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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE minutes 101016 1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary October 10, 2016 Orange County Solid Waste Administration Building, Chapel Hill ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PRESENT: Lynne Gronback (Vice Chair), May Becker, Loren Hintz, Bill Kaiser, Bill Newby, Rebecca Ray ABSENT: Peter Cada, Jeanette O’Connor, Sheila Thomas-Ambat, Lydia Wegman STAFF: Brendan Bouma, Rich Shaw GUESTS: David Hunt, Jim Northrup, Patrick Mallett, Rachel McCook, Alan Parry _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ I. Call to Order – Gronback called the meeting to order at 7:32 pm. She noted that seven CFE members were needed for a quorum, but only six members were in attendance. II. Ad ditions or Changes to Agenda – Shaw asked to move up the discussion of the CFE’s use of Facebook and other social media so that David Hunt could take part in the discussion prior to having to leave for fire training. Gronback asked CFE members if there were any objections to that request; there was none. III. Minutes – No action was taken on the August 8 meeting summary for lack of a quorum. [Note: The order of agenda items IV. and V. was reversed.] V. CFE Outreach and Facebook Page – The CFE continued its discussion on the use of Facebook and other social media. David Hunt (BOCC Office, Information Specialist) and Jim Northrup (Orange Co. Information Technology Director) presented information and responded to questions on the use of social media by a County advisory board. Shaw provided an overview of the CFE’s initial creation of a Facebook page by former CFE member Steve Nezgoda and subsequent postings of information by CFE members Jeanette O’Connor and Loren Hintz. He said the CFE has not used the Facebook page in several months pending information on how to conform to the social media policy. Hunt explained the use of social media by County departments and by advisory boards. He noted some of the potential problems that can occur and have occurred. Hunt and Northrup offered their support for the CFE’s transition of its current Facebook account to a new Orange County account in accordance with the County’s social media policy. CFE members asked what kinds of information is considered inappropriate and would need to be removed from the Facebook page. Hunt said to avoid posting copyrighted material and to avoid advocating positions on political matters. Northrup suggested that if the CFE includes information from other sources that its members make a reasonable effort to know and understand the meaning of the content. He said if there is any question about the appropriateness of material the CFE should ask for an opinion from the County staff, and in some cases from the County Attorney. Ray recommended the CFE establish internal protocols for the posting of material. She pointed out that some organizations only “push” material to their social media page while 2 others also allow public comments to show up on the page. Hunt and Northrup warned that if the CFE allows public participation it must refrain from censuring comments that don’t necessarily reflect the positions of the CFE. Hintz recommended that the CFE only “push” material to its Facebook page, at least for the short term. Other CFE members agreed with that suggestion. Gronback summarized the discussion thus far, noting that the CFE will provide the login information for its current Facebook account to allow the transition to a new County- supported account. She said it appears the CFE wishes to allow only posts by CFE members with no public comments. Hunt and Northrup described the following process for making the transition: • CFE will provide login credential to the current Facebook account (created with a previous member’s personal email) to Beth Young, DEAPR Communications. • Beth will work with the County’s IT Help Desk to transition the account to meet Orange County requirements in its Social Media Policy. • Beth will provide the two or three CFE designees with the login name (email) and password for updating Facebook. • CFE members will post and maintain the CFE Facebook account. • Each time a CFE member who has update authority leaves the Commission, the password will be changed. • The current password will be logged and maintained by the IT Help Desk. Gronback thanked Hunt and Northrup and said the CFE will follow-up on the transition and will develop a process and protocols for posting information on Facebook. IV. UDO Text Amendment for Minor Subdivisions – Patrick Mallett and Rachel McCook (Orange County Planning staff) presented a package of proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance for minor subdivisions in Orange County. The proposed changes would a) increase the maximum number of lots eligible for minor “flexible” subdivisions from five lots to 12 lots, and b) allow for smaller lots and larger areas of common open space within those subdivisions, but with no net increase in density. Mallett presented slides to explain the changes and how they will unfold. He said this is the first in a series of amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to offer greater flexibility and more sustainable development. This particular set of changes is considered non-controversial because it provides a “win-win” for all parties. Mallett said his coming to the CFE is part of the community outreach effort to explain the proposed amendments and to receive feedback. The Planning Board will discuss on October 17. Mallett said the proposed amendments will promote flexible design and the preservation of open space in Orange County—both of which further some of the housing and land use goals of the Orange County 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The amendments would consolidate the major and minor subdivision standards for the Flexible Development option available to landowners and developers. The changes also combine the former Cluster Development provisions with the Flexible Development option. Mallett noted that this option is not available for within the Rural Buffer around Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Mallett discussed the many benefits of clustering residences using the Flexible Development option, including increased open space, reduced infrastructure costs, better stormwater management, higher home values, and benefits to wildlife. 3 Mallett and McCook showed illustrations that demonstrated how the Flexible Development would help to cluster home sites, thus allowing for more common open space, less infrastructure, and lower costs of construction. They presented a table that showed that as lot sizes decrease, the required amount of open space increases within the subdivision. For instance, 30 percent open space is required for a subdivision with 40,000-square-foot lots; 40 percent open space is required for 30,000-sq.-ft. lots; 50 percent open space is required for 20,000-sq.-ft. lots. Off-site septic would be allowed, but each lot would have its own dedicated off-lot septic area. Hintz made suggestions on the need to clarify language in Section 7 and Section 3. Bouma asked what may occur in the common open space. Mallet said there could be recreational amenities, such as trails, playground, garden, gazebo, and picnic shelter— as long as it is approved and maintained by the homeowners association. Bouma asked if the common area could be used for a community solar energy array or community garden. Mallett said it could as long as it stayed out of sensitive resource areas. Each project is considered on a case-by-case basis. Gronback thanked Mallett and McCook and asked if the Planning Department wanted comments from the CFE. Shaw will prepare a draft letter of support of the proposed amendments to the UDO for CFE consideration at the November meeting. VI. Potential SolSmart Community Designation – Bouma briefed the CFE on the County’s application for designation as a SolSmart community [http://www.gosparc.org/]. He said a new Pew Research Center survey shows nearly nine-in-ten adults in the U.S. favor expanding the use of solar power to meet our energy needs. Through the SolSmart program from the US Department of Energy, the County hopes to access technical assistance that will help us make Orange County an even better place for solar energy generation. The program aims to reduce the uncertainties, delays, and unidentified barriers that contribute to higher solar installation costs. Bouma said the County hopes to access a higher level of technical support through working with a SolSmart Advisor. This Advisor would split their time with Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the County for up to six months, starting in 2017. VII. CFE Annual Report and Work Plan 2016-17 – Shaw reminded CFE members that each year the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) asks its advisory boards to prepare a report of their activities, accomplishments, new issues, and concerns. Shaw referenced the copy of the 2015-16 report, and noted that the back side of each CFE agenda contains key information from the report. Shaw said a draft 2016-17 report will be provided for CFE consideration at next meeting. The final report is due December 16. VIII. Updates and Information Items – Information on the following subjects was provided in the meeting materials: a) Orange County study to justify stream buffers, b) Oakwood solar farm approved near Mebane, c) Duke Forest deer management, d) OWASA approves conditions for Mtns-to-Sea Trail (MST), e) new MST bridge over the Eno River in Hillsborough, f) Triangle ozone deaths can be prevented, g) Carolina water managers brace for future, i) North Carolina’s invasive plants, j) windfarm planned off the NC coast, k) Americans polarized view of climate change, and l) Dutch adapting to sea-level rise. IV. Adjournment – Gronback adjourned the meeting at 9:30 pm. Summary by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff