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1 <br /> APPROVED 1120/26 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RETREAT <br /> November 21, 2025 <br /> 1:00 P.M. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a retreat on Friday, November 21, 2025 at <br /> 1:00 p.m. at Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Jean Hamilton, <br /> and Commissioners Marilyn Carter, Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie- <br /> Ascott <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: James Bryan, Staff Attorney <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin <br /> Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> appropriately below) <br /> Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. All commissioners were present, <br /> except for Commissioners McKee and Fowler. <br /> Chair Bedford welcomed everyone to the meeting. <br /> Commissioner Fowler arrived at 1:01 p.m. <br /> Cy Stober, Planning and Inspections Director said the session was the final educational <br /> meeting on the 2050 land use plan, following inquiries by the commissioners after presenting a <br /> draft earlier this year. He said the main focus during the retreat will be conservation subdivisions, <br /> integrating all prior educational topics. He said the key questions are <br /> 1. Where and when are these appropriate in the county? <br /> 2. Where would they be most useful? <br /> 3. How can they be best constructed based upon the information that you've received so <br /> far? <br /> He said the challenges involve issues like net density and yield lot plans, aligning with zoning, <br /> strategic, and draft land use plan values. He said conservation subdivisions were proposed widely <br /> in the future land use map but not universally. He said the land use plan serves as guidance, <br /> unlike the county's development ordinance. Amendments to the LIDO could enable these across <br /> the county or in identified priority areas. He introduced Randall Arendt, noted for his role in <br /> conservation subdivision discourse and authoring "Rural by Design." <br /> Orange County Land Use Plan 2050 — Board Request for Additional Information <br /> 1. Conservation Subdivisions <br /> Randall Arendt made the following presentation: <br />