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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 23, 2004 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~O-Q <br />SUBJECT: Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to Professional Planning Consultants for the <br />Development of a Countywide Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Program <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspection PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT (S): <br />Timeline of TDR-related County <br />Activities <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Craig N, Benedict, Director, ext. 2592 <br />Glenn Bowles, Planner II, ext, 2577 <br />Proposed Concept far a Transfer of TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Development Rights Program, 2004 Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />BOCC TDR Goal Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To present a timeline and procedure to BOCC regarding distribution of an RFQ to <br />professional planning consulting firms within the region and nationally. <br />BACKGROUND: Since 1979 with the report of the Agricultural Task Farce, Orange County has <br />been considering programs to assist the continuation of working farms and the farm economy, <br />Two of the more recent results of this on-going public initiative are the creation of voluntary <br />agricultural districts and the purchase of private development rights through the Environment <br />and Resource Conservation Department's acquisition program, Public discussions continued to <br />expand this concept and began to include a transfer of development rights concept from <br />discussions of the Rural Character Study Committee. The BOCC adopted a TDR goal and <br />expressed interest in pursuing a program to explore its implementation, <br />The regional and national distribution of an RFQ should attract several professional firms to <br />submit a Statement of Qualifications to provide services addressing the feasibility of such a <br />program in Orange County„ From this initial invitation, one or more firms may be selected to <br />submit a more detailed scope of services for a TDR feasibility study, The initial study to <br />develop TDR feasibility may include a legal framework, program criteria, market evaluation, <br />administrative procedures, and public information/community outreach concept. <br />Possible Study Goals could include: <br />1. Directing growth and development activities away from important natural and cultural <br />resources, <br />2. Shifting and converting rural to non-residential urban growth and development activities <br />toward areas supported by efficient public services at urban densities, <br />3, Providing working farms with an alternative income potential, <br />4, Preserving the rural Orange County character and sense of place, <br />