Agenda - 05-18-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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32 1 secretly and promote trust. She said economic development is needed, and there will be costs 2 to community, but it will serve us better if there is trust. 3 Commissioner Fowler asked if there is a residential developer who has purchased lands 4 in Growth Area B. 5 Craig Benedict said a developer approached the City of Mebane, but Mebane is not 6 interested in a residential development at this time, due to the amount of water a residential 7 development uses. 8 Commissioner Fowler asked if the return on investment document would be available at 9 a certain time. 10 Craig Benedict said that he would work with Economic Development Director and 11 Finance to provide that in mid-May. 12 Commissioner Fowler asked if there has been a traffic impact study in the area, or 13 residential impact, or water impact. 14 Craig Benedict said City of Mebane has required some traffic impact analyses (TIA) and 15 Orange County code would also have required TIAs that are within its jurisdiction. He said an 16 environmental impact analysis is done for every site plan. 17 Commissioner Fowler asked if staff could clarify impervious surface limits. 18 Craig Benedict said the State has different requirements for impervious surfaces, and 19 Orange County chose the most restrictive option, which allows for building 70% impervious on 20 10% of protected watershed. He said the protected watershed is 24,000 acres, and the County 21 is allowed to develop 2400 acres at 70% impervious. He said State prefers this option because 22 it is focused growth, instead of spreading out impervious throughout the watershed. 23 Commissioner Fowler asked if the County builds 70% impervious on 10% of its 24 protected watershed, if the development must cease. 25 Craig Benedict said yes. 26 Commissioner Fowler asked if the Board desired development in Area B, would it have 27 to change previous plans. 28 Craig Benedict said Commissioner Hamilton was correct is saying this is a technical 29 study. He said Area B was shown as viable for economic development in the technical study. 30 He said further outreach will be done, and then the BOCC will determine if any land use 31 changes will be made. He said this is similar to Efland Small Area Plan, ad its 15 32 recommendations, which were not real until the BOCC went through the formal required 33 process for changing land use. 34 Craig Benedict said the word "plan" got into the study due to Mebane's language for its 35 land development plan. 36 Commissioner Dorosin referred to Growth Area B, and asked if it is different than in 37 previous maps that the Commissioners reviewed in other meetings. 38 Craig Benedict said yes. 39 Commissioner Dorosin said it is confusing, and a consistent set of terms is important to 40 make things as clear as possible. 41 Craig Benedict said starting with tonight's meeting, he is not using any identifiers from 42 previous maps. He said he changed all of his CIP maps to make sure it is clear. 43 Commissioner Dorosin said that it should be clear online as well, with a key on the maps 44 to show how the Board is using the identifiers. 45 Commissioner Dorosin said economic development needs to be considered. He said if 46 the Board determines no more development is best, then it must consider the impact to the 47 economy and the rest of the County, and the impact of leaving rural areas out of economic 48 development. He said the County wants to maximize use of highways. He said Orange County 49 has a higher cost of living, higher tax rates, stagnant growth, and there has to be balance. He 50 said priority has been given to conservation, which is certainly important, but it comes at a cost 51 and makes it difficult for working class and elderly people to stay in the County.