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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-21-2004-9dORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 21, 2004 Action Agen~da~ Item No. SUBJECT: Efland/Mebane Small Area Plan Task Force DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Land Use Element Map With Proposed Small Area Plan Boundary PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Baker, ext, 2130 Craig Benedict, ext. 2592 Tom Altieri, ext. 2579 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 245-2130 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider approving formation of the Efland/Mebane Small Area Plan Task Force and authorize the Clerk's office to advertise for volunteers. BACKGROUND: At the June 2, 2004 Board of Commissioners Meeting, as part of discussions on the expansion of sewer and/or water utilities to the Buckhorn Economic Development District (EDD), the need for the completion of a comprehensive small area plan far the Efland area was identified. This Item requests the formation of a task force to work with Planning and Inspections Department Staff to develop a draft small area plan for the Efland/Mebane area. The following provides the general scope for the proposed Efland/Mebane Small Area Plan Task Force and includes a proposal for: the mission, issues/questions for discussion, geographic extent, timeframe, and composition. MISSION The general mission of the Task Force is to evaluate the existing Land Use Element of the County's Comprehensive Plan, as it pertains to the Efland/Mebane area, and offer local perspective on whether the existing Land Use Element Map (See Attachment 1) categories of: 10-Year Transition, Residential (Gold); 20-Year Transition, Residential (Orange); Economic Development District (Lavender); Commercial/Industrial Activity Node (Purple); Resource Protection Areas (Green); and roadways are adequate in size, density, intensity, scale, or location to address changes that are occurring in the area. Changes include but are not limited to: • Population growth; • Availability of public water and sewer; • Approved Orange County middle school on West Ten Rd,; and • Traffic ISSUES/QUESTIONS The Task Force, to the extent that they address their Mission, may study the following issues/questions, which are not provided in any order of priority; • Is the pattern for development set forth by the existing Land Use Element Map relevant today? • Since 1991, have there been significant changes to community character and form? • Have the goals and objectives included in the 1991 Study been met? • What changes need to be made to the goals and objectives? • Is there demand for additional infrastructure in the Township? • Do Transition Areas need to be expanded, contracted, or moved? • Are locations for economic development appropriate? • What is the development potential of existing Transition Areas? • Which areas of the Corridor are most suitable for development? • Are there areas appropriate for higher density/intensity of residential development? • What role may Mebane play in the future of this area? • What recommendations from Shaping Orange County's Future are relevant here? • What were the citizen comments at land-use plan update meeting held in Cheeks? • How does water quality protection in the Upper Eno fit into the area's future? GEOGRAPHIC EXTENT The geographic extent for the Efland/Mebane Small Area Plan includes the area bounded to the north by W, Lebanon Rd; to the east by the Eno River and I-85/US 70 Connector; to the south by West Ten Rd, and Bowman Rd; and to the west by the Orange/Alamance County line and City of Mebane Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ET.1) line (See Attachment 1), TIMEFRAME The objective is for Staff to work with the Task Force in a thorough manner regarding the many questions previously noted. Recommendations can evaluate goals of the Land Use Element Update and/or be independently implemented in an appropriate timeframe. Substantial work on the Efland/Mebane Small Area Plan will be completed by the end of this year, The Task Force will be sunsetted following the completion of a final report. Staff has already begun compiling technical data and maps that will be used by the Task Force to develop the Plan, COMPOSITION Planning Board members Brian Dobyns (Cheeks Township representative) and Noah Ranells (Bingham Township at-large member) have offered to participate on the Task Force. BOCC members have expressed interest in participating in the process, too. Staff is also proposing that the City of Mebane's Gity Manager be contacted for the City's cooperation and coordination through his participation as well as the appointment of another member. The following provides Staffs recommendation for Task Force composition; 1 Citizen 2 _Citizen _ 3 Citizen 4 Citizen 5 Citizen 6 Citizen 7 Citizen 8 Citizen 9 Plannin Board 10 Plannin Board 11 BOCC 12 BOCC 13 Cit of Mebane 14 Cit of Mebane Advertisement for citizen volunteers will be scheduled to accept applications through September with appointments scheduled for October 5, 2004. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider approving the formation of this Task Force and authorize the Clerk's office to advertise for volunteers.