Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> of items that will require changes to the draft Land Use Plan 2050 prior to its release for public <br /> review and comment during Community Engagement Window (CEW) #3. Clarion has provided <br /> a cost per meeting estimate of $580 for a 1-hour meeting and $850 for a 4-hour retreat. This <br /> includes travel, attendance, and note taking. Total cost for the four (4) work sessions and two (2) <br /> half-day retreats would be $4,020. <br /> Meeting Facilitator — Following the presentations and completion of the Board's request for <br /> additional information, it may be helpful for a meeting facilitator to help the Board identify the <br /> changes to the draft Plan that will be needed prior to the scheduling of CEW #3. Staff is in <br /> coordination with the School of Government, Center for Public Leadership and Governance, to <br /> discuss the Land Use Plan 2050 process and the possibility of providing retreat facilitation to the <br /> BOCC. Staff can update the Board on its progress during the meeting. <br /> Why does Orange County Need to Update its Land Use Plan? - In North Carolina, local <br /> governments that apply "...zoning regulations... shall adopt and reasonably maintain a <br /> comprehensive plan or land-use plan (North Carolina General Statute 160D-501(a)). This statute <br /> requires that zoning regulations are "in accordance with a comprehensive plan" and requires that <br /> local governments make statements of consistency when making rezoning decisions on a <br /> development application. The existing Orange County Comprehensive Plan was adopted in <br /> November 2008. <br /> Additional information about the project, including e-mail sign-up for project updates, is available <br /> on the project website: .https://www.orangecountylanduseplan.com. <br /> Completed project deliverables, including Fact Book; outreach summaries; and more, are also <br /> available on the project website: https://www.orangecountylanduseplan.com/resources <br /> Next Steps with the BOCC — Planning staff proposes to present an agenda item covering aspects <br /> of County demographics, the planning process, plan implementation, watershed regulations, and <br /> planning agreements at the September 9, 2025 BOCC Work Session. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: At this time, existing Planning staff is responding to the BOCC requests <br /> for additional information and is seeking feedback on costs associated with procuring the <br /> requested information as outlined herein. <br /> ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports: <br /> • GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION <br /> OBJECTIVE 4. Incentivize and promote sustainable agriculture and local food systems <br /> development through supportive policy, funding, farmland protection and educational <br /> outreach. <br /> OBJECTIVE 5. Review land use policies to promote and connect Town, County, and <br /> private trails and open spaces. <br /> OBJECTIVE 6. Protect water supply/watersheds. <br /> OBJECTIVE 7. Conserve and protect high priority open space, including Natural Heritage <br /> sites, nature preserves, watershed riparian buffers, and prime/threatened farmland. <br /> OBJECTIVE 8. Include environmental stewardship objectives in the Comprehensive Land <br /> Use Plan. <br /> • GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY <br /> OBJECTIVE 7. Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life <br /> of the community (e.g., recreation and public open spaces, arts, etc.) <br />