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30 <br />development application. The existing Orange County Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1  <br />November 2008. 2  <br /> 3  <br />Additional information about the project, including e-mail sign-up for project updates, is available 4  <br />on the project website: https://www.orangecountylanduseplan.com. 5  <br /> 6  <br />Completed project deliverables, including Fact Book; outreach summaries; and more, are also 7  <br />available on the project website: 8  <br />https://www.orangecountylanduseplan.com/resources 9  <br /> 10  <br />Next Steps with the BOCC – Planning staff proposes to present an agenda item covering aspects 11  <br />of County demographics, the planning process, plan implementation, watershed regulations, and 12  <br />planning agreements at the September 9, 2025 BOCC Work Session. 13  <br /> 14  <br /> Cy Stober introduced the item and described the 2050 comprehensive land use plan 15  <br />process to date. He reviewed the proposed CLUP discussion calendar and the potential costs 16  <br />for outside facilitators and experts, which was included the agenda packet. He asked for the 17  <br />Board’s direction on these items. 18  <br /> Chair Bedford proposed looking at the calendar first, then reviewing potential costs. 19  <br /> Vice-Chair Hamilton asked if they had approved the calendar previously. 20  <br />Chair Bedford said while the Board had generally agreed on a calendar in a past meeting, 21  <br />they had not officially approved the schedule. 22  <br /> Chair Bedford said that as they learn new things, they will have to be flexible and update 23  <br />if necessary. 24  <br /> Cy Stober said that state law requires that land use plans be maintained, and the 25  <br />professional rule of thumb is to review ever 10 years. He said Orange County is at year 18. 26  <br /> 27  <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS: 28  <br />Peter Childers expressed concern about for-profit companies providing expert opinion and 29  <br />analysis. He said he was concerned about conflicts of interest. He said that UNC could provide 30  <br />expert testimony on these issues and would also be independent. 31  <br />Sadie Rapp said she would like to see the Board make use of the expertise that exists in 32  <br />the state’s colleges and universities as well as non-profit organizations. She asked the Board to 33  <br />take advantage of resources to address issues that face the county. She said she is opposed to 34  <br />for-profit companies to examine issues relating specifically to rural activity nodes as they are not 35  <br />invested in the wellbeing of our communities. She said hiring these consultants is irresponsible 36  <br />when the expertise already exists in schools and non-profits. She asked the Board to avoid costly 37  <br />for-profit consultants and uplift the wisdom in universities and non-profits, in general and 38  <br />specifically relating to the comprehensive land use plan. 39  <br /> 40  <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Greene, seconded by Commissioner Carter, to 41  <br />approve the calendar. 42  <br /> 43  <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott expressed concern for meeting on Veterans Day, but was 44  <br />willing to meet if that was the desire of the Board. 45  <br /> Chair Bedford said Commissioner Portie-Ascott could make a motion to amend the 46  <br />calendar if she wanted. 47  <br /> Commissioner Carter asked if the closed session discussion on utility constraints could be 48  <br />moved to October 14. 49  <br /> Chair Bedford noted that it depends on their availability and that a utility discussion would 50  <br />have sensitive information. 51