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36 <br /> 1 Todd Taylor confirmed the intent was to make it fairer for the original developer who <br /> 2 initiated the extension to get reimbursed when future connections take place on the lines they <br /> 3 paid to install. <br /> 4 Commissioner McKee said it sounds like no planning was done that considers a change to <br /> 5 WASMPBA. <br /> 6 Todd Taylor said that is correct. He clarified that OWASA doesn't plan to serve areas <br /> 7 outside of its established boundaries until the boundaries change, and then it would study how <br /> 8 to accommodate that growth. He emphasized the growth-pays-for-growth policy, noting that <br /> 9 even studies like the 15-501 concept plan were paid for by Chapel Hill rather than OWASA <br /> 10 ratepayers. <br /> 11 Commissioner McKee said he feels like without a change to WASMPBA and rural buffer, <br /> 12 there will be no chance for housing affordability in the county. <br /> 13 Commissioner Carter agreed the board would need conversations about policy change. <br /> 14 Chair Hamilton reminded the Board that the purpose of these presentations is to <br /> 15 understand the landscape, so they have the background while developing the 2050 Land Use <br /> 16 Plan. <br /> 17 Commissioner McKee said he has heard the same conversation this Board for 15 years, <br /> 18 but there has been no change to policy. <br /> 19 Commissioner Greene defended existing policies directing growth within urban service <br /> 20 boundaries where affordable housing was possible. <br /> 21 Chair Hamilton asked about the projected growth within the service boundary and what <br /> 22 it means for affordable housing. <br /> 23 Todd Taylor said the data OWASA has received comes from the towns and the university, <br /> 24 and that is how they determine the need to increase capacity or not. He said he can only speak <br /> 25 to the policies in place at the current moment. <br /> 26 Chair Hamilton summarized that OWASA has the capacity to accommodate the towns' <br /> 27 and university's projected growth. <br /> 28 Todd Taylor said yes. He said if they grow faster or slower,that may change the projection. <br /> 29 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the Rangewood service restrictions, confirming <br /> 30 that policy changes would require agreement among all parties to the WASMPBA. <br /> 31 Todd Taylor said that is correct, it is part of WASMPBA restrictions. <br /> 32 Commissioner Carter explored capacity expansion implications beyond the current <br /> 33 projections. She noted that the full system capacity is much larger than the current projections <br /> 34 when considering the quarry upgrade and the Jordan Lake mutual aid. <br /> 35 Todd Taylor confirmed additional water supplies, treatment capacity, and infrastructure <br /> 36 could accommodate more growth but emphasized significant costs. He said accessing the Jordan <br /> 37 Lake allocation around 2050 would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, paid by ratepayers within <br /> 38 the service boundary through monthly bills. <br /> 39 Commissioner Carter noted the policy that developers pay for extensions. <br /> 40 Todd Taylor clarified that major infrastructure, like water treatment plant upgrades, was <br /> 41 funded by OWASA ratepayers through system development fees, requiring long-term planning <br /> 42 rather than house-by-house upgrades. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 The Board took a break from 3:12 to 3:30 p.m. <br />