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6 <br />Orange County Planning Department Response on Proposed <br />Changes to MPO Boundary <br />The May 5, 2004 memorandum from Felix Nwoko to TAC members on expansion of <br />the MPO boundary listed the fallowing eight points as justification, Following each <br />point is the Orange County staff response: <br />1. Entire Orange County is covered in the Triangle Regional Madel, <br />Response: We agree that the entire County is covered in the model and <br />think this makes for a better model. The modeling of peripheral areas <br />makes good planning sense since impacts don't generally begin or end at <br />jurisdictional boundaries. However, we don't agree that inclusion in the <br />model equates to inclusion in the urban area. Much of Orange County is <br />rural and projected to remain rural. The County has a very strong record <br />on rural planning initiatives that is reinforced by our current and upcoming <br />programs. <br />2, Orange County is affected by urban policies and influence. <br />Response: This is very true. Employment, infrastructure, and housing <br />opportunities (or the lack thereof) in the urban areas can have profound <br />impacts on areas in the County's jurisdiction. This is certainly a primary <br />reason for the many joint/cooperative planning initiatives the County has <br />participated in over the last 25 years with the various municipalities. <br />Orange County continues to have a strong commitment to inter- <br />governmental coordination, but doesn't see the issue of urban policies and <br />influence as sufficient justification for including the entire County in the <br />MPO. <br />3, The ability to coordinate planning for land use, transportation, and air quality <br />would be better served by the proposed inclusion of the entire County. <br />Response: It has not been demonstrated how the planning process would <br />be better served by the inclusion of the entire County in the MPO. The <br />County has for many years been an active participant in all of the planning <br />areas listed and our commitment to intergovernmental planning and <br />coordination remains strong. <br />4. Federal transportation dollars for the MPO cannot be spent in areas outside the <br />MAB, Orange County is now designated as non-attainment thus eligible for <br />CMAQ funds, however, the fund allocation to the MPO can only be spent within <br />the MAB. <br />Response: How much Federal funding is Orange County likely to receive <br />for areas under its jurisdiction? Most of the County's jurisdiction within <br />