Agenda - 09-05-2023; 8-a - Minutes

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63 1 things to potentially offer, but it doesn't warrant changing to a MPZD zoning. She said they could 2 still pursue some of the uses on this site and could also pursue rural residential. She said the 3 charter school could find a location that is consistent with the 2030 comprehensive plan. She 4 said she planned to deny the request and she agreed with statement of inconsistency in the 5 agenda packet. 6 Commissioner Greene thanked everyone for their passionate engagement with the issue. 7 She said all of the uses proposed are reasonable in their place and in the right context. She said 8 giving a pass for the walkability requirement because NCDOT won't allow it doesn't cut it. She 9 said in the NCDOT complete streets policy, their rationale is that they will only apply it where it 10 makes sense because it hooks into existing sidewalk networks. She said there are places in the 11 county that are adjacent to municipalities or are in higher density areas where that would apply 12 and that's exactly where the county would want to encourage the sidewalk network. She said the 13 project does not fit with goal 3 of the comprehensive plan, which she read: 14 "land uses that are coordinated within a program and pattern that limits sprawl, 15 preserves community and rural character, minimizes land use conflicts, supported 16 by an efficient and balanced transportation system." 17 She said that isn't the case with the rezoning request. She said this site is not where the county 18 will put a transportation node. She said within goal 3, there was added objective 3.2 to "facilitate 19 the expanded use of nonauto modes of travel." She this area is not one where it works. She said 20 she appreciated the Planning Board's statement for recommending denial. She said she said she 21 thought the strongest reasoning was under goal 3 and objective 3.2 of the land use plan. 22 Commissioner Richards expressed appreciation for everyone who weighed in on the 23 discussion. She said she learned more about the comprehensive plan as a result. She said she 24 asked about the Future Land Use Map designation of the site as a 20-year transition area. She 25 said it talks about areas that are in transition from rural to urban and are suitable for urban type 26 densities. She said it goes on to talk about being walkable. She said she wasn't quite sure how 27 that fit with the 20-year transition area. She said she did not know about the need to replace 28 Collins Field and how many people participate in HYAA. She said the ball field uses are allowed 29 under the current zoning. She said she takes this very seriously and feels that the Board has a 30 responsibility to help meet this need for young people. She said the CIP includes tennis courts. 31 She said data shows there is not a need for a new school at this time in Orange County. She 32 said she sees a gap in how this area does not fit in the public transportation area. She said that 33 it does not meet the first two objectives in goal 3 of the comprehensive plan. She said she believes 34 that the nature and character of the current surroundings are residential and are rural. She does 35 not think that this project is compatible. 36 Vice-Chair McKee said he has a conflict of interest in this project and reviewed a section 37 of the memo he received from the County Attorney which explained his recommendation for Vice- 38 Chair McKee to ask to be excused from voting on the rezoning application due to his associational 39 relationship with Jim Parker, the apparent owner/landowner/applicant. He said the County 40 Attorney's opinion is that he cannot vote, but he could participate in the discussion and ask 41 questions. He said Planning department staff have about 70 years of experience, they know what 42 they are doing, they bring the Board good advice, and that advice should be followed, unless 43 there is a clear and compelling reason. He said that the staff's advice is that this is consistent 44 with the comprehensive plan. He said that everyone who reads the plan may come away with a 45 slightly different interpretation. He said he feels the request is consistent with the comprehensive 46 plan. He said this is a transition area, and that in the long term, it is not expected to remain what 47 it is now. He said the county is transitioning to an urban county. He said HYAA serves 950 to 48 1,000 children and provides services that the county does not provide. He said many children, 49 including his own, benefit from that participation, and it is critical for children's development. He 50 said the four fields HYAA uses will be gone in a year due to the train station. He said what is the 51 future for HYAA without this or some other location. He said 8 or 9 months ago, he petitioned the