Orange County NC Website
12 <br /> processes that could reduce the amount of time and workload on staff. He said increasing fees <br /> for special use permits could be a discouraging policy signal to people who may be considering <br /> zoning or a special use permit for their property. <br /> Vice-Chair Fowler asked if the potential efficiencies would reduce the number of FTEs <br /> needed in the department. <br /> Cy Stober said it may result in the amount of work staff would do on subdivisions. He said <br /> staff could manage it at current levels, but he did not think it would result in less staff. <br /> Commissioner Carter asked how the Town of Chapel Hill is doing while they update their <br /> land use plan and what county staff is learning. <br /> Cy Stober said they don't have data since the plan was approved six weeks prior. <br /> Commissioner Carter asked what was the last subdivision that came before the Board of <br /> Commissioners. <br /> Cy Stober said the Stonewall subdivision on Miller Road came through in September <br /> 2025. <br /> Commissioner Carter asked if they came to the Board in a different form than by right. <br /> Cy Stober said no. <br /> Commissioner Greene said she remembered when those came through and she was <br /> confused because they were by-right. She said it also confuses the community. She said she <br /> supports that change. <br /> Cy Stober said it recently was reviewed by the Ordinance Review Committee. <br /> Chair Hamilton said she would like to see more data and hard numbers before the Board <br /> decides. She would like to see the current fee structure. <br /> Kirk Vaughn said they are hoping to learn more about what the Board is interested in, and <br /> they will bring that information back to the Board. <br /> Chair Hamilton said it's a lot of information to go over in short amount of time. <br /> Commissioner Bedford read from page 48 of the agenda packet. She said the best <br /> opportunity per the consultant was to combine and reduce the number of fee listings within the <br /> building, miscellaneous and trades permits. She supported that change. <br /> Cy Stober said it is underway. <br /> Commissioner Bedford suggested setting a fee structure that acknowledges long-time <br /> homeowners. She also suggested setting a tiered fee structure. <br /> Cy Stober said the erosion control fee schedule is tiered. He said for building inspections <br /> he'd like to have one or two pro rata approaches. He said the highest service level, which would <br /> be in a larger building with typically a larger developer, would have a progressive fee to it. He said <br /> it would not be just proportional, it would be a higher tier. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said that's what she favored, but she didn't want to be the highest. <br />