Agenda - 04-06-2021; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

9 1 use. The BAP will create difficulties for people who live in these areas, which have been 2 previously zoned for these uses, by changing the zoning to industrial use categories. If the 3 development extends south of West Ten Road, this will violate the existing agreement 4 (WASAMBA) between Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough, which is intended to limit urban 5 expansion into rural areas. Mebane should honor this agreement before the BAP is ever 6 approved by the BOCC. There are multiple social, business, infrastructure, agricultural, traffic, 7 and environmental issues that will impact people who live in the area, as well as others in 8 Orange County. All of us, including you, the board of commissioners, need more time to 9 adequately evaluate and discuss a more rational, inclusive and generally acceptable Buckhorn 10 Area Plan. 11 12 The Orange County Planning Department must stop trying to manipulate the BOCC and the 13 public by keeping its plans under wraps until the last minute, much like what happened with the 14 Buc-ees Efland Station plan. It is supposed to be a democratic process. 15 16 I absolutely do not support the Buckhorn Area Plan in its current form-it is badly inadequate and 17 is a breach of public trust in the system. I strongly urge the Board of Commissioners to allow 18 much more time for public input and discussion, in order to ultimately produce a more broadly 19 acceptable and perhaps even good plan before approving. 20 Thank you for your consideration. 21 22 Jared Cates said he lives a mile and a half from Area E of Buckhorn Area Plan. He said 23 he works with a lot of Planners, and has always appreciated the Planning profession for 24 engaging the community. He said the AICP principles for planners places the highest priority on 25 responsibility to the public, and giving the public the opportunity to participate. He said most 26 planners have held that in the highest regard, insuring community engagement, bringing 27 information to the public, and being a sounding board. He said the current situation is really 28 confusing. He said he has never heard of the BAP, yet thought he had done his due diligence 29 when buying property. He said when the Mebane Planning Department passed the BAP he 30 reached out to Jesse Day, Director of Piedmont Triad Regional Council, and expressed concern 31 over the process. He said Jesse Day also expressed concern. He said this process is bad and 32 undemocratic, and asked the BOCC to pump the brakes to allow input from community. 33 34 b. Matters on the Printed Agenda 35 (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda 36 below.) 37 38 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members 39 Commissioner Fowler said the Chamber of Commerce is leading a 10-week series on 40 Covid, and she gave opening remarks at the first session last week. She said she attended the 41 Pauli Murray awards last week, and they were very well done and very moving. She 42 congratulated all involved. 43 Commissioner McKee reiterated his suggestion that the BOCC consider moving back 44 into a public meeting format for the budget season. He said more vaccines are available; more 45 groups are eligible for vaccinations; and the Commissioners can move back into in-person 46 meetings to increase access for those who cannot join the meetings, due to technology 47 limitations. 48 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the legislative breakfast is still happening. 49 Laura Jensen said it is scheduled for April 19, 2021. 50 Commissioner Dorosin said he recently attended a Durham Tech board meeting, and 51 there is a priority focus on racial equity, especially due to Covid. He said given that Orange