HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-14-2004-9cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 14, 2004
Action Agenda
Item No. ~-G
SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element Update -Public Outreach Follow-up
Proposal
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
1, Land Use Element Goals, Reconfirmed
by BOCC October 21st
2. Proposal for Outreach Follow-up
3, Summary of Staff Recommendations
INFORMATION CONTACT:
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 provide the BOCC with Planning Staffs proposal for "Public Outreach Fallow-
up" that has been requested by the Board to occur prior to formal Public Hearing on the
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element Update,
BACKGROUND: At the October 21, 2004 County Commissioners' work session, the BOCC
reconfirmed the goals (See Attachment 1) for the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element
Update and directed staff to conduct additional public outreach meetings prior to advertising for
a Public, Hearing on the Land Use Element Update.
Staffs proposal for additional public outreach meetings is provided in Attachment 2 and
includes the following sections: Purpose; Advertising; When and Where; and Format. In
summary, staff proposes four follow-up outreach meetings to take place late February -early
March 2005. The main purpose of the meetings is to receive additional comments and
feedback from the public on staffs ideas for the Land Use Element prior to the initiation of the
formal Public Hearing input process.
This series of outreach meetings will be less formal than the Township Meetings that took place
this past spring. Staff is not suggesting a formal presentation, but rather a brief 5-10 minute
introduction of the various zoning Density Options and other staff recommendations followed by
"roundtable" open discussion and comment. Staffs emphasis will be on listening and
documenting the discussion rather than on responding to questions, Following "roundtable"
discussion, staff will invite participants to review subject material that will be on display, have
refreshments, and interact with Staff on a more personal basis, This will give those who may be
less comfortable participating in a group discussion the opportunity to speak with staff on more
of a one-on-one basis,
Staff presented this outreach proposal to the Planning Board at its December 1st meeting. As a
result, staff has incorporated the suggestion to provide material on display at each meeting that
describes, in simple terms, each of staffs recommendations far the Land Use Element Update.
Staff will provide additional comments made by the Planning Board, related to Staff's "Density
Options', at the December 14~h Commissioners' Meeting, following Planning Board Chair and
Vice-Chair review of the written "draft comments".
Attachment 3 provides a summary list of staff recommendations far the Land Use Element
Update. Although the BOCC has been provided with Staffs recommendations in detail at prior
work sessions and meetings, this summary list has been provided for convenience.
Although the Planning Department will continue to solicit input from all County Boards and
Departments, staff will be requesting formal, written input an Planning staffs recommendations
from the fallowing Boards and Departments prior to the initiation outreach follow-up meetings:
Affordable Housing Advisory Board
Agricultural Preservation Board
Commission for the Environment
Economic Development Commission
Environment and Resource Conservation Department
Environmental Health Division and Board of Health
Historic Preservation Cammission
Planning Board
Staff will report back to the BOCC fallowing the completion of outreach follow-up meetings.
Staffs report, at a minimum, will include a summary of public input obtained during outreach,
written input provided by the County Boards and Departments listed above, and an advertising
proposal for Public Hearing on the Land Use Element Update. At the present time, Planning
Staff concludes that the May 23, 2005 Quarterly Public Hearing may be a potential date for a
Public Hearing on the Update.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Other than the advertising costs associated with outreach fallow-up
meetings, there are no direct financial impacts associated with the review and approval of this
proposal.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Administraticn recommends that the Board review this proposal
and authorize Staff to proceed with "Public Outreach Follow-up".
Attachment 1
Orange County Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element
"Sustainable Land Use Guiding Principles" and
Relationship to Comprehensive Plan Land Use Committee (CPLUC)'s 13 Growth Management Challenges
(Confirmed at the 10/21/2004 BOCC Work Session)
1, Efficient
Provision of Public
Services
4, Protect Water 7, Hazard Mitigation - 8. Protection of 10, Development
Resources - Reduction of Natural Areas/ location and
Watershed and Stormwater Runoff and Wildlife Corridors type
Groundwater Flooding
6. Reduction of the
Fiscal Impacts of
Development
Principle A
Efficient and Fiscally Responsible
Provision of Public Facilities and
Services
Principle B
Water Resources
Preservation
9. Reduction of Air
5. Traffic Reduction Pollution
Principle C
Air Quality Protection and an
Effective Transportation Syste
2, Protection of Rural
Community Character
Principle D
Natural Area Resource
Preservation
3. Preserve
Farmland
and Viable Farm
Economy
Principle E
Preservation of Rural Land
Use Pattern
Nate: Principle E is related
to the rural areas and farm
economy (and rural open
space)
Orange County Sustainability
11. Economic
Prosperity and
Diversity
Principle F
Sustainable Growth
and Development
13. Preservation of
Community Character-
Neighborhoods and
Historic/Cultural Features
12. Affordable
Housing
Principle G
Promotion of
Economic Prosperity
and Diversity
Principle H
Preservation of
Community Character
Note: Principle H is
related to the built
environment, including
neighborhoods and the
historic and cultural
(Regional Cooperation and Planning can be an approach used in carrying out the Comprehensive Plan rather than a goal included in the text of the Comprehensive Plan)
Attaclunent 2
Proposal for Outreach Follow-Up
Purpose
The purpose for outreach follow-up is primarily to receive additional comments
and feedback from the public on Staffs ideas for the Land Use Element prior to
the initiation of the formal Public Hearing input process, Furthermore, fallow-up
outreach activities will provide an additional means of making citizens aware of
the Land Use Element Update Process that the County is undergoing and
associated Ordinance amendments that may follow.
Advertising
Staff proposes an advertising campaign that includes the same components
used to advertise the Seven Township Meetings that were conducted during the
spring of this year, The use of the following media are proposed:
• Newspaper advertisements in News of Orange, Northern Orange Xtra,
and Chapel Hill Herald
• Posted bulletins at rural convenience stores, gas stations, and other
similar prominent public places
• Direct mailings to churches; civic groups; County advisory boards;
Chapel Hill, Garrboro, Durham, Mebane, and Hillsborough Planning Staffs;
and those individuals on the Land Use Element Update mailing list that is
maintained by the Planning Department
• E-mail to the "Sunshine List" that is maintained by the County Clerk's
Office
• Public announcements at Commissioners Meetings
When and Where
Four (4) Outreach Follow-Up Meetings during late February -March 2QQ5 are
proposed in the following order and locations:
15~ Meeting - Southern Orange County (Homestead Community
Building)
2nd & 3`d Meetings -Northern Orange County (Northern Human Services
Center and Schley Grange Hall)
4~h Meeting - Central Orange County (F, Gordon Battle Courtroom)
Format
This series of outreach meetings will be less formal than the Township Meetings
that took place this past spring. Staff is not suggesting a formal presentation but
Attachment 2
rather a brief 5-10 minute introduction followed by "roundtable" open discussion
and comment. Staffs emphasis will be on listening and documenting the
discussion rather than on responding to questions. Material will be an display at
each meeting that describes, in simple terms, each of Staff's recommendations
for the land Use Element Update. Following "roundtable" discussion, Staff will
invite participants to further review material on display, have refreshments, and
interact with Staff on a more personal basis. This will give those who may be
less comfortable participating in a group discussion the opportunity to speak with
Staff on more of a one-an-one basis.
Attaclunent 3
Summary of Staffs Recommendations
Short-Term (Less than 1-Yr.) -implemented with the Land Use Element Update and
presented at Public Hearing in 2005:
1. DENSITY REDUCTION -Lower number of potential residential lots, permitted
per tract, in rural areas (often called "down zoning"). Zoning Density Options
range from "No Change" (Option 1) to 1 dwelling unit per 5 acres (Option 5),
Following are benefits of density reduction:
• Smaller, sustainable unincorporated population at build-out,
• Reduces Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and
associated air pollution,
• Protects water quality and quantity.
• Reflects difference between lower rural densities vs.
higher urban densities.
• Efficient public service delivery can minimize sprawl and related public
costs.
• Promotes open space and habitat.
• Protects rural character
2. MINIMUM LOT SIZE -Increase Minimum Lat Size from 40,000 square feet (0.92
acres) to approximately 87,120 square feet (2.0 acres) in rural areas.
This change promotes:
• Adequate ground water recharge.
• Safer distances between wellheads and septic systems.
• Flexibility in siting house and accessory uses (decks, storage sheds,
etc.) without encroaching on septic repair area,
3. OPEN SPACE SUBDIVISIONS - As density decreases, more open space is
protected either "In-lot" through non-disturbance easements or through
shared/common area open spaces.
4. URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARIES AND JOINT ORANGE CO./HILLSBOROUGH
TASK FORCE - Incorporation of any appropriate land use recommendations
made by the Orange County/Town of Hillsborough Urban Transition Area Task
Force. Staff will be reporting Task Force recommendations at the Joint Orange
County/Town of Hillsborough Commissioners Meeting on February 17, 2005.
5. ENCOURAGE FARM ENTERPRISES -Amend Zoning Ordinance to permit land
uses that will offer farmers opportunities for supplemental revenue from
agricultural products, businesses that are logical extensions of farm use, and
services related to agriculture..
1. TRANSFER of DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (TDR)
2. URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARIES -Coordination with municipalities including
Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Mebane, and Durham City/County