Orange County NC Website
1 APPROVED 511196 <br />2 MINUTES <br />3 BI-MONTHLY WORK SESSION <br />4 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />5 MARCH 21, 1996 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners held their bi-monthly work session on March 21, <br />9 1996 at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Government Services Center in Hillsborough, North <br />10 Carolina. <br />11 <br />12 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners William <br />13 L. Crowther, Stephen H. Halkiotis and Don Willhoit. <br />14 COUNTY COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Commissioner Alice M. Gordon <br />15 COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill <br />16 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Manager <br />17 Rod Visser and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff members will be identified <br />18 appropriately below) <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 AGENDA <br />22 1. Flexible Development Proposal <br />23 Planning Director Marvin Collins made reference to the Planning Board recommendations which <br />24 were included as part of the agenda on March 6, 1996 and highlighted some of the major issues they <br />25 discussed. <br />26 Marvin Collins showed on a map the current levels of densities. He said that if the JPA was <br />27 excluded, there would be many areas where the 50% open space would be a viable option. By making <br />28 the open space requirement 50% instead of 33%, the Planning Board felt that many developers would <br />29 choose the conventional option instead of flexible. Two concept plans will be required. After they are <br />30 approved, the developer will have the option of going with the flexible plan or the conventional plan. <br />31 In terms of development plan exceptions, the developer could submit only a flexible plan. Marvin <br />32 Collins listed the incentives vs. disincentives which are listed on pages 28 and 29 of the agenda. <br />33 He showed on a map where density bonuses would apply and those levels. The last major issue was <br />34 the village option and the Planning Board voted 6-5 to send this back to public hearing in May, 1996. <br />35 With regard to the yield plan, he illustrated the process the development would need to follow. <br />36 In answer to a question from Commissioner Willhoit, Marvin Collins indicated that the summary of <br />37 developments could be a continuous process showing the information as developments are approved. <br />38 Commissioner Halkiotis asked about the use of wells and septic tanks along the river and was <br />39 told that Planning staff had talked with Environmental Health officers who indicated that they would <br />40 monitor the use of wells and septic tanks to be sure they are environmentally safe. They do not feel <br />41 there will be a problem. <br />42 Commissioner Willhoit noted he attended a session at the NACo conference which focused on <br />43 ground water resources and they emphasized how critical it is to protect these resources. He feels as <br />44 the County becomes more developed, it will be important to know the yield. <br />45 Commissioner Crowther noted that the goal for farmland and forestland are in competition with <br />46 each other. In the farmland goal, it is encouraged that houses be built in the forest and in the forestland <br />47 goal, it is encouraged that houses be built in the field. <br />48 The timetable for the Flexible Development Standards is for the Board of Commissioners to <br />49 receive the draft Design Guidebook for review/comment by May 1, 1996. The Planning Board will <br />50 receive the final Design Guidebook by May 20, 1996 and the Board of Commissioners will receive the <br />51 final Design Guidebook by June 6, 1996. During June 17-28 training workshops will be held for land <br />52 owners, surveyors, developers, etc. on how to use the Design Guidebook and Flexible Development <br />53 approval process. The effective date for Flexible Development standards will be July 1, 1996. <br />54 <br />55