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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19770629;~82 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS JUNE 29, 1977 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met jointly. with the Orange County Planning Hoard on Wednesday, June 29, 1977, at 7:30 p.m., in the Superior Courtroom for the purpose of having a work session to review the work schedule of the Planning staff to redefine objectives and to re- schedule priorities. Commissioners present were Chairman Richard Whitted, rlorman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman Walker and Donald Willhoit. Planning Board members present were Chairman Dr ., Robert Bonar, John 5carlett, Hazel Lunsfordti Marilyn Riddle, Jean Anderson, Andrew Dobelstein, Hilliard Caldwell, Pat Crawford, Paul Gates, Col. William Breeze and Zindsey Efland. Staff members present were S. M. Gattis, County Manager, and Agatha Johnson Clerk. Jeffrey Gledhill, County Attorney was also present. Chairman Whitted opened the meeting and stated that it is necessarv that the two Boards look again at the work schedule of the Planning Depart- . ment, in view of the fact that the Planning Board had recommended that the Subdivision Regulations not be extended county-wide at this time, but to be delayed until the various township Advisory Councils are formed and had an opportunity to provide input. The Planning Board recommended that the Subdivision amendments be implemented in Eno and Chapel Hill Townships immediately. The Chairman stated that this recommendation would change the planned work schedule for the coming year for the Planning Department. Irwin Dobson, Planning Director, reviewed for the two Boards the pro- press and prognosis report of the Planning Department dated February 15, 1977. Chairman Whitted asked if there was any discussion regarding the work plan the Planning Director had just presented. Dr. Bonar pointed out that the reaseon the educational program of the Planning Board had moved so slowly is that the Planning Board is tied up with plat review and until the Subdivision Ordinance is amended to make the administration of the plat review process more efficient there would not be time fvr anything else. He added that people in the various townships were concerned with the entire package of palnning and it would be desirable to communicate with the communities at large. Commissioner Willhoit stated that he had problems understanding how the Advisory Councils would deal with the Subdivision Regulations since the regulations is 'to be a county-wide instrument and whereby 'the Zoning Ordinance can be tailored far specific purposes in unique situations. He added that he felt it was the purpose of the Planning Board to look at the Subdivision Regulations county-wide and the Ordinance which established the Advisory Councils stated that their function is to deal with local matters. Dr. Bonar stated that the Advisory Councils would provide the Plan ning Board with a broader view of various interests instead of special interests. Commissioner Willhoit asked the Planning Board of their rational for the recommendation that was made to the County Commissioners. Dr. Honar stated that from the reaction the Board had received from citizens, it appeared that citizens were concerned with the Ordinance and did not understand what the Ordinance would or would not do to them. He added that he felt the Board should attempt to understand the concerns of citizens and to have an exchange of views. The Advisory Councils are mechanisms tQ accomplish this. Pat Crawford stated that she felt it was important that citizens understand the Ordinance and to know that the County will benefit from such an Ordinance. Andrew Dobelstein stated that the recommendation which was made by the Planning Board had two 'problems which bothered him. 1) The substance of the Subdivision Regulations and 2) concerning the process of the Regulations. He stated that he felt the Planning Board and the County Commissioners had reviewed the document thoroughly and changes had been made to the Ordinance. The second concern was with loading the Advisory Councils with the additional responsibility of the Subdivision Ordinance. He added that he had voted against the Planning Board's recommendation. Commissioner Willhoit asked if the delay recommended by the Planning Board was a planning problem that needed to be worked out, or a political problem. Lindsey Efland responded by stating that the Planning Board had not had sufficient time to research the document, and the intent of the motion of the Planning Board was to provide time to look at the document. He added that perhaps with more citizens input, citizens can see some of the probelms the Planning Board and the County Commissioners are facing in Planning for the County. Commissioner Willhoit reminded the two Boards that a 90 day delay had been granted in March, and the Land Owners Association had presented 13 recommendations to the Ordinance. He asked what is the problem with the Ordinance, and what needs to be done to it? Discussion ensued concerning the need for additional citizen input regarding the proposed Ordinance. Andrew Dobelstein stated that he felt the Planning Board should get down to the real work of planning, that the Planning Board should not be involved in a political issue such as the Subdivision Ordinance, but this should be the responsibility of the County Commissioners, Lindsey Efland stated that by having the Subdivision Regulations in effect in Eno and Chapel Hill Townships this will provide a "trial run" and will provide insight as to the effect of the Ordinance county-wide. "- Chairman Whitted asked the two Bcards to look again at the work program of the Planning Department and to plug the recommendation of the Planning Board into that document to provide the•Planning Staff with clear directions. Col. Breeze stated that he felt the Subdivision Ordinance was a good document, however, the County was facing several critical issues ~t this time and he felt a master plan was needed in the County for land use. He stated that the Ordinance had stirred interest and that the County should not proceed too fast. He added that he would like to know answers to two questions: 1) "Can we come up with a master plan for the Ceunty in land use" and 2) "How is the Subdivision Ordinance going to help the County?" Commissioner Willhoit responded by citing various problems in the County which had resulted from poor planning. He spoke of the sewage liminatians in Chapel Hill, the lack of control to protect the quality of water in the University Watershed, and to protect other watersheds. He stated that growth pressures along Highway 54 needed to be controlled. Mr. Willhoit stated that the population of Orange County had increased _ 19 percent since 1970. The Subdivision Ordinance would be a useful tool for the Planning Board as they looked at various subdivisions and how.the land is used. Marilyn Riddle stated that she felt the Planning Board should get on with the job of land use planning that will meet the problems dealing with water, services, and the providing of services for a growing population. She added the Subdivision Regulations are a part of that process and the first step. The time is right to develop a Land use Plan. Other members of the Planning Board expressed their reasons for making the recommendation that was submitted to the County Commissioners concerning the Subdivision Ordinance. J ~~ Commissioner Gustaveson stated that the list of priorities and the work plan was developed over a period of time and was coordinated with what was possible in terms of staff time, He stated to go with seven Advisory Councils at this time would radically reorder the priorities of the Board for growth management for Bingham, Cheeks, and Hillsborough Town- ships. He questioned using the Planning Staff to develop Advisory Councils in seven townships. He asked for further discussion of what the priorities should be for the Planning Staff for the next six months. Ms. Riddle stated that perhaps it would be better in terms of overall objectives to take the townships in two sections and conscentrate on land use plan efforts in the crucial townships of Chapel Hill, Bingham, Eno, Cheeks, and Hillsborough. She suggested that the Board proceed with the establishing of Advisory Councils and to ask the Councils to begin work on a land use plan and to draft a zoning Ordinance to be presented at a public hearing on a specified date. She asked that the two Boards con- sider this proposal and to set target dates for the establishing of the Advisory Councils, the developing of the Land Use Plan, and the proposed Ordinance. Further discussion ensued as to whether or not five Advisory Councils should be established or seven councils. Chairman Whitted asked what time frame would be needed to get all the Advisory Councils in place? Dr. Bonar stated that it,would take between 3 or 4 months to set up the Councils, however, the process could be speeded up to 90 days. The Planning Director stated that it would take 2 weeks to properly advertise the establishing of the Advisory Councils. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he could foresee the County continuing for another 18 months without proper tools for planning in some very critical areas., He suggested that the Board develop other mechanisms throughout the County to provide discussion regarding the Subdivision Ordinance and to continue on with the present work plan for the Advisory Councils. He suggested further that the Board set an out- - ' side date for enactment of the Subdivisicn Ordinance. Commissioner Walker stated that his idea was to develop a local leval grass roots plan and to receive input from the Advisory Boards and public meetings, He added that this was his idea of a workable land use plan, where all people shared in the planning. He added that he was not in favor of a master plan. Hazel Lunsford stated that a function of the Advisory Board could be to organize public meetings and that could be a useful tool to educate citizens. Lindsey Efland stated that he would be against N[s. Riddle's proposal. He stated that the Board should work on an entire County Ordinance. He added that he felt the Advisory Councils should be set up and trained re- garding the Subdivision Ordinance and by the end of the year would be a reasonable time to set up the Councils, to be functioning properly. The zoning map and the land use plan, P4r. Efland stated, is entirely different, and citizens of the County should be involved in the zoning map and the land use plan. Chairman Whitted stated that the Planning Staff needed some direc- tion of a work plan for the next several months. In further discussion regarding the Advisory Councils, Dr. Bonar stated that he felt a minimum of 3 months and not longer than 6 months would be a fair estimate for establishing the Advisory Councils. He - suggested that the Boards aim for 3 months. Commissioner Gustaveson spoke again of his concern of the lack of a review process for the critical areas in the County. He stated that he felt the Subdivision Regulations should be separate from the Advisory Councils and the priorities set out in land use planning, Mr. Gustaveson stated that he would not be in favor of any mechanism that would delay the Subdivision Ordiance for mare than 90 days. ~.+ V 4' Ms. Riddle suggested that the Advisory Councils spend 6 months, from January to June, 1978, or from January til September, 1978, studymng the maps and overlays which the Planning Department already has. Going through an educational process in terms of what land use planning really is and gathering input from local citizens. Hopefully, by the second half of 1978, the Councils would be ready to look at a total land use plan. Mr. Efland suggested that the Technical Advisory Committee and the Advisory Councils in the local townships work closely together in develap- ing a land use plan. Ms. Riddle stated that the Advisory Councils would have use'of maps and overlays which are now in the Planning Department. They will have input from the'task force and be ready to come together with a draft land classificatien plan by September, 1978. Chairman Whitted stated that by September of 1978, the two Boards would have hammered out a draft of a land classification plan and be ready to go before a public hearing. From July til December, 1977, the Advisory Councils would be getting into place. The Subdivision Regulations are now in the hands of the Commissioners Chairman Whitted asked that the Planning Staff review their daily schedule and manpower and to relate this inform~.tion back to the Board. The two Boards will then schedule another meeting. Chairman Whitted requested that the Planning Board consider at some future paint the extraterritorial jurisdiction request of the Town of Chapel Hill. The Planning Staff will provide the Planning Board with the.maps and resource materials. Ben Lloyd spoke against the action of the two Boards. He questioned the parliamentary procudures of a previous meeting of the Planning Board. This matter was referred to the County Attorney fox research. Other citizens spoke against the pzoposed Subdivision Ordinance. The Chairman asked if anyone else wished to speak and no one came forth. The meeting was adjourned. ichard E. Wh t e , airman Agatha Johnson, Clerk ORANGE COUNTY BOT~RD OF COMMISSxgNERS JULY 5, 1977 The Orange County Board of Gammissianers met in, regular session on Tuesday, July 5, 1977, at 10:00 a. m „ in the Commissioners' Room of the Courthouse in Hillsborough, N. C. Present were Chairman Richard Whitted, Commissioners Norman Gustaveson, Jan Pinney, Norman Walker, and Donald Willhoit. Staff members present were County Administrator, S. M. Gattis, Finance Director, Neal Evans, and Agatha Johnson, Clerk to th.e Board, Jeffrey Gledhill, County Attorney was also present. Chairman Whitted opened the meeting by referring to Ttem 1 on the agenda: Persons not on this agenda having business to transact with the Board of Commissioners should make their presence known at this time. James J. Freeland stated that he was present, along with other citizens to ask questions regarding the new tax rate. The consensus of the Board was to hear from the gathered group at this time .