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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19980526APPROVED 1114198 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD QUARTERLY PUBLIC HEARING May 26, 1998 The Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Orange County Planning Board held a joint public hearing on Monday, May 26, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. in the Judge F. Gordon Battle Courtroom, new County Courthouse in Hillsborough, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Margaret W. Brown, and Commissioners Moses Carey, Jr., William L. Crowther, Alice M. Gordon and Stephen H. Halkiotis PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Karen Barrows and members Barry Katz, Howard McAdams, S.A.M. Brooks, Elizabeth Walters, Renee Price, Libby Searles, Runyon Woods, Nell Andrews, Leo Allison, James Selkirk and Robert Strayhorn HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom Allison, Robert Rich, Patricia Samford and Cynthia Satterfield, COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Assistant County Managers Rod Visser and Albert Kittrell and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. ALL RECORDINGS OF THE MEETING WILL BE KEPT FOR 5 YEARS. A. OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR The Board agreed to add to the agenda an item for decision "Salary for Orange County Health Director" B. PUBLIC CHARGE Chair Brown dispensed with the reading of the public charge. C. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 1. Zoning Atlas Amendments This item was chaired by Planning Board Chair Karen Barrows. (a) Z-1-98 Wesley G. McAdams Planner Emily Cameron presented information on this item. She showed on a map the location of this property. The proposed lot to be rezoned is located on the west side of Holly Ridge Road approximately 850 feet north of Oak Grove Church Road in Bingham Township. The request is to rezone a 2.03 acre portion of a 6.3 acre parcel owned by Wesley and Sharon Kay McAdams located at 4015 Holly Hill Road from AR Agricultural-Residential to AS Agricultural Service. Emily Cameron reviewed the seventeen uses which are permitted by right in the AS Agricultural Service zoning district. Three require a Class A Special Use Permit with approval of the Board of County Commissioners and five require a Class B permit with approval of the Board of Adjustment. The Zoning Officer recommends approval of the rezoning based on the findings as listed in the agenda. Chair Margaret Brown asked what type of use is intended for this property and Emily Cameron said that the applicant has indicated he plans to do farm machinery repair. THERE WERE NO QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING BOARD OR FROM CITIZENS. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Crowther that the proposed Zoning Atlas amendments be referred to the Planning Board for recommendations to be returned so sooner than August 18, 1998. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Z-2-98 Barney W. Pittman Planner Emily Cameron presented information as included in the agenda. She showed on a map the location of this property. The proposed 10-acre zoning lot is located on the Barney W. and June R. Pittman property. The parcel lies 1060 feet to the east of North Carolina 86N and can be accessed at 3711 North Carolina 86N which is located approximately 3,100 feet north of the intersection with Lake Orange Road and approximately 3,200 feet south of the intersection with Bradshear road. This request is to rezone the entire 10-acre parcel from Agricultural Residential to Agricultural Business. The Zoning Officer recommends approval based on findings as listed in the abstract. Libby Searles asked about the noncomforming impervious surface and if the intended use would impact that. Emily Cameron said that nothing can be done about the overage on the impervious surface but they could not expand. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to recommend that the proposed Zoning Atlas amendments be referred to the Planning Board for recommendations to be returned no sooner than August 18, 1998. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 2. Local Historic Landmarks This item was chaired by County Commissioners' Chair Margaret Brown. (a) LHD-1-98 Moorefields LHD-2-98 Bingham School (c) LHD-3-98 Chatwood LHD-4-98 Rigsbee's Rock House In accordance with Section 1.7 of the Historic Preservation Ordinance, the Historic Preservation Commission may recommend to the County Commissioners areas to be designated by ordinance as "historic districts" and individual structures, buildings, sites, areas or objects to be designated by ordinance as "landmarks". Tom Allison, member of the Historic Preservation Commission said that four (4) current National Register sites were selected by the Historic Preservation Commission for consideration as Orange County's first locally designated historic landmarks. Planner Don Belk presented a brief presentation on these four sites - Moorefields, Bingham School, Chatwood and the Rigsbee's Rock House. In answer to a question from Chair Margaret Brown, Don Belk said that any changes the owner wants to make to the grounds would also be subject to approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. He said that the County's tax records and land records system will be updated to be sure that it is shown as historic. There is no explicit requirement that the owner maintain the property. THERE WERE NO QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC COMMENTS Barry Jacobs said that Moorefields is in the Public Interest District (PID) and since they are a nonprofit organization, they would not be eligible for the tax incentives. A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to refer this ordinance for the designation of four (4) proposed Orange County Historic Landmarks to the Historic Preservation Commission for recommendations to be returned to the Board of County Commissioners no sooner than June 22, 1998. VOTE: UNANIMOUS THIS ENDS THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THIS MEETING (8:10 break) ITEM NOT ON THE PRINTED AGENDA Lynn Holtkamp spoke about the satellite annexation planned by the Town of Mebane. She said that the citizens in this area of Mebane, which is part of Orange County, are asking the Board of County Commissioners for their help to stop this annexation. She asked the County Commissioners to write a letter to the Mebane Town Council expressing concern over this issue and ask for a dialogue, The annexation would allow light manufacturing in a residential area. In answer to a question from Commissioner Halkiotis, John Link said that the Mebane town Council is responding to a request from an outside entity to annex this area so they can zone this land for light industry. Commissioner Halkiotis feels a letter needs to be sent requesting information on this annexation. Also, we need to copy our legislative delegation and leave a trail of concern. Mebane plans a public hearing on June 1 st and John Link said that the letter will be done in time for that public hearing. New Item Added to the Agenda for Decision (a) Salary for Orange Coun Health Director Tim Ives, Chair of the Orange County Board of Health, presented for the Board's consideration a recommendation from the Board of Health. They have completed their search for a new Health Director and selected Rosemary Summers for this position. They recommend a salary of $73,153 which is Salary Grade 80, Step 8C. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve the recommended salary of Salary Grade 80, Step 8C, $73,153. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Reports carried forward from the May 19, 1998 regular meeting Lal 1998-99 Commissioners' Goals In response to a question from Commissioner Gordon on the timetable for approving the Commissioners' goals, John Link said that the goals are presented to the County Commissioners for their comments in April. The staff then brings the revised goals to the County Commissioners in August or Sept. They try to bring back updates on a periodic basis and usually prior to the County Commissioners retreat in December. Goals are not added without the approval of the County Commissioners. Regarding the Agricultural Advisory Board goals, the Commissioners expressed concern that some of these goals had not been approved by the Commissioners. Interim Planning Director Gene Bell said that these goals have been revised and will not go forward without the Board's adoption. Commissioner Halkiotis said he is concerned that the revisions be reviewed before being adopted and feels we need to indicate the Board action on these goals. He does not want to add any items without knowing the full impact. John Link said that the major challenge is the dialogue that must take place to be sure the goal is what the County Commissioners desire. Chair Margaret Brown feels that any survey sent out from County government should be reviewed by the County Commissioners first. Commissioner Gordon asked why the updates are done and John Link said that they changed the format so that changes could be easily recognized. Commissioner Gordon feels that the goals should be adopted before the budget and that the updates should be listed separately so they can see the progress made on specific goals. Also, new goals should not be added unless the County Commissioners adopt them first. John Link asked that the Board designate their first work session in the new year to work on and confirm their goals. Chair Margaret Brown made reference to the timeline for solid waste issues and suggested doing a strategic plan that would incorporate our solid waste management plan that was sent to the state and this plan and a timeline and long range financial plan. She feels this would provide in one document a plan that can be easily understood by the County Commissioners, elected officials and citizens. Commissioner Gordon made reference to page three and the Natural Resource Protection goal to add a new division to the Planning Department and asked that the County Commissioners consider whether they should have a separate department. She made reference to her memo dated May 25 which outlines a proposal to form a new Environment and Resource Conservation Department. This memo is incorporated into these minutes by reference. She asked that the County Commissioners direct staff to formulate a resolution and wording so the goal can be considered by the County Commissioners and adopted on June 15 or June 22. Commissioner Halkiotis expressed a concern with setting up a separate department in County government versus incorporating into a current County department. He would like to know what the Planning Department looked like 15 years ago and what new responsibilities have been added to their workload over the last few years. He asked if this could be incorporated into our Planning Department. Commissioner Crowther feels that we should not be creating positions when there may be state or federal personnel that will provide some assistance in these areas. Chair Margaret Brown said that she supports the proposal. She would like to have a report on what the planning staff can do in this area to articulate the goal. John Link suggested that the staff work on a comprehensive response which will include the cost of personnel, space, furniture, equipment, etc. and bring back to the Board in August. Commissioner Crowther made reference to the school of the hospital and asked for staff to investigate and report back on a way to shift the cost of this hospital school to the state. The Board continued to review the goals and make revisions which will be incorporated in the final goals. John Link said that they will come back with what they understand the County Commissioners want to adopt. Orange County Public Library: Carrboro Branch John Link said that the County received a letter from Carrboro's Mayor Mike Nelson asking that the County look at the long-term needs of the Carrboro library. He feels the County has gone a long way in providing services to the citizens of Carrboro. Orange County Library Director Brenda Stephens summarized information on other cities and counties and their contribution to library services. Commissioner Crowther feels we need to convene a meeting and try to respond to the Mayor's letter. Chair Brown will contact the Mayor to see if these needs are still applicable. u Living Wage Ordinance This item was presented to provide further information regarding a proposed Living Wage ordinance for Orange County which would establish a minimum wage level for certain firms doing business with County government. Commissioner Halkiotis said that he sees this thing getting watered down and does not like it. Regarding day care salaries, he said that there is a problem nationwide with low pay and high turnover rates. Chair Margaret Brown said she talked with three bankers who are interested in providing money for the County's loan pool. They are against the County's setting a living wage and this stipulation being included in the loan pool guidelines. She feels that the low pay for daycare workers needs to be addressed by the daycare providers. She made reference to nonprofit agencies and asked that a letter be sent to each one encouraging them to provide a living wage for their employees. She would like to encourage a discussion on why they don't pay their employees $8.00 an hour. This may be a project that the Human Services Advisory Commission (HSAC) may want to consider doing. Commissioner Halkiotis asked for a copy of what Durham's ordinance covers. After further discussion, the County Commissioners decided to pursue three options in lieu of adopting an ordinance at this time. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Crowther to approve the amendments to the Orange County Personnel Ordinance which establishes a living wage for employees of Orange County as County policy and shall reflect the same through the salary schedule and pay plan which it may adopt as part of the annual budget process. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Commissioner Crowther, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to adopt a public policy that strongly encourages vendors with whom the County contracts for services to pay their employees a living wage, which is currently defined to be $8 per hour; and direct the Manager and Director of Purchasing and Central Services to ensure that language to this effect is incorporated into request for proposals for service contracts which the County may consider. VOTE: UNANIMOUS The Board agreed by consensus that other concerns centering around a living wage for child care providers and nonprofits be referred to the Human Services Advisory Commission and Smart Start requesting them to pursue a dialogue with these entities and provide additional information back to the County Commissioners on the current situation and what can be done to encourage a living wage for the employees of these businesses. User Fee Review Finance Director Ken Chavious reviewed the fees as included in the proposed budget. The fees for erosion control is not included but will be added later. He distributed some comparables from surrounding counties. Chair Margaret Brown asked if it would be possible to do some kind of fee scale for doing multiple lots. Geoffrey Gledhill said that a fee schedule needs to show some logic when determining the fees. Erosion Control Officer Warren Faircloth said that a large development with high density takes a considerable amount of staff time especially when the entire tract of land is graded and then individual lots must also be graded. In answer to a question from Commissioner Halkiotis, Warren Faircloth said that for the Meadowmont development, one inspector will spend one day a week at the site at the beginning of the project and at least one half day a week at the site for a period of time and then as more development occurs, they will spend as much as one and one half to two days a week at the site. A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Chair Brown to approve the fees as presented changing the percent of recovery from 70% to 100% for all Erosion Control fees and the percent of recovery for Recreation and Park Fees and Aging's Orange Public Transportation fees from 50% to 70%, effective July 1, 1998. VOTE: UNANIMOUS ADJOURNMENT With no further items for the Board to consider, a motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to adjourn this meeting. The next regular meeting will be held on Thursday, May 28, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. in the Judge J. Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Margaret W. Brown, Chair Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk