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9 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> PLANNING BOARD <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: October 5, 2022 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 7 <br /> SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment - Neighborhood Information <br /> Meetings <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Statement of Consistency Tyler Sliger, Planner II (919) 245-2586 <br /> 2. Proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Cy Stober, Director (919) 245-2592 <br /> Text Amendment <br /> PURPOSE: To review and comment on County-initiated amendments to the Unified <br /> Development Ordinance (UDO) to require the applicant hold a Neighborhood <br /> Information Meeting instead of the current practice of Planning staff coordinating the <br /> meeting. <br /> BACKGROUND: Neighborhood Information Meetings (NIMs) are a required step in the <br /> review procedures for several types of Planning applications. Specifically, NIMs are <br /> required for the following applications: <br /> • Special Use Permits (UDO Section 2.7.5), <br /> • Conditional Districts (UDO Section 2.9.1), <br /> • Minor and Major Subdivisions (UDO Sections 2.14.4 and 2.15.2), and <br /> • Governmental Uses (UDO Section 2.24). <br /> The purpose of a Neighborhood Information Meeting is to educate the attendees on the <br /> proposed project. Since it's currently a requirement for staff to schedule, host, and go <br /> over the project with the public, this puts the burden on staff and can give interested <br /> persons the impression that staff has a bias on the project. To eliminate this confusion <br /> staff is recommending the proposed changes to put the responsibility on the applicant <br /> instead of staff. This item was presented at the August 3rd ORC meeting (meeting <br /> materials available at: https://www.orangecountync.gov/AgendaCenter/Planning-Board- <br /> 26). Since the August 3 ORC meeting, the County Attorney's staff has completed its <br /> review of the proposed amendments which resulted in minor edits but did not change <br /> the intent or expected outcome of the proposed amendments. <br /> Joint Planning Area (JPA) Review: In accordance with the Joint Planning Agreement <br /> with the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the amendment package was sent to the <br /> Town planning staffs on August 30, 2022. To date, Orange County staff has not <br /> received any comments from the Towns. <br />