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