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1 <br /> APPROVED 2/20/24 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> January 16, 2024 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, January <br /> 16, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Sally Greene <br /> and Commissioners Amy Fowler, Jean Hamilton, Earl McKee, Phyllis Portie-Ascott, and Anna <br /> Richards <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy County Manager <br /> Travis Myren, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> appropriately below) <br /> Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present. <br /> 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> Chair Bedford dispensed with reading the public charge. <br /> 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> Terri Buckner said for the past 40 years, the towns and county have excelled at joint <br /> planning. She said the rural buffer and WASAMPBA to reinforce protections of farms, rural <br /> communities, wildlife, drinking water quality and supply, and community infrastructure. As part of <br /> the joint planning, she said certain areas were identified for development like the 15-501 corridor <br /> but not at the currently proposed densities. She said changing the plan now without a new <br /> planning process ignores the impacts of climate change. She said affordable housing is needed <br /> but she continues to observe some town elected officials prioritizing new affordable housing at <br /> the expense of existing affordable housing. She said there are over 400 affordable housing <br /> opportunities in the 15-501 area. She said using Chapel Hill's 15% affordable housing <br /> requirement, if this area is built out to OWASA's estimate of 2,200 new homes, it would create <br /> 330 new affordable units, but asked what would happen to the existing 400 plus affordable units. <br /> Between the pressure of new development and increased risk of flooding due to the loss of <br /> permeable surfaces in the watershed, she asked if there would be a net gain or loss of affordable <br /> housing. She said this type of strategic planning needs to occur before expanding the urban <br /> boundary. She said Chapel Hill does not have the authority to require missing middle housing of <br /> developers and the cost of extending water and sewer or the impact of those costs on housing <br /> costs is unknown. She said it is also unknown what income levels will be served by new affordable <br /> housing, the impact on schools, or the impact on transit. She said there are many open questions <br /> and no answers and is depending on board to get the answers to those questions on residents' <br /> behalf. <br /> BJ Warshaw said he agrees with everything Terri Buckner just said. He said he continues <br /> to be concerned about WASAMPBA. He said he lives in Chapel Hill ETJ and this Board is his <br /> direct representation in this matter. He said he was disappointed to hear people continue to say <br />