HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-27-2006-e1ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 27, 2006
Action Agenda
Item No. E.1
SUBJECT: Orange County Comprehensive Plan, Land Use Element Update -Draft Land
Use Element Text Update
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) Yes
ATTACHMENT(S):
Draft Land Use Element Text Update
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Benedict, Planning Director,
245- 2592
Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning
Supervisor, 24.5-2579
PURPOSE:
To hear citizen and public comments regarding the Draft Land Use Element text update.
BACKGROUND:
Orange County's Land Use Element has not undergone a comprehensive update since it was
originally adopted in 1981. It is necessary to update the data and other information contained in
the Element in response to the changes that have occurred in the County over the last 24-years
and growth challenges that have been identified in the areas of air and water quality, water
resources, environmental protection, open space preservation, traffic control, and efficient
provision of public services.
This is the second of a three-part public hearing process for the Comprehensive Plan, Land Use
Element (LUE) Update and is to present the draft LUE text update. This Public Hearing will
remain open until the third public hearing on May 22 2006 is held.
The Land Use Element text:
• Includes background information on existing conditions, including county population and
land use characteristics;
• Provides information on possible future land use and population conditions;
• Identifies challenges related to growth and land use;
• States goals and provides ideas and alternatives to reach goals;
• Conveys the future land use patterns that are desired in the county to Orange County's
residents and developers; and
• Serves as guiding document for Planning Staff, Planning Board and County
Commissioners to achieve the future land uses that are desired.
The Land Use Element text is being updated to:
• Incorporate 2000 t.1S Census data;
• Reflect new growth trends;
• Revisit Goals, Objectives, and Policies;
• Include new subdivision data;
• Revisit Future Land Use Map categories and descriptions;
• Achieve desired land uses and densities; and
• Develop a more user friendly and understandable document.
Following is a summary of the three-part public hearing process for the Land Use Element
update:
1 sc Public Hearing, November 21, 2005 -Remains open and is on Policy Options for Residential
Land Use Density in Watersheds;
2°d Public Hearing, February 27. 2006 - To introduce the draft Land Use Element text; and
3`d Public Hearing, May 22. 2006 - To introduce Future Land Use Map amendments and
Zoning Text and Atlas amendments.
Ttie Board of Commissioners will hear public comments at all three public hearinys on the
Orange County Comprehensive Plan, Land Use Element Update before referring all items to
the Planning Board for their recommendation. Following a Planning Board recommendation on
public hearing specific items, the BOCC will close the public hearings, consider the
amendments, and make a final decision.
Attachment -Please see the attached, bound copy of the Draft Land Use Element Text Update
for your review. Where possible, changes from the existing 1981 Land Use Element are
tracked (new text is underlined and deleted text is strieken). Upon BOCC request, Planning
Staff can provide an additional copy of the Draft that does not reflect the tracked changes.
Although the Draft text includes a revised Future Land Use Map to aid in review, map
changes are not part of this public hearing. Planning Staff will be developing detailed
amendment packets for the May Public Hearing that will include maps for each area where
Planning Staff is suggesting a map change, the rationale for the change, and descriptive land
use data (i.e. # of lots and acres).
The Draft Land Use Elernent text will be available for public review after February 22. 2006:
1) On the County's website www.co.orange.nc.us, Meeting Agerrdas link;
2) At the Planning Department; and
3) At the libraries noted below.
o Orange County Public Library, 300 W. Tryon St. Hillsborough, NC
o Carrboro Branch Library (At McDougle Middle School), 900 Old Fayetteville Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC
o Cedar Grove Branch Library, 58UU NC Hwy 86N Hillsborough, NC
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Other than advertising costs, there are no direct financial impacts associated with hearing public
comments on this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Administration recommends that the County Commissioners hold this ptablic hearing item
open by adjourning until the May 22, 2006 public hearing on the Future Land Use Map
amendments and Zoning Text and Atlas amendments.
Planning Staff recommends that the County Commissioners provide direction to Staff on
the optional Principle, Goals, Objectives, and Policies contained in the draft text (see p. 141)
and hold this public hearing item open by adjourning until the May 22, 2006 public hearing
on the Future Land Use Map amendments and Zoning Text and Atlas amendments.