Mile Creek, <br /> and asked if this could be included on maps. She said it would be good to have all potential <br /> items on the map, both development and items that could benefit the community. <br /> Craig Benedict said he would show where the existing nature preserves are. <br /> Commissioner McKee said the original thinking was for the EDD to focus growth along <br /> the interstate. <br /> Craig Benedict said these areas along the interstate were designated for commercial <br /> industrial transition activity nodes in 1981. He said the change was made to EDDs in the <br /> 1990s, and the land was pre-zoned at that time. He said this allowed EDDs to be close to <br /> transportation corridors. He said the County owns the school site, and recreation area next to <br /> it. He said Medline took 176 acres, and there is interest in the flea market. He said interest is <br /> coming around. <br /> Commissioner McKee referred to the current parcels in the existing EDD, and asked if <br /> anyone has ever been forced to sell land in an EDD. He said zoning does not force someone <br /> to accept an offer. <br /> Craig Benedict said if there was pre-zoning, the Planning Department would work with <br /> the property owner to see if they were interested. He said no one is forced to sell. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he would not anticipate that all of the land in the EDD would <br /> be sold, thus it makes sense that contiguous land to the EDD, which scored high, would be a <br /> natural step to include. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he had several questions, for which he would appreciate <br /> staff researching the answers: <br /> -How much money has been spent on infrastructure for development? <br /> -The investment, to date, which that infrastructure has brought to the County? <br /> -How much tax revenue, jobs, and average salary have been generated by the <br /> investments made due to the infrastructure? <br /> Commissioner Greene said there is an overlay map on page 38 in the agenda packet, <br /> where one can see the contiguous parcels. She said there is a great deal of information that <br /> could be gathered about these parcels, and she would be curious to know what the land south <br /> of Route 10 might be worth if it were used for producing crops. She said some of these areas <br /> would require significant infrastructure investment in order to develop. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton reminded the BOCC of the importance of explaining things like <br /> WASMBPA, and its context in County history. She said scoring metrics are weighted, and <br /> those weights will influence how one views a property. She said she would like a sense of what <br /> types of developments are being considered for these areas, the potential benefits and the <br /> potential costs. She said she wants to understand trade offs, and to remember the <br /> environment. She said people do look at theses maps, and will make decisions based on them. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> Beth Bronson read the following statement: <br /> Good evening County Commissioners, <br /> My name is Beth Bronson and I reside in Cheeks Township, the census tract under <br /> consideration in The Buckhorn Area Plan. Data used to curate and finalize the Buckhorn Area <br /> Plan comes mere months before updated census information is released, and the tightrope <br /> process of redistricting begins. The request for fast tracking approval also comes ahead of <br />