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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda 02-15-24; 9 - Hillsborough Planning Board – Appointment Discussion 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 15, 2024 Action Agenda Item No. 9 SUBJECT: Hillsborough Planning Board — Appointment Discussion DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Member and Applicant Summary Sheet Clerk's Office, 919-245-2125 Application of Person Recommended Applications of Other Applicants No Other Applicants Membership Roster Applicant Interest List PURPOSE: To discuss an appointment to the Hillsborough Planning Board. BACKGROUND: The Hillsborough Planning Board acquires and maintains information in order to understand past trends, prepare and amend the comprehensive plan for the development of the area, and prepare and recommend ordinances promoting orderly development. The Board of County Commissioners appoints three (3) members who are all residents of the Hillsborough Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). The following individual is presented for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Jeanette Hillsborough ETJ Partial Term 10/31/2025 Benjey If the individual listed above is appointed the following vacancy remains: POSITION EXPIRATION VACANCY INFORMATION DESCRIPTION DATE Hillsborough ETJ 05/31/2026 Vacant since 05/31/2023 FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item. 2 SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact associated with this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss an appointment to the Hillsborough Planning Board. 3 RESOLUTION#20231113-5.A �S 0Ro .ti c RESOLUTION _ � e Requesting an Appointment to an Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Seat on the Ngo Hillsborough Planning Board WHEREAS, as a result of a vacancy, it is necessary to appoint a person to a seat reserved on the Hillsborough Planning Board for persons residing within the town's extraterritorial jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, as of the date of this resolution, a qualified applicant living within the extraterritorial jurisdiction has applied to serve on the Hillsborough Planning Board; and WHEREAS, by state statute and town ordinance, the Orange County Board of Commissioners initially has the authority and responsibility to appoint extraterritorial jurisdiction members to the Hillsborough Planning Board; NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners: Section 1. The Orange County Board of Commissioners is respectfully requested to appoint the following individual to an extraterritorial jurisdiction seat on the Hillsborough Planning Board for a three-year term: Jeanette Benjey 708 Cloverfield Drive Hillsborough, NC 27278 Section 2. If the Orange County Board of Commissioners fails to appoint persons willing to serve in the capacity described above within 90 days of receiving this resolution, the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners may make this appointment. Section 3. The town clerk shall send a copy of this resolution to the Orange County Manager. Section 4. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption. The foregoing resolution having been submitted to a vote, received the following votes, and was duly adopted this 13' day of November 2023. � c Jenn Weaver, Mayor Town of Hillsborough 'PTS C A��v 4 Hillsborough Planning Board Members and Applicants Name Member or Applicant? Gender Identity Race/Ethnic Background Age Range Township Also Serves on Saru Salvi Member Female African American 60+ Hillsborough VACANT VACANT Jeanette Benjey Applicant Female White 60+ Hillsborough 5 Page 1 of 3 Jeanette Benjey Volunteer Application Orange County Advisory Boards and Commissions Name: Mrs. Jeanette Benjey Name Called: Home Address: 708 Cloverfield Drive Hillsborough NC 27278 Phone: 919-308-5774 Email: jmbenjey@gmail.com Year of OC Residence: 2018 Township of Residence: Hillsborough Zone of Residence: Hillsborough ETJ Gender Identity: Female Ethnic Background: White Age Range: 60+ Community Activities/Organizational Memberships: Friends of the Orange Co. Library, Fellowship Board, United Church of Chapel Hill, Communications Coordinator, Greater Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of AGD Past Service on Orange County Advisory Boards: none Boards/Commissions applied for: Affordable Housing Advisory Board Please explain how your background, education and experience is relevant to this board I have a BA in Communications from Michigan State University. I owned my own advertising and graphic design business from 1977-2006. Although it is no longer an official LLC I still do graphic design work for several builders and real estate agents. I had a real estate license from 2000- 2022, worked for Keller Williams. I have designed and built two homes in the area working with engineers and architects. I also remodeled 3 homes, and owned 3 for rental investment. Please explain your reasons for wanting to serve on this board I feel availability of affordable housing is one of the most important needs in our community and really everywhere. Builders build homes/townhomes at a marketing point where they can make the most profit. Understandable. But this leaves a great percentage of the population unable to afford their own home, no matter how small. This seems in conflict with our American dream. I would like to work with people to share ideas on how we can build homes (getting land the hard part), for the average hard-working American family. The pride of owning your own home is important for every family. It is so grounding and gives such a feeling of belonging. You can fix it the way you want it, you can feel that you have an investment in the American dream. I think it gives people a reason to want to succeed in life. How would your particpation on this board contribute to the diversity of viewpoints? Not knowing anything about the current viewpoints, that is a bit hard to answer. But I may have some thoughts on ways to help build homes that are more affordable without sacrificing too much quality. I have a good sense of design, reading and fiddling with floor plans is one of my favorite hobbies. I think I can look at a design and make it efficient and accomplish practical 6 Page 2 of 3 Jeanette Benjey design even in a smaller space. I am also familiar with interior finishes, durable can still be attractive and affordable. The importance of placement of windows is also a big concern of mine. Good use (location) of storage is important and design that gives some privacy to family members. Discussion of one or two-story designs, duplex, triplex???Anything but big apartment buildings. Recreation areas and ways to make sure owners maintain their property without high or overly strict HOAs. Do you have any personal or business interest(s)that could create a conflict of interest (either real or perceived) if you are appointed to this board? None Hillsborough Planning Board Please explain how your background, education and experience is relevant to this board BA in Communications/Advertising, Michigan State University Owner of Intensity Advertising and Marketing Graphic and ad designer for the Raleigh News and Observer Real Estate License 2000-2021, worked for Keller Williams Realty Designed and built two homes (Raleigh & Hillsborough) Landlord for 3 rental homes Experience with exterior and interior building materials Please explain your reasons for wanting to serve on this board I have lived in Hillsborough almost 5 years. Unfortunately because of COVID I have not been able to meet as many people or be active in different groups. I like living here, but I see a lot of small and maybe larger improvements that would make this town more attractive and vibrant. I know a lot of people here go to other surrounding cities for a lot of reasons, would be nice if there was more stores here. Also I found there is a real lack in welcoming new residents and even harder to find out about local businesses. It got the feeling that if you aren t from these parts you don t need to know. How would your particpation on this board contribute to the diversity of viewpoints? I don't know what viewpoints exist, so hard to say. But I am a very visual person and feel I could bring a new perspective to the overall ambiance of the town. It is easy to get used to living somewhere and take everything for granted, sometimes a new eye can be helpful. Not that so much needs changing, maybe just tweaking here and there! Do you have any personal or business interest(s) that could create a conflict of interest (either real or perceived) if you are appointed to this board? None Boards/Commissions appointments: Other Comments: This application was current on: 4/18/2023 8:22:11 PM Date Printed: 4/20/2023 7 Page 3 of 3 Jeanette Benjey 8 Board and Commission Members And Vacant Positions Hillsborough Planning Board Meeting Times: 7:00 pm Third Thursday of each month Contact Person:Sharman Campbell Meeting Place: Hillsborough Town Hall Annex Contact Phone: 919-296-9477 Positions: 3 Length:3 years Terms: 2 Description: The Board of Commissioners appoints three County residents to positions on this board. Applicants to this board should reside in Hillsborough Township.The board acquires and maintains information in order to understand past trends,prepare and amend the comprehensive plan for the development of the area,and prepare and recommend ordinances promoting orderly development.One In-Town seat is a Liaison from the Hillsborough Board of Adjustment and floats. VACANT 1 First Appointed: Gender Identity: Township: Current Appointment: Ethnic Background: Residency Req: Hillsborough ETJ Expiration: 10/31/2025 Age Range: Special Repr: County Number of Terms: Ms Saru Salvi 2 First Appointed: 02/17/2022 Gender Identity: Female Township: Hillsborough Current Appointment: 02/17/2022 Ethnic Background: African American Residency Req: Hillsborough ETJ Expiration: 10/31/2024 Age Range: 60+ Special Repr: County Number of Terms: 1 VACANT 3 First Appointed: Gender Identity: Township: Current Appointment: Ethnic Background: Residency Req: Hillsborough ETJ Expiration: 05/31/2026 Age Range: Special Repr: County Number of Terms: Friday,February 2,2024 Page 1 9 Applicant Interest Listing by Board Name and by Applicant Name Contact Person: Sharman Campbell Hillsborough Planning Board Contact Phone: 919-296-9477 Mrs. Jeanette Benjey Gender Identity: Female Date Applied: 04/18/2023 Ethnic Background: White Township: Hillsborough Age Range: 60+ Zone of Residence: Hillsborough ETJ Also Serves On: Friday,February 2,2024 Page 1 of 1