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33 <br /> requested. Presentations are proposed for work sessions on September 9, October 14, and <br /> November 11, 2025; and at half-day retreats scheduled for November 14 and November 21, 2025. <br /> Staff is requesting feedback from the Board on the draft presentation schedule (Attachment 1) <br /> and use of County funds for expert presenters and professional services. Following are some <br /> additional details on anticipated costs: <br /> Independent Expert Presenters — Subject matter experts are needed to address the topics of <br /> groundwater hydrology and the economics of housing supply/demand. Planning staff has <br /> identified a representative from Applied Resource Management, which has expertise in geologic <br /> consulting, well drilling, and geothermal systems; and the UNC School of Government, <br /> Development Finance Initiative (DFI),for housing supply/demand expertise and a market analysis <br /> of Rural Activity Nodes. Applied Resource Management has provided an estimate of$2,250 for <br /> meeting preparation, attendance, and presentation, and staff is in coordination with the School of <br /> Government towards receipt of its cost estimate. Most recently, staff has reached out to Randall <br /> Arendt for additional expertise on Conservation Subdivisions and staff can update the Board on <br /> its communications during the meeting. <br /> Clarion Associates — For continuity purposes, it would be helpful to have a staff person from <br /> Clarion Associates attend the meetings for hearing presentations, discussions, and for note taking <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.orangecountVIanduseplan.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 />