Agenda 02-06-24; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

2 1 that doesn't impact a large residential community can be identified. He asked that the Board 2 withdraw this proposal. 3 Jessica Sheffield is the executive director of Eno River Association. She said they've been 4 working for nearly 60 years in the watershed to protect the natural, cultural, and historical 5 resources it provides to Orange County. She invited the Board to take a hike with the organization 6 on January 1, 2024 at 2 p.m. She shared the 2024 Eno River Association calendar with the 7 Board. She said the theme for 2024 is to highlight those who use the river. 8 Terri Buckner thanked the Board for asking staff to investigate the water supply watershed 9 boundary issue. She said that at the end of September, the storm water group came out to meet 10 with her and her neighbors to learn more about their growing storm water problems and what 11 actions they can take to mitigate the flooding. She said that they were great and did not talk 12 down to the community members and gave them helpful information. She said they have a 13 trusting relationship. She said that same night the Town of Chapel Hill held their in-person 14 information session on the water and sewer boundary extension. She said she could not 15 participate in that session, but was able to participate in the first forum, which was held over Zoom. 16 She said the forum contained very little information and was attended by fewer than 15 individuals 17 who were not employed by the town. She said after a very short presentation on WASMPBA 18 [Water and Sewer Management, Planning, and Boundary Agreement] the floor was open to 19 questions. She said one of the questions was whether the town plans to annex the affordable 20 housing community planned for the town-owned land south of Dogwood Acres and Southern 21 Community Park. She said the response was that voluntary annexation is generally part of that 22 kind of development. She said the town has not informed impacted residents of any annexation 23 plans associated with WASMPBA or the expansion. She said that a recent email to the Town 24 Council from Ralph Karpinos, the now retired long-time town attorney, makes clear that 25 annexation would be a likely next step. She provided copies of his email to the Board and asked 26 that the email be entered into the county's record for future reference: 27 Dear Mayor and Council Memb m: I write to offer one comment about the possible policy changes to allow extension of water and utility services between the present Town limits and the Orange/Chatham County border. I have not followed your discussion in detail on this subject.but,if this issue has not been raised before.I want to suggest that the Council consider making a condition of the extension of water and sewer service in this area that the property owners agree to and submit valid petitions for their properties to be annexed to the Town so that residents may receive all Town services and so that property owners may contribute to the provision of those services through Town ad valorem property taxes. Thank you for your service to the Town. Sincerely, Ralph Karpinos Town resident 28 112 Braswell Road 29 She asked the Board to not consider the town's request to expand the urban services boundary 30 until the county's comprehensive planning process is complete, and changes to the town's LUMO 31 [Land Use Management Ordinance] have been adopted, including an accurate water supply 32 watershed map with zoning aligned to the state standards that protect drinking water. 33 BJ Warshaw read from the following statement: 34 I'd like to first quickly thank you all for hearing us speak about WASMPBA at the last Board of 35 County Commissioners meeting, particularly Commissioner Fowler and Commissioner Greene 36 for recommending that County Staff conduct further research on the southern area watersheds 37 and environmental regulations. Those of us who live in the area had asked for an environmental 38 impact study before the Town Council voted on the extension and the watershed mapping error 39 we raised with you is evidence in favor of that request. 40 I'm glad that the County will be researching this issue, such that everyone—residents, developers, 41 and governments alike — can understand precisely what type of development would be allowed 42 in this area under the March 2023 rules, presuming we abide by state watershed protection