Agenda 10-19-2021; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

21 1 Commissioner Hamilton referred to the 200 acres that are viable for public sewer, and 2 asked if their specific location could be identified. She asked if EDE 1 or EDE 2 are contained 3 within those 200 acres. 4 Craig Benedict said yes. He said these areas have the designation for economic 5 development and public sewer. He said the hope is to bring sewer in closer proximity to a 6 particular mobile home park that is currently pumping their sewage into Durham. 7 Commissioner Hamilton clarified details about the map. 8 Craig Benedict said there is a zoning proposal to reduce certain areas. He said there 9 are some existing commercial uses in the area, and it would be difficult to rezone one's land 10 that already has industrial use and change it back to residential. He said staff can provide a 11 map with the existing land uses. He said areas 1 and 2 would change, which would not create 12 any nonconforming uses. 13 Commissioner Hamilton asked if there is a process for determining the viability of public 14 sewer and water to the area. She asked if there is a cost benefit analysis to weigh sales and 15 property taxes, etc. 16 Craig Benedict said yes, analyses have been done for light industrial construction in this 17 area. He said that information was provided about year ago, when there was discussion on the 18 viability of the entire economic development zone. He said staff can re-provide that information 19 to the Board. He staff has proceeded with 70% design in this area, but it has been on hold for a 20 few years. 21 Commissioner McKee asked Craig Benedict to move his cursor over the area where 22 Gorilla Materials is located (purple area). He reviewed various businesses in the area, and 23 cautioned the Board about changing the zoning in this area as it would disrupt existing 24 businesses. 25 Chair Price asked if the area to the east of Whispering Pines could be identified. 26 Craig Benedict said everything in purple and lavender was put on the map in 1994. He 27 said the county was going to talk to the property owner to see if the lower-intensity economic 28 development zoning would make sense for this owner. 29 Chair Price said the BOCC down zoned some of this area several years ago. She asked 30 if areas 1 and 2 would be rezoned to residential if staff's proposal goes forward. 31 Craig Benedict said it would go from economic development to 10-year transition, which 32 is a residential land use. He said it would be a companion zoning change from EDD-1 to R1, 33 which is low density. 34 Chair Price said she lives in a 10-year transition area that has been that way for 30 35 years. She challenged the staff to come up with different terminology. 36 Craig Benedict said the idea is that the focus should be on the ten years first, rather than 37 sprawling into the 20 years. He said lack of water and sewer has been a stumbling block. He 38 said it took 3 utility services agreements with Hillsborough, Durham, and Mebane to be able to 39 expand in areas that are appropriate. He said when economic development monies became 40 available, there was a certain amount in the Eno, Efland, Mebane areas, etc. 41 Commissioner Hamilton asked if staff could provide examples of high and low intensity. 42 Craig Benedict said higher intensity might allow for onsite storage, while lower intensity 43 keeps all activity within the building, such as offices. He said higher intensity could have more 44 external impacts because some activity would be occurring outside of the building. He said staff 45 can provide a list of the activities expected with both. 46 Commissioner Hamilton asked if the sections of the Comprehensive plan that would be 47 affected if these changes are made could be identified. 48 Craig Benedict said a land use map is part of the land use element to the 49 comprehensive plan. He said staff would change the land use map, which is an addendum to 50 the Comprehensive Plan, from economic development to transition. He said at some point it 51 would be wise to get rid of 10 and 20 year and make it all transition.