HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-15-2010- 4bbORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 15, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: Letter to Town of Carrboro Regarding Amendments to the Water and Sewer
Management, Planning, and Boundary Agreement
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Proposed Letter to Town of Carrboro
2. E- mailed Correspondence from Town
of Carrboro Staff
3. Map of County- Proposed Water and
Sewer Boundary Changes
4. Map of Historic Sites
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Benedict, 245 -2592
Perdita Holtz, 245 -2578
PURPOSE: To approve the transmittal of a letter to the Town of Carrboro regarding the Town's
concerns about proposed amendments to the Water and Sewer Management, Planning, and
Boundary Agreement.
BACKGROUND: In accordance with authorizations received at the October 13, 2009 BOCC
work session and the March 25, 2010 Assembly of Governments meeting, staff of Orange
County, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority ( OWASA), and the Towns of Chapel Hill,
Hillsborough, and Carrboro have been working on amendments to the Water and Sewer
Management, Planning, and Boundary Agreement ( WASMPBA). To date, the Towns of Chapel
Hill and Hillsborough and OWASA have approved the proposed amendments. The Town of
Carrboro has approved the amendments related to the area in and around the Town of
Hillsborough, but has not approved the County's proposed changes in the Efland- Mebane area.
Perdita Holtz of Orange County's Planning staff attended the April 6, 2010 Carrboro Board of
Aldermen meeting. At this meeting, the Board of Aldermen approved the WASMPBA changes
related to Hillsborough, but expressed concern about the proposed Mixed Use area (443 acres)
adjacent to the City of Mebane north of Bowman Road and west of the existing Commercial -
Industrial Node /Buckhorn Economic Development District.
The adopted 2006 Efland- Mebane Small Area Plan recommended this area for potential Mixed
Use development due to the:
proximity to utilities • visibility along the 1 -85/40 corridor
nearby existing economic • need for a mixed use component near a
development districts designated employment center
adjacency to the City of Mebane
The Board of Aldermen voted to invite a citizen member of the Efland- Mebane Small Area Plan
Implementation Focus Group to a Town Board meeting to discuss the Mixed Use area in the
hopes of further understanding why the area was recommended for Mixed Use development.
Minutes of the meeting are not yet available but the Board Aldermen meeting can be viewed at:
hftp://www.ci.carrboro.nc.us/BoA/Agendas/2010/04 06 2010.htm. The presentation and
discussion on this item is at 2:03 through 2:37.
Ms. Holtz and Mr. Pete Hallenbeck, a member of the Efland- Mebane Small Area Plan
Implementation Focus Group and a member of the citizen task force that developed the small
area plan, attended the May 18, 2010 Board of Aldermen meeting. The Board of Aldermen
meeting can be viewed at: http: / /www.ci.carrboro.nc.us /BoA /Agendas /2010/05- 18 — 2010.htm.
(The presentation and discussion on this item is at 0:37 through 1:34.) The Board of Aldermen
expressed concern over the history of the area (Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton provided an
accounting of the history at 1:01 through 1:09 of the meeting video). The map in Attachment 4
shows the sites in the County's current database. Mayor Chilton's commentary includes
information about the former site of Hawfield's Presbyterian Church (no building standing) and
an associated unmarked graveyard. The mayor also commented on early (1700's) ownership in
the area and property conflicts which resulted in the relocation of the Presbyterian Church. This
type of information is not generally included in historic surveys of the type completed by Orange
County to produce the historic sites map.
The Board of Aldermen also expressed concern that economic development should occur
where the population base of the County resides (Chapel Hill and Carrboro) and that Orange
County needed to have a different mindset when it came to economic development. Discussion
regarding sewer rates in the Efland area also occurred. Ultimately, the Board voted to request
that the BOCC provide the Board of Aldermen with feedback on the intention and commitment
to preserve historic sites in the Bowman Road area.
The letter at Attachment 1 is intended to provide the requested feedback. The County has
regulations in place that address historic preservation objectives.
If the Board approves the Manager's recommendation, this topic is expected to be placed on
the June 22, 2010 Board of Aldermen agenda for further consideration and possible approval of
the County's WASMPBA amendments.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Work required to achieve the amendments to the Water and Sewer
Management, Planning, and Boundary Agreement is being completed by existing Planning
staff.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve the transmittal of the
letter at Attachment 1 and authorize the Chair to sign.
Attachment 1
3
{ { {TO BE PRINTED ON BOCC LETTERHEAD} }}
June 15, 2010
Mayor Mark Chilton
Town of Carrboro
301 West Main Street
Carrboro, NC 27510
Subject: Proposed Changes to the Water and Sewer Management, Planning,
and Boundary Agreement (WASMPBA) and Historic Resources
Dear Mayor Chilton:
This letter is in response to a request by the Board of Aldermen that the Board of
County_ Commissioners provide feedback regarding intention and commitment to
preserving historic resources in the Bowman Road area if the area is included in
Orange County's Primary Service Area in the WASMPBA.
As you know from discussions with Staff, the County's Efland- Mebane Small
Area Plan recommends that a 443 acre area north of Bowman Road and south of
the Interstate be designated for Mixed Use development. Additionally, the small
area plan recommends that future development and transportation projects
should endeavor to minimize any impacts to historic resources. Like many areas
within the county, the Bowman Road area has a rich history. The County's
Environmental Impact Ordinance requires an Environmental Assessment and /or
Environmental Impact Statement, depending on a project's impact, for most
development projects. Historic resources are one of the issues reviewed in the
environmental document and are something the County endeavors to
appropriately protect. Zoning and subdivision reviews also include cultural and
environmental considerations.
Staff also indicated to you that water and sewer services in the area would be
provided by the City of Mebane. Orange County has an existing agreement
(2004) with the City regarding utility services which would be amended to include
the Bowman Road area if the WASMPBA amendments are approved. Under the
agreement, development approvals /permits are issued by Orange County (under
Orange County regulations) and any annexation application will not be acted
upon by the City for at least 12 months after its submission and after issuance by
Orange County of development approval and permits. Development in this
urbanizing area is similar to that of towns within Orange County wherein projects
serve Orange County residents and become part of the countywide tax base.
4
Orange County has a long history of protecting sensitive environmental
resources, including historic resources, and the Board of County Commissioners
intends to continue protection of those resources while allowing for economic
development projects in areas that are designated for such uses. Orange
County's land use plan and those of its municipalities have designated only 16%
of the county for growth and 84% of the land area for lower density uses,
farming, and environmental protection. The 16% of the county designated for
urban type of uses is rare and valuable urban potential that can build the tax
base to support the cost of quality of life services in Orange County. The assets
of interstate location and nearby utilities are assets that must be harnessed to the
benefit of all residents of Orange County.
We look forward to your decision on the County - proposed amendments to the
Water and Sewer Management, Planning, and Boundary Agreement.
Sincerely,
Valerie Foushee
Chairperson
cc: Board of County Commissioners
Frank W. Clifton, Jr., County Manager
Craig N. Benedict, Planning Director
5
Attachment 2
Perdita Holtz
From: Patricia J. McGuire [PMcGuire @ci.carrboro.nc.us]
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 5:35 PM
To: Perdita Holtz
Subject: Follow -up to Board of Aldermen and WASMPBA
Dear Perdita,
Thanks for returning to respond to Board questions related to the JPA /WASMPBA amendments under review last evening,
and for arranging for Pete Hallenbeck to join you. Per our conversation after the Board completed its review last night, I
understand that you will convey the Carrboro Board's request that the Board of County Commissioners. This request is for
information on the Commissioners' intention and commitment to preserve and protect historical sites within the areas
contemplated for mixed use development around Bowman Road through participation in project approval and
requirements that projects, even if located within the City of Mebane, and compliance with Orange County regulations.
Please don't hesitate to let me know if you need additional information. Thanks again.
Trish.
Parricia f. 11IcGuire, AICP, CZO
Planning Administrator
Town of Carrboro
301 W. Main Street
Carrboro, North Carolina 27510
35° 54' 4I ", -790 04' 39"
919- 918- 7327(Tj/919- 918- 4454(F)
omcouire[Lci.carrboro.nc.us htto: / %townofcarrboro.ory
Please only print this a -mail when necessary.
Town of Carrboro, NC Website - litt .t: / /www.tchnofcarrbor.o.org
E -mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
5/25/2010
Attachment 3
Proposed Changes to Water and Sewer Management
Planning and Boundary Agreement
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Mebane
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Legend 2 Mlles
Proposed Changes Water and Sewer Boundary
OOriginal Orange Cowty Pnmary Service Area to be Retained Jurisdiction
®Added Orange County Pnmary ServkeArea OOWASALong-Terminterest Area 1 inch 0.890721 miles
mRemoyed Orange County Primary Service Area Orange County Pnmary Service Area
Ex et ng Primary Sery ce Area to be changed to OWASA primary Sery ca Area Orange County Planning and Inspections Department
�'•:, Long-Term interest Area
I ®Orginal Hillsio—gin Primary Service Area to be retained Orange County Lang-Term Interest Area Data modified and map created by Miriam Coleman,03126110
R—i Buffer Boundary
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Historic sites Historic Sites in the Mebane Area
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Dept of Environment,Parks
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Parcel boundary MJones 4,62010