Minutes - 20020225 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordan about the timeline for participation, Craig Benedict said that there is no timeline and that other towns and counties can join next year or the year following that. Commissioner Halkiotis asked about floodplains and verified with Craig Benedict that the mare development there is, the mare impervious surface there will be, and the more direct impact there will be on the floodplains. Craig Benedict explained impervious surface as a surface that does not allow the water to percolate through such as concrete, pavement, rooftops, etc. Commissioner Gordon asked if the plan would address more active hazards rather than something like drought. She said that it occurred to her that some of the things that would affect the floadplain and surface water would also affect groundwater. Craig Benedict said that drought would be included in the plan. Chair Jacobs said that in eastern North Carolina, the state is looking into restricting withdrawals from the aquifers because it has almost reached a crisis. Commissioner Brown pointed out that the storms seem to impact low-income people more because the lower income housing is usually in the floodplains. She asked about the flooding at Eastgate in Chapel Hill and said that she understands that the drains needed to be cleaned out and that the flooding would probably not take place again. Craig Benedict said that the degradation that can come from lack of maintenance cuts the design capacity of a pipe in half. He said that part of the mitigation strategy is to know where all the pipes are and what size they are, as well as which pipes are susceptible to sediment. Craig Benedict made reference to technological hazards that were also on the list. We need to have some mitigation strategies when technology becomes subject to terrorism or natural disasters. Commissioner Gordon said that she does not see that drought is listed as a hazard. She said that it is fairly likely and it can cause properly damage and harm. She would like to see this added. Craig Benedict agreed and indicated that it will be added. Chemical spills and chemical fires will also be added. Chair Jacobs suggested that we add nuclear accident because the likelihood of occurrence is possible, the location is large, and the impacts could be catastrophic. He thinks the hazard index would be low to moderate. He also made reference to wildfire on page seven. He thinks that it does not seem consistent to have the impact listed as negligible. Chair Jacobs suggested that someone re-reads the plan because it needs some grammatical work. He also asked to have a glossary or an index far the Orange County map. Planning Board member Barry Katz asked if we need to break out groundwater contamination as separate from chemical spills. Craig Benedict said that this would be reasonable and would be done. Commissioner Brown asked if we get state information on monitoring oil tanks that have been dug and the implications of groundwater contamination. Craig Benedict said that if there are incidences that have been recognized, then we da get information on the monitoring of wells. He only knows of a few isolated cases. Commissioner Brown would like to receive this data an a regular basis in order to keep track of how many tanks are monitored. Chair of the Planning Board Nicole Gooding-Ray asked if chemical spills include hazards from transporting of hazardous materials through the County and Craig Benedict said yes. There was no public comment on this item. No action was needed an this item. This plan will come back to the County Commissioners for consideration of approval at a future Board of County Commissioners' meeting. 3. Adoption of the 2002 North Carolina Building Codes Craig Benedict said that state legislation requires that by 2003, every municipality and county in North Carolina adopt a new international building code. This is a composite of many states