Agenda - 12-07-1999 - 9b - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

MOSES CAREY, JR., CHAIR ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STEPHEN H. HAUdOT/S, V /CE CHAIR P.O. BOX MARGARET W. BROWN ALICE M. GORDON ,200 S. CAMERON STREET BARRYJACOBS HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. 27278 December 9, 1999 The Honorable Rosemary Waldorf, Mayor Town of Chapel Hill 306 N. Columbia St. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Dear Rosemary: At the most recent work session of the County Commissioners on November 22, we discussed some of the steps necessary to accomplish the planned transfer of solid waste management responsibility from the Town to the County on March 20, 2000. Of particular importance to our two boards is the completion of all steps that will lead to rezoning a portion of the Greene Tract, as provided for in the solid waste management interlocal agreement, to permit certain solid waste management facilities and activities. We acknowledge the preference expressed by the Town Council in your November 18 letter that sites other than the Greene Tract be considered for future solid waste activities. The Board of Commissioners would likewise prefer not to use the Greene Tract for solid waste activities. When the time comes for siting decisions, we will certainly consider all reasonable alternatives. However, the interlocal agreement reflects the reality that the Board of Commissioners' best choice may be to use a portion of the Greene Tract for solid waste facilities essential to our collectively meeting our established solid waste reduction goals. The County staff has attached a proposed timetable to review a zoning application for the Greene Tract. With a March 20 handover as a planned deadline, the staff has worked backwards through the zoning application process to establish other public meeting requirements such as the joint planning area public hearing (JPAPH). Town and County zoning processes are somewhat different, but they will of necessity intersect at the JPAPH, which is proposed to take place on February 21, 2000. At the request of the Board of Commissioners, the Solid Waste Department is collaborating with the County's Environment and Resource Conservation Department to contract for several surveys of the Greene Tract. These include biological resources, archeological, and cultural surveys of the entire 169 -acre parcel that will help determine the most appropriate 60 -acre site for the eventual 'materials handling district'. The exact 60 -acre delineation of the proposed zoning area will not be known until approximately March 1, 2000, so we propose that during the first stages of review, including the February 21 JPA public hearing, that the 169- acre area (less a portion that is explained below) be considered with a clear statement that only 60 acres will be designated before final adoptions. We also propose that this request for rezoning be given expedited review. You Count In Orange County (919) 245-2130 . FAX(919) 644 -0246