Agenda - 12-10-2002-9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS A public hearing will be held in the Judge F. Gordon Battle Superior Courtroom of the New Orange County Courthouse, 106 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, North Carolina, on Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at 7:30 PM for the purpose of giving all interested citizens an opportunity to speak for or against the following items: A. SCHOOLS ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE Purpose: Residential growth has increased sharply in Orange County over the past decade, in large part due to the well known quality of the public schools in the county. Concern has been expressed by elected officials that overcrowding in the schools could jeopardize the quality education that is a linchpin of the quality of life in Orange County. In 1999, a joint committee of elected officials, staff members from the county and towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough and both school districts began the process of designing ways to maintain proper levels of service by synchronizing residential growth with educational capital facilities. This committee began to look at the issue of linking new development to the capacity of schools as a way to help ensure quality schools in Orange County. From this committee was developed a Schools Adequate Public Facilities Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and model ordinance. This MOU and ordinance have been refined through previous public input including a public hearing conducted in Orange County on November 27, 2000 and other subsequent public hearings. Based upon recommendations from public comment, the Joint Schools and Land Use Council has amended the MOU and ordinance into its current form. This ordinance is a product of joint understandings between all of the school districts and local governments who strongly support the excellence of both Orange County school systems. The MOU was approved by the Board of County Commissioners in early December 2002. The effectuating ordinance that is consistent with the MOU is required to come to a public hearing before insertion into local government regulations. The anticipated effective date is between February 15 and April 15, 2003. Other local governments are also in the process of review and/or approval of this growth management strategy. Changes may be made in the advertised proposals that reflect debate, objections and discussion at the hearing.