Orange County NC Website
7 <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that she read through this, and on page 12, there are a <br /> number of concerns that are raised by the Planning Board about the rezoning. Given those <br /> concerns, she does not feel comfortable with the rezoning. <br /> Craig Benedict said that, of the 14 design solutions, the Planning Board voted favorably <br /> for 12 of those. The two outstanding issues were the major ID sign, which was discussed, and <br /> the buffer, which was also discussed tonight. <br /> VOTE: Ayes, 3; No, 1 (Commissioner Gordon) <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Foushee <br /> to approve Attachment 3-d in principle, the findings of fact. <br /> VOTE: Ayes, 3; No, 1 (Commissioner Gordon) <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner <br /> Carey to approve Attachment 3-c in principle, conditions of approval, including additional <br /> language that will be crafted by the County Attorney. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that she would like to vote separately on the one about the <br /> buffer on page 91. She said that she does not want so much of the natural vegetation to be <br /> removed. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon to not approve the 50% vegetation <br /> buffer. There was no second. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that he thought about this a lot and he drove the interstate. He said <br /> that the parcel on the north side of the interstate has been raked. He said that the developers <br /> are at least trying to be responsive to the Orange County aesthetic if not the total ethic of <br /> trying to maintain as continuous a vegetative buffer along the interstate as they can, <br /> understanding that they have a different view of what will succeed. He had a hard time with <br /> this. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that she thought that the Planning Board had made a lot of <br /> good points. At this time, however, she said that she is willing to go along with granting the <br /> permit with the hopes that, because these are local developers, that they have the best <br /> interest of the county at heart. She feels that the developers have tried to comply with the <br /> ordinance. She is prepared to approve the permit if the language can be perfected. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner Carey <br /> to approve the Special Use Permit, subject to final County Attorney review prior to <br /> recordation, in principle. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that the Board did listen to a lot of people and this has taken almost <br /> two years. He thinks that the developers, the Planning Board, and the County Commissioners <br /> have done a good job trying to address issues about buffers, environmental protection, and <br /> traffic that were raised by citizens. He thinks that citizens who live in the area should be <br /> assured that the County will stick by its land use plan and that Mebane has no interest in <br /> extending water and sewer south of the economic development district, so there is no threat to <br /> the rural character of the neighborhoods. He thinks that some good issues were raised related <br /> to the type of jobs that are wanted in Orange County, but given the current economic situation, <br />