Agenda 03-10-2026; 2 - Orange County Land Use Plan 2050 – Board Request for Additional Information

Browse Search

4 Next Steps: A third BOCC retreat has been scheduled for Saturday, March 21 for the Board to continue receiving background information. Following the conclusion of presentations, the BOCC has been asked by Clarion Associates and Planning staff to identify any changes to the preliminary draft Land Use Plan 2050 that may be needed prior to its release for public review during Community Engagement Window (CEW) #3. CEW #3 was scheduled to occur between May - July of 2025. The last public engagement meeting held for the LUP 2050 project occurred, during CEW #2, on October 15, 2024. Contract Amendment #4 will need to be prepared and approved by the BOCC prior to Clarion's initiation of any work editing the preliminary draft LUP 2050, scheduling engagement meetings, preparing engagement materials, and coordinating with County staff for public notice prior to the launch of engagement. Additional information about the project, including e-mail sign-up for project updates, are available on the project website: https://www.orangecountylanduser)lan.com. Completed project deliverables, including Fact Books; outreach summaries; and more, are also available on the project website: https://www.orangecountylanduseplan.com/resources Why does Orange County Need to Update its Land Use Plan? - In North Carolina, local governments that apply "...zoning regulations... shall adopt and reasonably maintain a comprehensive plan or land-use plan (G.S. 160D-501(a)). This statute requires that zoning regulations are "in accordance with a comprehensive plan" and requires that local governments make statements of consistency when making rezoning decisions on a development application. The existing Orange County Comprehensive Plan was adopted in November 2008. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item. ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: The Land Use Plan 2050 project supports: • GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION OBJECTIVE 4. Incentivize and promote sustainable agriculture and local food systems development through supportive policy, funding, farmland protection and educational outreach. OBJECTIVE 5. Review land use policies to promote and connect Town, County, and private trails and open spaces. OBJECTIVE 6. Protect water supply/watersheds. OBJECTIVE 7. Conserve and protect high priority open space, including Natural Heritage sites, nature preserves, watershed riparian buffers, and prime/threatened farmland. OBJECTIVE 8. Include environmental stewardship objectives in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. • GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY OBJECTIVE 7. Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life of the community (e.g., recreation and public open spaces, arts, etc.) • GOAL 3: HOUSING FOR ALL OBJECTIVE 5. Review County ordinances, policies, agreements, and the regulatory processes to streamline practices, and increase opportunities and reduce barriers to construct housing. OBJECTIVE 7. Expand resources and invest in housing designed for our aging and disabled residents.