HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-03-2015 - 5bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 3, 2015
Action Agenda
Item No. 5 -b
SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendments
for Agricultural Support Enterprises Within the Rural Buffer Land Use
Classification — Defer Public Hearing Process to May 5, 2015 (No Additional
Oral Comments Accepted)
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) Yes
ATTACHMENTS:
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Perdita Holtz, 245 -2578
Craig Benedict, 245 -2592
PURPOSE: To defer the public hearing process on the Comprehensive Plan and Unified
Development Ordinance (UDO) zoning text amendments pertaining to Agricultural Support
Enterprises within the Rural Buffer land use classification to May 5, 2015.
As a reminder, the public hearing where oral comments are accepted was held on February 24,
2014. Any additional comments received after the oral public hearing must be in writing. The
item on the March 3, 2015 agenda is solely to further defer action on the proposed text
amendments until May 5, 2015 in order to allow additional time for necessary amendments to be
made to the Joint Planning Area Land Use Plan and Agreement.
BACKGROUND: This item was presented at the February 24, 2014 Quarterly Public Hearing.
It was noted at the hearing that concurrent amendments to the Joint Planning Area Land Use
Plan and Agreement (JPA) were necessary in order for the County to adopt the proposed UDO
zoning amendments. The JPA land use amendments, which were heard at the March 27, 2014
joint public hearing, must be approved by the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and Orange
County.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted the JPA land use amendments at its
June 3, 2014 meeting. The Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro considered the amendments at
meetings in June, but opted to continue to contemplate the JPA amendments, with the Town of
Carrboro Board of Aldermen in particular noting it wished to delve into the details of the UDO
zoning amendment, which would implement the JPA land use amendments. On October 14,
2014, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen adopted a Resolution pertaining to the JPA amendments
and the topic was discussed at the October 16, 2014 joint Orange County /Town of Carrboro
meeting and at the November 19, 2014 Assembly of Governments meeting. The Town of
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Carrboro reconsidered its Resolution on January 27, 2015 and adopted a Resolution that does
not contain a sunset clause for the amendments.
The Town of Chapel Hill Council is scheduled to consider this matter at its March 9, 2015
meeting.
The public hearing for the Comprehensive Plan and UDO zoning amendments has previously
been deferred to September 4, 2014, November 18, 2014, and March 3, 2015 in order to allow
time for the concurrent JPA land use amendments to be approved by the three local
governments. Since the approval process is not complete, the public hearing for the
Comprehensive Plan and UDO zoning amendments (which is held open in order to receive the
Planning Board's recommendation and any written comments submitted after the oral public
hearing) needs to be delayed to May 5, 2015. This should allow ample time for the Town of
Chapel Hill to consider the necessary JPA land use amendments and for the County to re -adopt
the JPA land use amendments since revisions have resulted from the Towns' review /approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to continue this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board:
1. Open the public hearing, and
2. Defer the hearing by adjourning it to May 5, 2015 in order to allow time for the necessary
JPA land use amendments to be further considered and adopted.