HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-21-2010 - 3aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 21, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No. 3 -a
SUBJECT: Orange-Alamance Boundary Line Report
DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Planning and Inspections
Attorney Office
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Draft Process Flowchart
2. Maps
Option 1 -Map 1
Option 2 -Map 2
Present Tax Boundary -Map 3
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank W. Clifton, County Manager 245-2306
Willie Best, Asst. County Manager 245-2308
Craig Benedict, Planning Director 245-2592
John Roberts, County Attorney 245-2318
PURPOSE: To hear a report on recent developments in the settlement of the Orange-
Alamance County Boundary Line location resolution.
BACKGROUND: Since May 2008, Orange County and Alamance County have been working
with NCGS to identify the line and with community groups to understand county service issues
and the impacts of a change.
Map 1 depicts Option 1, which is a North Carolina Geodetic Survey (NCGS) reflection of the
1849 line that was authorized by both county boards of commissioners to investigate in 2008.
Map 2 depicts a hybrid solution where part of the 1849 line is recognized and other areas within
Mebane or areas affected by natural features are varied. An in-depth review of Option 2 is
available on the Orange County Planning website:
http://www.co.orange nc us/planning/PDFs/Currentlnterestltems/NCGS%200ranoe%20Alamance%20County%20B
oundarv%20Resurvey/Ogtion1and2Maps gdf
Map 3 depicts how assessors have been taxing these boundary parcels over the last 30 years
or more.
On November 9, 2009 the Orange and Alamance County Commissioners held a joint meeting at
Alamance Community College. There was consensus by both Boards to move forward with
Option 2 (see map 2) which varied the 1849 line, primarily along past taxing experiences by
residents, businesses, and landowners. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of the `new' line would need
to be surveyed or platted legal descriptions verified and 61 % of the line would reflect the NCGS
work done in 2008 which found some historical markers representing a `straight' north-south
line. The vast majority of community representatives and the City of Mebane were in agreement
with this option. (Please note that the Mill Creek Subdivision change as presented on
November 9 is being suggested to revert back to an earlier version which does not change
where people have experienced their taxing authority previously.)
This Option 2 version would need to be presented to the NC Legislature for approval in this
year's short session.
On December 21, 2009, Alamance Commissioners passed a motion to support direction from
Alamance staff to proceed towards drafting two resolutions to:
(1) recognize the NCGS line in its entirety (see map 1), and
(2) layout procedures for deviation from NCGS line.
These resolutions are anticipated to be brought to the Alamance County Board of
Commissioners in January. A rudimentary petition process (i.e. applications to modify the line)
was discussed on December 15, 2009 amongst staffs, but no determinations were made.
The attached flow chart illustrates the possible processes and timelines that are involved in the
two different tracks. These are conceptual and Orange County staff is awaiting what Alamance
staff may offer as to its process and timeline. The County Manager has contacted the
Alamance County Manager regarding recent thoughts about the process after the November 9
meeting.
The merits, implications, and timelines of different proposals are complex.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Staff time in Planning, GIS, and Tax/Land Records will need to be
prioritized. The correlation of 500 parcels along the entire joint boundary and dividing
percentage interests cannot be accomplished by existing staffs within the next taxing period, so
the County may need to retain aconsultant/contractor to complete this work or defer it. If less
than a 100% line change approach is chosen, staff could more ably work on defined segments
each year.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the BOCC:
1. Continue to finalize an Orange-Alamance Boundary Line adjustment flowchart with
Alamance officials;
2. Prepare for a discussion with Orange County's legislative delegation in February;
3. Advise the Alamance County Commissioners that a preferred approach is to agree on
the line in segments where no/little confusion exists (61 %) now and continue to seek
concurrence on the areas where more complexity exists; and
4. Discuss with Alamance County officials the concept of employing contracted service to
make appropriate GIS/Tax map modifications as needed to parcels impacting both
County's records as a single project (sharing the costs accordingly).
3
DRAFT Attachment 1
Alamance-Orange Boundary Implementation Flowchart
Joint letter to School Board and Superintendent I
in regards to student agreements 1
Agree on
61% NCGS Line
39% Historical Tax Line
(County Managers) 2
Receive Line Change Petitions
Mid 2010
9
Joint Staff Review of
Line Change Petitions
(Orange/Alamance
Staff) io
Joint BOCC Review of
Line Change Petitions
April 2010
(Orange/Alamance
Staff) ii
Submit Changes to
Legislators
May 12, 2010 L 12
Legislators Make
Decision
Sept/October 2010 13
GIS and Tax Assessor
Work
(Orange/Alamance Staff)
Tax Assessor's Prepare
Tax Notices
January 1, 2012
(Orange/Alamance Tax Assessor)
Create:
Line Change Petition, Process,
and Criteria
January 2010
(Orange/Alamance Staff)
Meet with Legislators
(County Managers)
5
Send Letters to
Citizens Regarding:
1. NCGS Resolution
(County Managers)
2. Line change Petition
Process
(Orange/Alamance Staff) 6
Adopt 100% NCGS Line
as Interim Measure
(County Managers)
3
~_ For thosear~a>~wh~dr~ NGGS,Is
adopted wgr[c is noted below.
GIS Work Based on Resolution
1. Reconcile Parcel Boundaries
2. Split Parcels Based on Boundary
(Orange/Alamance Staff?
7
Tax Assessor's
Prepare Tax Notices
January 1, 2011
(Orange/Alamance Tax Assessor)
8
Orange County Planning & Inspections
December 2009
Map 1
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Attachment 2
Map 1
Option 1
NCGS Recreated
1849 Li
City of Mebane
City Limits in Gray
• Red Points Note
New NCGS Monument
Placement
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Map 2
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Attachment 2
Map 2
Option 2
City of Mebane
City Limits in Gray
• Red Lines Depict Areas
Suggested for Deviation
Map 3
Map 3
Present Taxing
Boundaries
City of Mebane
City Limits in Gray
Note:
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In both option 1 & option 2,
parcels along the boundary
will need to be deed
researched and reconciled
in land records/GIS so there
is a parcel line match.
(Often adjacent parcels also
need adjustment.) After this
process, calculations of
prorated area and
Attachment 2
are necessary.