Agenda - 09-20-2005-9c - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

MEMORANDUM Page 2 of 6 15 The property contains a site with a County Environmental Health Division Approval for a septic system suitable for a typical 6,500-square foot office building. The proposed design of the building includes meeting space that would serve as training space for the Solid Waste departmental staff and also for community meeting space and as an educational facility. The Board of Commissioners believe that with those uses in mind, which could generate visitors/occupants up to 75 at one time, that it would be prudent for the building to be connected to public water and sewer, Please see Attachment 4 which provides a summary of the agreements and plans which are relevant to the consideration of tlris matter. DISCUSSION The Board of County Commissioners has notified the Town that it intends to apply to OWASA for public water and sewer service to its property which is located in the Rural Buffer in order to serve what they believe is an essential public facility. We believe the Boazd of County Commissioners is requesting comment fiom the Town Council because the Town is a party to the Joint Planning Agreement which includes the Water and Sewer Management, Planning and Boundary Agreement (Attachment 5), In accordance with that agreement OWASA would not provide water and sewer service in the Rural Buffer unless it was to address an adverse health condition or to connect an essential public facility. We believe the key issues in the County's proposal to extend water and sewer into the Rural Buffer include: Consistency with Policy, Agreements and Plans: The Joint Planning Agreement states that the Rural Buffer should remain rural in character and not require urban services, However the Water and Sewer Management, Planning and Boundary Agreement which is incorporated in the Joint Planning Agreement allows for the extension of services in the Rural Buffer to development which is for an essential public facility, Potential Impact on Development in the Rural Buffer: The Orange County proposal is to extend services from the existing land-fill site, which is located inside the Urban Services Boundary and the OWASA Primary Service Area, into the adjoining land to the west, The extension area is in the Rural Buffer. The water and sewer lines are proposed to be entirely on Orange County property and therefore would be under the County's control, Essential Public Purpose: Solid waste management is a public purpose. In addition to the Solid Waste Operations Center the development concept includes the provision for additional community meeting space and a facility for environmental education. http://townlrall.townofchapelhill.org/agendas/ca050912/ 12-proposa]_to~rrovide_water_an,,. 9/ 14/2005