Minutes 04-20-2021 Virtual Business Meeting

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33 said priority has been given to conservation, which is certainly important, but it comes at a cost and makes it difficult for working class and elderly people to stay in the County. Commissioner Bedford thanked the staff for providing the history on these issues. She said she looks forward to hearing comments from the public meeting. She said it is great to continue EDD in area A. She said she is glad that areas C, D, and E, will be left as rural residential, and are out of the study or the planning. She referred to Area B, and said she would like to leave it as part of the discussion points and find out the concerns. She said this would allow for input and see what studies would be needed. She said periodic assessments of traffic would be useful. She echoed Commissioner Dorosin and Commissioner Hamilton's comments about analyzing impacts on residents and schools. She said if area B were to be developed, she would like to know the negatives and positives: if there are enough warehouses, and if there is a preferred industry with a shift schedule residents would prefer, etc. Commissioner McKee said public comments mentioned that the plan was built with Mebane only. He said this study was a result of 40 years of discussion with the towns, the County, and the community. He said a plan has to be a living plan, and must change according to how the needs change. He said this Board changes plans to meet needs and expectations. He said this area was not picked haphazardly, but rather due to large properties with willing land owners. He said the targeted growth is in 3% of the County, which is a miniscule amount, and concentrates growth where it needs to be. He said commercial development needs to be along a major highway, and this area also has access to rail. He said Morinaga came on a promise that the County would put in the infrastructure. He said there are a lot of needs in Orange County that have to be paid for, and these needs must be paid for without raising taxes on homeowners. He said the choice is simple: either the County further gentrifies, or it accepts the opportunities presented by these businesses to expand economic development. He said the BOCC is not imposing unbearable risk by accepting what is in this plan. He said the community needs to be involved, no matter which way it goes. Commissioner Hamilton said she has many years of training as an economist, and the County cannot close its borders. She said the drivers of many of the issues are the demands that come in from other states. She said the County needs to look closely at what can be done in the long run to stem the forces. She agreed that economic development is needed, and it is important to secure industry that will offer the most bang for the buck. She said it is important to not take whatever comes, and one must always look at the unintended consequences. She said she does not want to stop economic development, but the BOCC must look closely and seek a good return on investment. Commissioner Greene thanked the staff for the presentation, and said she appreciates the past Board's work with the land use plan that avoided sprawl. She said the desire was to concentrate growth around municipalities. She said opportunities exist near interstate corridors, and sewer infrastructure was put in as an attempt to plan and create the ground for economic development. She said this does not mean there will be overwhelming warehouses. She said she is interested in development around the middle school. She agrees with the Board's history on this topic, and looks forward to public input. She said the process got off on the wrong foot with the perception that Mebane was driving the train, and the BOCC is eager to gather public input and work out a plan moving forward. She said the economic development aspect of planning remains very important. Chair Price said this has been a long process. She said the County does need the economic development. She said the County should look comprehensively and flexibly. She said people are a factor in environmental issues. She said those people who have invested their lives in that area should be heavily included. She said it is not possible to please everyone, but out of respect, everyone should be included in the process.