Agenda - 09-02-2021; 12-5 - Information Item - Memorandum Regarding Outreach Status as Follow-up to the Buckhorn Area Study

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1 f ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA MEMORANDUM TO: Board of County Commissioners Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County Manager Travis Myren, Orange County Deputy Manager FROM: Craig N. Benedict, Planning Director Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor DATE: August 16, 2021 SUBJECT: BOCC Information Item — Outreach Status as Follow-up to the Buckhorn Area Study ATTACHMENT(S): Future Land Use Map (For References Herein to Areas A & B) BACKGROUND: As requested by the BOCC in June, this memo is intended to provide follow-up information on the status of the Buckhorn Area Study. The most recent public outreach meeting on the Buckhorn Area Study was held on May 17, 2021 on the Zoom virtual platform. The purpose of the outreach meeting was to: • Continue engagement with the community as a follow-up to previous Buckhorn Area Study meetings; • Communicate that Areas "A" and "B" are to be the focus for outreach and planning coordination between Orange County and the City of Mebane; • Provide additional context for Outreach Focus Areas "A" and "B"; and • Collect public comments and common questions to guide the development of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for public and BOCC information. At its June 1, 2021 Business meeting, the BOCC received a report and detailed presentation from staff that included/addressed: • A summary of the May 17 Virtual Public Outreach meeting referenced above, including public comments/questions collected; • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document; • Summary of previous Orange County meetings and agenda items; • Staff ideas for continued public engagement and coordination; • Consistency of potential growth areas with existing plans and agreements; • Municipal annexation powers consistent with NC General Statutes; and • The concept of a BOCC response to the City of Mebane prior to the summer Board meeting break. The BOCC received staff's June 1 report and conveyed the following direction to staff: • Request for more public outreach in Area "A", something informal over the summer to collect input from community leader(s) and a more-formal outreach in September; • Delay of Area "B" and any County implementation of plan amendments; • Continuation of coordination with City of Mebane staff;