Approved Minutes of August 27, 2025

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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH August 27, 2025 S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas & Abstracts\2025 Agenda and Abstracts/ August Page 8 B. Ad Hoc Committee: Board Retreat Planning Dr. Stuebe called for the formation of a committee to help plan the upcoming annual Board Retreat in March. Dr. Royce spoke enthusiastically about her experiences working on the committee the previous year and encouraged board members to consider volunteering. Dr. Jonnal shared that her current work schedule is overwhelming due to mass resignations at her hospital, but if things calm down, she’d be happy to volunteer. Dr. Stuebe encouraged any interested Board members to reach out to Ms. Phillips-Weiner. C. Resolution on Affordable Housing Supply Ms. Phillips-Weiner presented the Resolution Promoting the Development of Adequate Affordable Housing on behalf of the Connections to Community Support Committee. Ms. Phillips-Weiner explained that the resolution’s argument is that housing is a public health issue, a human right, and that it is significantly more cost-effective for governments to house people than to allow them to remain unhoused, but despite this there are not enough housing units in Orange County. The resolution makes recommendations for ways for local land use plans and municipal zoning ordinances can encourage increased supply of affordable housing, such as reducing minimum lot sizes, implementing density bonuses, and promoting “Missing Middle” housing such as duplexes, fourplexes, and cottage-court style units. In response to Ms. Stewart, Commissioner Fowler said that the BOCC will be working on the Land Use Plan until at least November, so voting on the resolution in September should allow adequate time to get it before the County Commissioners. In response to Dr. Crandell’s question, Ms. Phillips-Weiner explained that the intended audience is local lawmakers in Orange County and Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough, all of whom are currently revising their Land Use Plans and/or Municipal Development Ordinances. Mr. Whitaker added that it is also aimed at local advisory bodies, including planning boards and boards of adjustment; he added that many of the recommendations are the most in-line with the work of the Orange County government. Dr. Crandell asked if the committee has checked with other departments to ensure that the work is aligned with their recommendations, to which Commissioner Fowler said that most of the recommendations look very similar to items that the BOCC has been considering – for example, increased density in certain areas and conservation districts. Mr. Whitaker commented that many of the items were taken from the draft Orange County Land Use Plan. He added that many items have tradeoffs – for example, increased density in protected watersheds may not be desirable. Dr. Stuebe shared that the committee heard from Blake Rosser, Orange County Housing Director, as part of the discovery process before drafting the resolution. Dr. Royce applauded the achievement of the resolution, noting that when the Community Health Assessment (CHA) results initially came out, the Board had expressed that there was nothing that could be done about affordable housing – now, the Board is able to take a position and hopefully positively influence local lawmakers. The Board will vote on the resolution at the September meeting. Ms. Phillips-Weiner invited Board members to send any additional feedback to her by September 15th to allow time to compile and present to the full Board at the time of the vote.