Agenda 01-16-24; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Attachment 3 1 1 DRAFT MINUTES 2 ORANGE COUNTY 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 4 BUSINESS MEETING 5 November 14, 2023 6 7:00 p.m. 7 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, 9 November 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, NC. 10 11 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair McKee and 12 Commissioners Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Jean Hamilton, Phyllis Portie-Ascott, and Anna 13 Richards 14 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. 15 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts 16 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager 17 Travis Myren, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified 18 appropriately below) 19 20 Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present. 21 22 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda 23 24 Chair Bedford dispensed with reading the public charge. 25 26 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) 27 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda 28 Joshua Setzer thanked the commissioners who have visited the site on Orange Grove 29 Road where there is a proposal to build a new solid waste and recycling center. He said that 30 the remaining unanswered question for the community is where the process goes from here. He 31 said he has heard that other sites are being considered, but there was no official communication 32 about that. He said he has heard contracts are being signed. He asked if it is still moving 33 forward. He said as a community they feel like they are living in limbo. He said that people 34 need to list their homes for sale but are apprehensive due to uncertainty. He said that realtors 35 report that buyers are apprehensive about looking for properties due to the signs on roadsides 36 and hearing the community concerns. He said people ask when there is another meeting 37 coming up. He said they would like more information on whether this is moving forward or not 38 and on the process. He said this is hanging over his community. 39 Scot Shepard thanked the commissioners who have taken the time to visit the 40 neighborhood potentially impacted by the proposed solid waste convenience center. He said he 41 has lived for 20 years within 1,000 feet of the proposed site and would be impacted by it. He 42 said he received a letter about the proposal and attended a meeting at the Legion regarding it. 43 He said they asked several questions that have not all been addressed. He said they all need 44 to be considered. He said the center would increase the traffic on Orange Grove Road, which 45 also includes two curves, and the entrance to the facility would be on a curve. He said that the 46 speed limit in this area is 55 miles per hour and is close to a junction with Highway 54. He said 47 his understanding is that there are not traffic plans for the proposal, which seems like a gap to 48 him. He said that it was his understanding that the site was the only one considered. He said 49 he' heard that there may be other sites under consideration, which would be a good 50 development. He said he has heard that the center would be open 3.5-7 days per week. He 51 said there could potentially be 100,000 visits a year, in a densely populated area. He had