Orange County NC Website
14 <br /> 1 Vice-Chair Greene thanked the presenters. She said her name was on the land use part <br /> 2 because she was asked to step in briefly to talk about the land use connection and the only advice, <br /> 3 she gave was for it to be a living and working document that is incorporated into all of the county's <br /> 4 plans. She said she noticed on page 41 of the report that it identifies many elements of the current <br /> 5 land use plan. She said many of the conservation goals are reflected in the plan. She said that it <br /> 6 is a continuation of the work the county has been doing. She said she hoped this information <br /> 7 would be incorporated into the new comprehensive land use plan and the lands legacy action <br /> 8 plan. <br /> 9 Christian Hirni said they would receive an update on the Lands Legacy Action Plan in April. <br /> 10 Vice-Chair Greene noted the references in the County's Climate Action Plan to priorities <br /> 11 in the Eno New Hope Landscape Conservation Group's "Strategic Action Plan." She said all of <br /> 12 the plans are being integrated together. She said her previous petition to make conservation <br /> 13 subdivisions a reality is connected to this work. She said the Green Growth Toolbox has <br /> 14 suggestions for how to build a conservation subdivision ordinance that actually works. <br /> 15 Johnny Randall said the Green Growth Toolbox is a wonderful resource created by the <br /> 16 Wildlife Resources Commission. <br /> 17 Commissioner McKee referred to slide #11. He asked how open space is defined. He <br /> 18 asked if it refers to open space owned by the county or privately owned. <br /> 19 Bo Howes said it is open to interpretation. He said it is a design, not a mandate. He said <br /> 20 that they would not go to a private landowner and tell them how they have to manage their <br /> 21 property. He said these would be recommendations. He said it would not be a restriction on <br /> 22 individual landowners. <br /> 23 Commissioner McKee said he is concerned about slippery slopes with open-ended <br /> 24 definitions. He said some farming practices do not align and are necessary. He said he does not <br /> 25 know how they ensure they do not head down a path that will have an adverse effect on farms. <br /> 26 He said the Rural Buffer impinged on a lot of farms. <br /> 27 Commissioner Fowler asked how the county would use this plan and how would they know <br /> 28 where to put money. <br /> 29 Christian Hirni said the Lands Legacy Plan will be presented next month and there will be <br /> 30 a ranking matrix category for properties that obtain clear corridors and habitat reflected in the <br /> 31 plan. <br /> 32 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the statement in the agenda materials that says <br /> 33 funding was secured by NC Wildlife Resources Commission, with additional support from Orange <br /> 34 County. She asked what that statement was related to. <br /> 35 David Stancil said that there is a small area in southwestern Orange County that they <br /> 36 would like to incorporate and have the same level of data and information. He said that the county <br /> 37 participated early on, which included staff time and possibly initial funding creating the project. <br /> 38 Christian Hirni said it was the Eno-Hope Collaborative and it has been renamed the <br /> 39 Triangle Connectivity to allow Durham County to expand the program. He said they received a <br /> 40 grant from the Burt's Bees corporation and he could apply for more grants if the county approves. <br /> 41 Commissioner Richards said that the group is coming again in April. She asked if the <br /> 42 county is close to having these connections without needing to acquire more. <br /> 43 David Stancil said they are part of the way there. He said that this is not entirely different <br /> 44 from how the county has been operating in a land use way but there are a few glaring areas that <br /> 45 could use more work. <br /> 46 Commissioner Richards said they are doing a lot of different plans right now. She said <br /> 47 she has concerns that there are a lot of moving parts. She said the strategic plan has measures <br /> 48 which speak directly to how much land is preserved. <br /> 49 David Stancil said that is important. He said that at the next presentation in April, the <br /> 50 Board will see the connections and specifically, the Climate Action Plan has a lot of connectivity <br />