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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19931216636 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND THE HILLSBOROUGH TOWN DECEMBER 16, COMMISSIONERS 1993 The Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Hillsborough Town Commissioners met in special session on Thursday, December 16, 1993 at 7:30 p.m. in the public meeting room of the new Government Services Center, Hillsborough, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr., and Commissioners Alice M. Gordon, Stephen H. Halkiotis, Verla C. Insko and Don Willhoit. COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Planner Gene Bell, Clerk to the Board. Beverly A. Blythe, Planner Emily Cameron, Planning Director Marvin Collins and Planner David Stancil HILLSBOROUGH MAYOR PRESENT: Mayor Horace Johnson HILLSBOROUGH TOWN COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Allen L. Lloyd, Evelyn Lloyd, Carol Lorenz, Richard Simpson and Remus Smith. HILLSBOROUGH STAFF: Town Manager Eric Swanson and Planning Director Margaret Hauth HILLSBOROUGH TOWN ATTORNEY: Mike Brough NOTE: ALL DOCU14ENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Chair Carey welcomed everyone to the meeting. Introductions were made. He announced that each member of the governing boards should have received three issue papers on the Hillsborough Cooperative Planning Area and a summary of interests developed by the County Commissioners which are related to Hillsborough Cooperative Planning... The. summary is to be used to guide the discussion, and the County Commissioners hope that the Hillsborough Town Board will develop a similar list of issues and interests. Mayor Johnson asked that a discussion on zoning the I-40/Old 86 node be added to the agenda. The four agenda items were not discussed in any particular order. They are listed below: 1. COOPERATIVE PLANNING 2. UNIVERSITY STATION IN THE CONTEXT OF COOPERATIVE PLANNING (Options) 3. EMERGING TAP-ONS IN THE RURAL BUFFER 4. I-40/OLD NC86 NODE Chair Carey asked the two boards to discuss their commitment to the Joint Planning process. He said that he hopes this discussion will lead to the adoption of a Joint Land Use Plan. Mayor Johnson noted that the Hillsborough Town Commissioners would like the County Commissioners to consider adopting certain regulations for water 637 and sewer tap-ons. He made reference to an amendment to the Town Code, Chapter 14, Article VI entitled "Connection to the Water and Sewer System.: Where Service is Available" and read the amendment as stated below: Section 14-45 Permit for Connection Required No person may connect or be connected to the water or sewer system of the town until a permit for such a connection has been issued pursuant to this article. After connection in accordance with this article, service may be initiated in accordance with procedures set forth in Article II of this chapter. All service connections within Orange County,s Rural Buffer shall be referred to the Orange County Health Department for authorization prior to issuance of a permit by the Town. Mayor Johnson said that the Town will limit their tap-ons to the lines that currently exist and that orange County will have the authority to limit tap-ons in the Rural Buffer. Mayor Johnson made reference to a memo dated November 22, 1993 from Mike Brough to Geof Gledhill which outlined the alternative procedures necessary if Orange County were to consider participating in the University Station development. Mayor Johnson favors #4 which reads as follows: "The fourith alternative involves the unilateral adoption by orange County of an amendment to its Comprehensive Land Use Plan text and.'-` map that would create an open space classification and apply that. classification to the University Station property. In other words, this action would anticipate the eventual result of the completion of the cooperative planning process (see alternative number two above) but could be accomplished much more quickly because the only property that would be directly affected would be the University Station property. Once the plan were in place, then the developers could apply for the corresponding rezoning and master plan approval as outlined above in alternative number one." Mayor Johnson asked the County to consider zoning the I-40/0 ld NC 86 node for industry saying that the Town will provide water and sewer to this area. Chair Carey stated that it sounds like the Town is committed to joint planning and are willing to work with the County in that effort. He reaffirmed that the County is committed to the process. He feels that the County and the Town can work together to pursue their joint interest and also include the citizens in the process. Reference was made CPZ. They are listed be (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) to the list of orange County issues applicable to ?low: Landf ill University Station I-40/Old NC 86 Economic Development District I-85/New NC 86 Existing Activity Node Reservoir 638 (6) Rural Character Strategies (7) -Infrastructure The list of Orange County interests applicable to all projects is listed below: a. Avoiding urban sprawl b. Preservation of protected watersheds and ground water c. Encouraging bicycle and mass- transit transportation in and between urbanized areas d. Protection and preservation of farmland and open space e. Development of appropriate mix of residential and non-- residential (including commercial) development f. Fiscally responsible development g. Assurance that citizens affected by the decisions elect those officials making the decisions Town Commissioner Smith noted that Hillsborough has nothing to do with the landfill. Chair Carey disagreed saying that Hillsborough does generate trash. Commissioner Willhoit clarified that at least one of the possible sites is near Hillsborough where a possibility of annexation may occur. Mayor Johnson noted that Hillsborough's concern is that the location of -the landfill will be located near the Town which would prohibit Hillsborough from growing northward. The County Cqmmissioners emphasized that the purpose of listing the ssues is to determine what interest each Board has in each issue. ,nderstanding Hillsborough's interest in each issue will help the County commissioners with their decisions on how to proceed jointly on these issues. Mayor Johnson stated that revenue is one of their primary interests. Discussion ensued on what the agenda will be for this meeting. Mayor Johnson said that with regard to providing water and sewer to the new middle school, they will stub this out in order to provide these services. Town Commissioner Carol Lorenz made reference to the Orange County interest list (a-g above) and said that Hillsborough has those same interests. In. addition Hillsborough has-an interest in generating revenue and adding new water customers. With regard to University Station, Mayor Johnson is interested in creating an open space option which would apply to University Station. An option for Hillsborough is to annex this area. If the County does #4 listed on page 2, Hillsborough will cooperate. Commissioner Gordon noted that fiscally responsible development means taking into consideration the costs as well as the benefits to the County. She feels the County is not in a position to provide the urban level of ervices required for a development as large as University Station. She suggested that the County consider creating a town which would provide their own services. 639 Mayor Johnson noted that the developers of University Station have indicated a willingness to provide a police substation, replacement vehicles.-, for the next five years, infrastructure and land for a school. He pointed out that Orange County is the 20th largest county in North Carolina and 9th in growth. The. two Boards discussed approaching issues by identifying their interest. Commissioner Gordon stressed that the County commissioners want to understand where the Hillsborough Town Commissioners are coming from and why they are asking the County to do certain things. The Boards discussed option #4 as given on page 2 of these minutes. Town Commissioner Smith said that #4 would help to create jobs, add water customers, and provide for orderly growth in that part of the County. In response to Town Commissioner Smith's comment about the total bill being paid by the developers of University Station, Commissioner Insko questioned the financial burden that would be created by future citizens. County Planning Director Marvin Collins briefed the Boards on the Cooperative Planning Agreement. He noted that there are still three issues that need to be resolved. These three are listed below: 1. Small area planning process -- is the area so large that there needs to be smaller areas created? 2. Density of development needed to support cost of extending public water and sewer service, and 3. Legality of limiting connections to water/sewer lines extended` into rural areas. Town Commissioner Carol Lorenz stated that #4 creates, with the Orange County Comprehensive Plan, an open space classification that would create a possibility for annexation of University Station. The Town does not have an ordinance dealing with the cluster concept. Marvin Collins made reference to #4 and noted that creating a Land Use Plan category -was exactly what was on the table for - the Board of County Commissioners when the- applicant withdrew the request and the process stopped. Commissioner Willhoit noted that a group process was set up with the developer., staff, and citizens to try to resolve some of the issues. The developer kept downsizing the project and the process was never finished. He feels that the county and the Town could use the small area planning process, involve citizens and go to public hearing. The Boards discussed using the small area planning process for University station and a timeline for such discussion. Both Boards agreed to move ahead with a small area planning process. It was decided that two members of each Board would meet within the next week to determine the following which may not be inclusive: 1. Who needs to be involved. 2. How-to involve citizens in the process 3. A charge for the group 641 Town Commissionei Smith made reference to the I-40/Old NC 86 node and asked if the County would be willing to zone this industrial -- not fast food or convenient marts but industrial. Mayor Johnson asked that the County Commissioners put in writing what they desire for the area between I-85 and 1-40 on Old NC 86, zone it and, their Board would also take action. He noted that Hillsborough has no plans to annex this area at this time. Town Commissioner Lorenz stated that it is important to find out who has responsibility for which area in this section of old 86. This could be done jointly by another small area planning group. She agrees with working together to protect the interest of the citizens who live in that area. Both Boards agreed they do not want strip development in this area of Old 86. Margaret Hauth stated that Old NC 86 is zoned General Commercial from the prison to Cates Creek on the east side of Old NC 86. The present zoning. allows gas stations. Text amendments will be presented to the Hillsborough Town Commissioners in January which will, if approved, limit the possibility of gas stations. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:15. The next regular meeting for the Orange County Board of Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the OWASA Community meeting room in Carrboro, North Carolina. Moses Carey, Jr., Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk 640 4. outcomes 5. Timelines 6. Report due date 7. Joint public hearing date It was suggested that the Managers and Planning Directors would serve on . this group. A resolution outlining the process to include those items listed above will be ready for approval by both Boards in January. With regard to tap-ons, Geof Gledhill stated that in the context of the Cooperative Planning Agreement, the County can control the connection of water and sewer outside the City of Hillsborough. Chair Carey made reference to emergency tap-ons in the Rural Buffer and reiterated that the Town of Hillsborough offered an amendment to their policy for tap-ons which requires them to get an opinion from the County Health Department as to whether or not an emergency exists before service is provided. A motion was made by Town Commissioner Smith, seconded by Town Commissioner Evelyn Lloyd to approve the resolution stated below: A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE WILLINGNESS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH TOWN BOARD TO ENTERTAIN THE PROPOSAL FOR ANNEXATION OF THE UNIVERSITY STATION PROPERTY AND DIRECTING THE TOWN STAFF AND ATTORNEY TO PROCEED WITH THE DRAFTING OF THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WHEREAS, the developers of the proposed University Station project have proposed that the Town of Hillsborough consider annexation of the property to be included within this development; and WHEREAS, the town has explored the issues surrounding this proposed annexation and it appears to the Board that the annexation would be beneficial to the town; NOW THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH RESOLVES: Section 1. The Board confirms that it is favorably. disposed toward the_ contiguous annexation of the entire University Station development (approximately 600 acres) together with the intervening properties that will make this annexation contiguous to the existing town boundary. Section 2., The Board directs the town attorney and staff to prepare the necessary documents, including ordinances and contracts, necessary to accomplish the proposed annexation. Section 3. This resolution does not constitute a commitment on the part of the Board of Commissioners to annex the property, exercise the town's zoning power in any particular manner, or enter into any contracts. Rather, the purpose of this resolution is to express the Board's favorable disposition toward the annexation proposal as presented by the developers and to instruct the staff and attorney to move forward with the preparation of the necessary ordinances, contracts, and other documents so that the Board may proceed to a formal and final resolution of this matter. Section 4. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption. This motion received a unanimous vote by the members of the Hillsborough Town Board.