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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03-10-2026-Work Session 1 APPROVED 417126 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION March 10, 2026 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Work Session on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jean Hamilton, Vice-Chair Amy Fowler, and Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford, Marilyn Carter, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie-Ascott COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) Chair Hamilton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present. 1. Boards and Commissions —Annual Work Plan Summaries The Board received brief presentations from representatives from the second group of County boards and commissions on their annual work plan summaries and provide feedback and/or direction. BACKGROUND: Each year, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) requests that County boards and commissions complete reports on the activities each board conducted over the past year and a plan for future activities consistent with the BOCC's strategic goals. The Chairs or other board representatives make presentations to the BOCC to share information in their written reports. The Board received the first group of work plan presentations at the February 10, 2026 work session. Boards and commissions presenting at this meeting are: Board Name Representative(s) Presenting Orange Unified Transportation Board Michael Hughes Orange County Board of Adjustment Leon Meyers Orange County Planning Board Lamar Proctor Advisory Board on Aging Dr. Tracey Holsinger Adult Care Home & Nursing Home Community Jackie Podger and Advisory Committee Shade Little Board of Health Tony Whitaker Board of Social Services Oscar Fleming Economic Development Advisory Board Emilee Collins Chapel Hill-Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board D.R. Bryan Arts Commission Denise Duffy Tara May, Deputy Clerk to the Board, introduced the item. 2 Michael Hughes of the OUTBoard highlighted the board's key accomplishments for 2025, which include expanding community engagement through initiatives such as the creation of a departmental newsletter and the organization of strategic community outreach events. He said they are coordinating with the Parks and Recreation Commission to align bike and pedestrian initiatives with trail plans. He said they also initiated fare-free self-service on fixed routes, increased support for demand response services, and developed plans for five new transit vehicles. He said future initiatives focus on enhancing the multimodal network, finalizing trail plans, boosting public engagement, and securing funding through collaboration with NCDOT. He said they also plan to add bus shelters at key locations and a real-time transit dashboard. Art Menius of the OUTBoard said they will be working more with transit and monitoring infrastructure and connectivity across local, regional, and utility corridors to strengthen the countywide multimodal transportation system. He said they will strengthen the transportation planning process by increasing involvement through targeted public engagement efforts. Commissioner Carter expressed excitement about fare-free service and expanded service to Mebane, noting interest from other counties at a recent NCACC meeting. Vice-Chair Fowler said she appreciated the OUTBoard's community engagement. Commissioner Greene asked for more information on the bicycle and trails plan. Sarah Williamson, Interim Transportation Director, said they are in the process of drafting the bike and pedestrian plan and it will be available in the next few months. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked for information on transportation barriers for families accessing JCPC services. Sarah Williamson said she would investigate it and provide more information. Commissioner McKee encouraged keeping fare-free service permanent beyond the trial period Vice-Chair Fowler said she appreciated their efforts on the bike and pedestrian plan and along with the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group. Leon Meyers of the Orange County Board of Adjustment said they operate on an as- needed basis to handle special use permits,variances, and appeals of staff decisions. heard three requests for special use permits and one request for a variance. He said they do not have any vacancies. Lamar Proctor of the Orange County Planning Board said they were very busy in 2025 with reviewing zoning and UDO changes and making recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. He said they did five conditional zoning changes in 2025. He noted staff's role in understanding the complexity of UDO language amendments. He said they reviewed and made changes to preliminary subdivision plats. He said there are ongoing discussions to transition this to a staff-reviewed process. He said there will be significant work on the land use plan and LIDO amendments for conservation subdivisions. He said they continue to train new members and noted staff's role in this process. He said they continue to monitor growth in the county from the City of Mebane. He said they would like to have an informal meeting with the Board of County Commissioners so they can better understand the Board's philosophies. He said they want to investigate rural activity nodes and what type of development can be done there. He said they continue to discuss broadband internet and wireless access in the county as well as transportation issues. He said the joint agreements with the municipalities will be a focus as the comprehensive land use map is updated. He said they are always looking at watershed review implications. He said they are interested in alternative water and waste disposal methods for areas without access municipal services. Commissioner Carter thanked the Planning Board for their work. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked for more information on the Planning Board's concerns about Mebane's growth. Lamar Proctor said they are looking for certainty on how far Mebane intends to grow in the county. 3 Chair Hamilton said that the Board will meet with the City of Mebane on March 19. Commissioner McKee thanked the Planning Board for their work and said he reads their meeting minutes closely. Vice-Chair Fowler also expressed her appreciation to the Planning Board. Tracy Holsinger of the Advisory Board on Aging, with Vice Chair Joanne Wilson, praised the Department of Aging's accomplishments under Janice Tyler's leadership. She said the department improved elder care and now leads statewide efforts in aging plans. She said key achievements include the respite program for dementia caregivers in its second year, the "Aging Well Together" broadcast hitting 100 episodes, and "Sibling Out on the Edge" for older LGBTQ adults. She said the advisory board seeks to enhance access to care and social safety net services. She said they would like to provide enhanced programming for those aged 55-64 facing increased work requirements, and financial aid for taxes, Medicare, and healthy aging initiatives Commissioner Greene thanked the board for their work and said that systems like Medicare enrollment are deliberately complex. Tracey Holsinger said program volunteers offer Medicare expertise assistance. Joanne Wilson noted the wide range of programming at the Senior Center for helping older adults. Commissioner McKee agreed and commented that all the programming and offerings described apply to him. Vice-Chair Fowler said that they also support the senior games and she recently signed up. Commissioner Bedford said her family has also benefitted from the Senior Center's programming, including the Medicare class. Chair Hamilton thanked the board for their work and said that the department works together to serve everyone. Jackie Podger and Shade Little of the Adult Care Home & Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee presented the committee's workplan. Jackie Podger said that the training requirements have increased and described the extensive process members must go through before they can be appointed to the committee. She said they have a very active group of ten members. She said they have been working with a new ombudsman. She said they want to continue the relationships with administrators, activity directors, and resident council members. She said they continue to stress the importance of activities and socialization. She said that the new ombudsman has helped the committee improve relationships with one facility and they are working with a second facility that plans to open six ventilator beds. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked for clarification of the ventilator beds. Jackie Podger said a nursing home in the county is planning to offer ventilator beds due to low occupancy, but it requires changes to infrastructure as well as staffing and nursing standards. Commissioner Carter said she'd like to hear a follow-up report on the committee's engagement with facilities. Shade Little said the quality of the facilities in Orange County are very good. He asked the Board to let the community know, because they would like more engagement with facilities. Chair Hamilton asked about the impacts of staffing shortages on facilities. Jackie Podger said that facilities with low staff and restricted budgets are unable to call other agencies for help, so they are doing the best they can. She said that in those situations residents wait for services they need. Shade Little said that despite the challenges, many of the staff they meet still have positive attitudes. He described how hard the staff work under difficult conditions and low pay. Tony Whitaker of the Board of Health described the board's monthly meetings and activities. He said they assist with accreditation for the Health Department. He said their activities center around three focus areas from their strategic plan, which comes from the Community 4 Health Assessment report. He said those are: access to care, behavioral health, and connections to community support. He said while they cannot make changes to improve public health, they can recommend changes. He said they want to educate and learn more about affordable housing needs. He described the photo voice project the Board of Health is working on. He said they've recently reviewed the budget and have improved internal processes to make sure that the department is collecting insurance revenue from clinical services. Vice-Chair Fowler thanked the Board of Health for their service. Commissioner McKee said he is currently on the Board of Health and is attending their upcoming meeting. Oscar Fleming of the Board of Social Services reviewed the accomplishments of the Department of Social Services. He said that the department worked hard to reduce the impacts of the budget shortfall while still serving residents. He requested that staffing levels be maintained to meet the needs of residents. Vice-Chair Fowler asked how much funding is needed for Social Services. Oscar Fleming said he didn't have an exact number, but they are asking for the department's needs to be met and to avoid deeply cutting their budget. Commissioner Carter said impacts to SNAP and Medicaid are being felt nationwide and that at the recent legislative conference, people from both sides of the aisle were unified on the need to delay implementation. Oscar Fleming acknowledged DSS staff and their efforts during so much uncertainty. Chair Hamilton thanked the Board of Social Services and acknowledged the need to protect the most vulnerable. Emilee Collins of the Economic Development Advisory Board highlighted the board's initiatives to enhance the local economy by fostering small business growth, agriculture, and expanding the non-residential tax base. She said the board met six times to review grant applications, notably supporting two investment programs: the Small Business Investment Grant Program, which awarded $156,232 across 30 grants, and the Agriculture Economic Development Grant Program, distributing $115,639 through 13 grants. She noted the move of French manufacturer Citel to the county. She said the board would like additional funding for small business and agricultural grant advertising. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked for more information on the advertisement program. Steve Brantley, Economic Development Director, said they have a small advertisement budget which they would like to increase in the next fiscal year. He described the increase in planned advertisement and said that ads can cost between $2,000 and $50,000. Commissioner Bedford asked if incentive payments will be higher in the next few fiscal years. Steve Brantley said yes. He said they will provide an incentive spreadsheet showing the costs over the next several years. D.R. Bryan of the Chapel Hill-Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board described the activities of the board and the economic impacts of tourism. He said a consultant advised that the board look at the structure of the board and the limitations on the board. He suggested reviewing how the local tourism development authorities (TDAs) operate. He said the consultant suggested reviewing their mission statement and vision. He also said that the consultant suggested promoting visitation to Hillsborough. D.R. Bryan said that the advisory board will bring the recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. Vice-Chair Fowler asked for more information on the local tourism development authorities. D.R. Bryan said that information will be brought to the Board. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about a statement in the advisory board's workplan to audit short-term rentals. 5 D.R. Bryan said they want to make sure that short term rentals are complying with requirements and laws. Laurie Paolicelli, Visitor Bureau Director, said that the municipalities all have differing views on short-term rentals. She said they are trying to stay in conversation with everyone. Vice-Chair Fowler asked for information on the statement that they are rebuilding the Town of Chapel Hill's contribution. Laurie Paolicelli described the tensions with occupancy tax collection and said that the advisory board wants to study it before bringing recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. Commissioner McKee said the conversation could be difficult, but they should tread carefully because one cannot anticipate what the General Assembly might do. Laurie Paolicelli said they are hoping to work on the issue locally. Denise Duffy of the Arts Commission described the accomplishments over the last year, noting the significant impact Tropical Storm Chantal had on the commission's programming. She highlighted community support for the Arts Commission after the storm. She said they distributed $95,000 in artist relief grants after the storm, and hosted the Uproar festival two weeks later. She noted the visitor data from the festival and that it resulted in $84,000 in private support. She said that they are planning a summer festival, expanding programming, and launching a new website. She said $1 of arts grant funding generates $16 in local spending. She expressed appreciation to the staff for their hard work through a challenging time. Commissioner Greene highlighted the artist relief grants given by the Arts Commission to artists impacted by the tropical storm, while also maintaining summer programming, launching Uproar, and recovering from flood damage to the Eno Mill. She applauded the commission for their efforts. Commissioner Carter echoed Commissioner Greene's remarks. Chair Hamilton thanked the Arts Commission for their work. 2. Orange County Land Use Plan 2050 — Board Request for Additional Information The Board received a follow-up presentation in a series as response to the Board's request for additional background information for the Land Use Plan 2050 process. BACKGROUND: The original Fact Book (February 2024) was prepared by Clarion Associates and posted to the project specific website it maintains as part of the contractual scope with Orange County. The original Fact book as well as the updated (February 2026) version can be found via the "Resources" tab of the project website, listed under "Project Resources and Documents": https://www.orangecountylanduseplan.com/resources The Fact Book: • Provides data on existing conditions and projected future trends to provide a common understanding of Orange County at the start of this Land Use Plan 2050 process. • Serves as a resource as the plan is being developed. New data continually becomes available, such as new Census data and updated development features maintained by the County's GIS staff. This Fact Book freezes the data at a moment in time and is a useful snapshot of County conditions today to help inform development of the plan. • Is not intended to be an encyclopedia of every data point about Orange County. The Fact Book Update: 0 41 of the 137 total pages/slides have been updated by Planning staff. 6 • In late-January 2026, the US Census Bureau released five-year American Community Survey(ACS)estimates, and where applicable, the Fact Book has been updated to reflect the newly released data. • The 2022 ACS data (derived from 2018 —2022 sample data) included in the original Fact Book has been replaced with 2024 ACS data (derived from 2020-2024 sample data). • Data collected by the Planning Department, on annexation and building permit issuance, have also been incorporated into the update. The PowerPoint presentation (Attachment A) represents a sampling of information contained in the updated Fact Book, as well as housing data that is not part of the Fact Book update. The slides in the presentation have been selected by staff based on their understanding of some of the Board's areas of interest, as conveyed during its previous work session discussions. The following is a summary of some minor changes or differences between the updated data contained in the presentation and that contained in the original Fact Book: Slide 1 —Added date of update, February 2026. Slide 2 — Included 2019 American Community Survey data for comparison to 2024 data. Slide 3—Between 2022—2024, Orange County's total population increased by 5,049 persons. The population of the unincorporated portion of the County increased by 1,207 people. Slide 4 — No change. Slide 5 — The Center for Disease Control Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) map was updated with 2022 data. Slide 6—480 additional acres were annexed between 2023-2025; 112- acres by Hillsborough and 368-acres by Mebane. Slide 7 — 609 additional certificates of occupancy were issued by Orange County between 2024-2025; 568 for residential properties and 41 for commercial properties. Slide 8—Between 2022—2024, the County's total number of housing units increased by 2,544 units, from 60,314 total units to 62,858. Slide 9 —The Housing Cost Burden for Orange County Homeowners was updated with 2024 data. There was no appreciable change. Slide 10—The Housing Cost Burden for Orange County Renters was updated with 2024 data. There was no appreciable change. Housing Data: Separate from the data updates to the Fact Book, but relevant to the discussions regarding growth and land use patterns in the county, staff is providing data and analysis of residential development activity in Orange County. In Fall 2025, the Board requested information about residential construction activity throughout Orange County, particularly how many residential units had been approved but were not yet built or occupied. The Board was interested in how the county as a whole is responding to the housing needs established in three different studies done on behalf of the Town of Chapel Hill in 2021 ("Projected Housing Needs 2020 — 2040"), the NC Chamber Foundation in 2024 ("Housing Supply Gap Analysis"), and the Triangle Community Foundation in 2025 ("Orange County, North Carolina Affordable Housing Market Data"). In response to this request, staff reviewed building activity in unincorporated Orange County and informally surveyed the Planning departments of the municipalities in Orange County. This work was done in January 2026, and captures the status of building activity throughout the entire county for 2025. It was updated to include the Chapel Hill conditional zoning approvals at their February 25 meeting. Table 1 shows the results of the survey for Approved but Unbuilt Residential Units in Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Mebane, and Unincorporated Orange County, respectively, by housing type. Table 1 Approved Units Not Totals Carrboro Chapel Hillsborough Mebane Orange Yet Built Hill County* Multifamily 4,995 104 4,125 766 0 0 Townhome 1,213 409 361 443 0 - Single-Family 1,307 108 9 79 1,000 111 Total 7,515 212 4,543 1,206 1,443 111 % of Approved Units 2.7% 58.1% 15.4% 18.4% 1.4% *Unincorporated Table 2 shows the residential units that are under construction throughout the county that are not yet occupied. These units should all have occupants within the calendar year. Nearly all of this activity is occurring in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Table 2 Approved Units Under Totals Carrboro Chapel Hillsborough Mebane Orange Construction Hill County Multifamily 3,189 2,863 326 Townhome 413 321 92 Single-Family 248 0 237 11 Sub-Total 3,850 0 3,184 655 0 11 Table 3 aggregates all of this data to summarize the status of approved residential activity throughout Orange County, as of January 2026. The attached presentation provides an analysis of how this residential activity is meeting the county's housing needs but, generally, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and Mebane are approving residential projects and construction at larger volumes than historic trends, and appear to meeting the market demand for market-rate multifamily construction, as established by the studies. Single-family residential activity appears to not be meeting the needs of Orange County, as established by the studies. Finally, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough have reported that they have approved 1,062 and 75 affordable units, respectively, that are restricted to eligible households meeting income requirements. As established by the referenced studies, Orange County, as a whole, is not meeting the rental and for-sale housing needs for lower-income households. The attached slides provide more data from the referenced studies and compare the survey data to the studies and their respective conclusions. Table 3 Approved Residential Totals Carrboro Chapel Hillsborough Mebane Orange Units Hill County Multifamily 8,184 104 6,988 1,092 0 0 Townhome 1,626 0 730 453 443 0 Single-Family 1,555 108 9 316 1,000 122 TOTAL 11,365 212 7,727 1,861 1,443 122 8 % of All Approved 1.9% 68.0% 16.4% 12.7% 1.1% Total Units % of 2024 County 14.0% 40.2% 6.7% 2.7% 36.3% Population Next Steps: A third BOCC retreat has been scheduled for Saturday, March 21 for the Board to continue receiving background information. Following the conclusion of presentations, the BOCC has been asked by Clarion Associates and Planning staff to identify any changes to the preliminary draft Land Use Plan 2050 that may be needed prior to its release for public review during Community Engagement Window (CEW) #3. CEW #3 was scheduled to occur between May- July of 2025. The last public engagement meeting held for the LUP 2050 project occurred, during CEW#2, on October 15, 2024. Contract Amendment #4 will need to be prepared and approved by the BOCC prior to Clarion's initiation of any work editing the preliminary draft LUP 2050, scheduling engagement meetings, preparing engagement materials, and coordinating with County staff for public notice prior to the launch of engagement. Additional information about the project, including e-mail sign-up for project updates, are available on the project website: https://www.orangecountylanduseplan.com. Completed project deliverables, including Fact Books; outreach summaries; and more, are also available on the project website: https://www.orangecountVIanduseplan.com/resources Why does Orange County Need to Update its Land Use Plan? - In North Carolina, local governments that apply "...zoning regulations... shall adopt and reasonably maintain a comprehensive plan or land-use plan (G.S. 160D-501(a)). This statute requires that zoning regulations are "in accordance with a comprehensive plan" and requires that local governments make statements of consistency when making rezoning decisions on a development application. The existing Orange County Comprehensive Plan was adopted in November 2008. Tom Altieri, Senior Planner for Long Range Planning, introduced the item and made the following presentation: Slide #1 VI i ORANGE COUNTYOrange Fact Book LAND USE PLAN .v4 .. - • • February 1 February 2026(updated) k� CLARION 9 Slide #2 Age of Orange County's Total Population Age Estimated Estimated Percentage Population 2019 Population 2024 Change Under 5 years 6,604 6,101 -7,62% 5 to 9 years 8,055 1,612 -5.50% 10 to 14 years 8,614 8,701 1.01% 15 to 19 years 13,943 15,847 13.66% 20 to 24 years 17,594 16,984 -3.47% 25 to 34 years 17,957 17,546 -2.29% 35 to 44 years 16,674 17,073 2.39% 45 to 54 years 18,481 18,231 -1,35% 55 to 59 years 8,612 8,897 3.31% 60 to 64 years 8,899 8,589 -3.48% 65 to 74 years 12,411 14,848 19.64% 75 to 84 years 5,053 7,297 44.41% 85 years and over 1,939 1,952 0.67% L\ Total Population 144,836 149,678 3.34% Data Source:American Community Survey 2019(2015-2019 5-year)Estimates,American Community Survey 2024(2020-2024 5-year)Estimates Tom Altieri reviewed the updated data tables. Slide #3 Orange County"s Population Distribution a This table shows Orange _ County's population by jurisdiction and the Chapel Hill"* 61,827 40.2% percentage of Orange Unincorporated County" 55,786 36.3% County's total population. Carrboro 21,494 14.0% Hillsborough 10,334 6.7% About 40% of Orange Mebane** 4,169 2.7% County's population lives Durham** 146 0.1% in Chapel Hill, followed Total 153,756 100.0% by approximately 36% *Unincorporated Orange County means the areas in Orange who live in County but outside of municipalities,including Carlunincorporated Orange Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough,and Mebane.This includes County. the extraterritorial jurisdictions(l of the towns. **Portion within Orange County geographic limits Data Source:CSBM State Demographer,207.4 Certified Population Estimates 10 Slide #4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index The CDC Social Vulnerabili Index (CDC SVI) can be use? Socioeconomic Status Racial and Ethnic Minority Status to examine the social Below 150%Poverty Hispanic or Latino(of any race) vulnerability of Orange County Housing cost Burden Black or African American* using 16 factors from No High School Diploma Asian' 4 key themes. No Health Insurance Native Hawaiian or Pacific Unemployed Islander* Two or more Races* Housing Type and Other Races* Census tracts are ranked by Transportation *Not Hispanic orLatino percentile social vulnerability, Multi-Unit Structures with 0% being the least Mobile Homes Household Characteristics vulnerable and 100% being the crowding(more peoplrooms in a home)home) than Aged 65&Older most vulnerable. No Vehicle Aged 17&Younger Group Quarters(e.g.,college Single-Parent Households dormitories,nursing homes, English Language Proficiency correctional institutions) Slide #5 CDC SVI: Overall • Across all factors, census tracts in the northwest portion of the County Z ° 1 and along 1-85 are ranked with the highest vulnerability. 0 • Other areas include outside Carrboro and °i•' Dk CDC smal VNnerabi lity Index,Gvemll(2022) south of 1-40. �-sue re-,M­,fl Data Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 5 Social Vulnerability Index 11 Slide #6 Annexations t • 3,551 acres have been annexed since 2004. • 421 acres have been annexed V by Chapel Hill. " s • 209 acres have been annexed by Carrborc. • 1,039 acres have been annexed eV1"'°'° `�"` +.. '. by Hillsborough. • 1,858 acres have been annexed ,. by Mebane. ,F.a..4 f� • 24 acres have been annexed by A"" "°"_ Durham. �RM Laid eM On*�e: °ane,atbns o �" �mxo-xax9 ® NI Slide #7 1 Building Permits • 2,681 certificates of occupancy have been TO, issued by Orange County gq� y o�• ���' •E °%9 n°�'� since 2017. • 2,464 for residential properties (yellow dots one=�'Qoara the map) f �° • 217 for commercial gLW properties (red dots on the _■ ° " 20 2a • r 2025 map) dk oy Y� ■p 'Lnxlhl �E�J � � ire are o°.n s°eu 12 Slide#8 Housing Units Orange County Housing Unit Breakdown Mebane Durham Hillsborough 1,503 (2%) 27(0.04%J • There are a total of 4.522(7%)� 62,858 housing units in Orange County. Carrborc 10189(16%� Chapel Hill • The greatest number _22,171(35%) of housing units are located in unincorporated Orange County, followed by Chapel Hill. Unincorporated' Orange County 24,446(39%J Data Source:American Community survey 2024(2020-2024 S-yearl Estimates Slide#9 Housing Cost BurdenI- W for Homeowners • Based on Census data, this map shows monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income. Hour ng Cost e�Men ror �; Homeowners:Selected Monthly Owner Costs as • Housing cost burden is � eP—n yew � Hwsehok Inwme defined as spending more than 30% of l�os income on housing costs. Data Source:American Community Survey 2024 12020.2024 5•yea r)Estimates 13 Slide #10 Housing Cost Burden for Renters s� Based on Census data, this map shows gross rent as a percentage of household income. f q, , The darker orange areas J . �Housing Cast HUNen(or identify census tracts where ix�ta9e&H-.' Income more renters may be cost Mwi.iwl f9enmu ]v]Incn burdened. �ertoi n -� fT Data Source:American Community Survey 2024 12020-2024 5-year)Estimates Tom Altieri reviewed the schedule for the comprehensive land use plan development. Cy Stober, Planning Director, continued the presentation: Slide #11 The following slides are not included in the Fact Book update. • Current Status of Orang County Housing Supply & Attainability 14 Slide#12 Housing Availability in Orange County January 2026 Survey of County & Municipal Planning Departments: • 11,365 new residential units approved on plans in Orange County • Does NOT include residences that have been approved and finalized in recent years • 3,850 Units Under Construction, mostly in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough • 3,189 Multifamily Units • 413 Townhomes • 248 Single-Family Homes • 7,515 Approved but Unbuilt Residential Units • 4,995 Multifamily Units • 1,213 Townhomes 1,307 Single-Family Homes k • 137 units (11%) are restricted as "affordable" Cy Stober said staff were asked to review three different assessments of housing needs in Orange County by three different interest groups and three different studies using three different sets of methodologies. He said they were asked to get an idea of where the county is in meeting housing needs. He said he surveyed the county's municipal planning departments. He said there can be paper approvals that don't result in financing, but that doesn't happen that often in Orange County. Commissioner McKee asked what the definition is for"affordable." Cy Stober said it varies between approvals. He said some approvals were for 80% AMI, and some were for 50% AMI. He said they were not talking about HUD or federal definitions for affordability. Commissioner McKee said he would like a better understanding and conversation on what is affordable in Orange County. Commissioner Greene said it is specific to the development and what is negotiated. She said the important word to her is "restricted," which means that the units are kept affordable for longer than HUD requires. Commissioner McKee said he'd like to see the Board define affordable housing for Orange County. 15 Slide #13 Housing Availability in Orange County: Town of Chapel Hill Study Staff Compared Survey Results to Housing Analysis From • Chapel Hill's 2021 "Projected Housing Needs 2020— 2040" Study, as prepared by Business Street • Anticipates Growth of 2% in Town Chapel Hill • Fact Book anticipates linear annual growth rate of 1% throughout Orange County, except for Mebane, based upon US Census data Jurisdiction 2017 2040 2017 2024 2040 Annual Population Population Households Households Households Growth Rate Chapel Hill 65,529 83,235 20,869 NIA 31,074 2% Chapel Hill— Book 70,554 NIA 27,856 NIA 59%/. Slide #14 Housing Availability in Orange County: NC Chamber Foundation Study Staff Compared Survey Results to Housing Analysis From • NC Chamber Foundation's 2024"Housing Supply Gap Analysis",as analyzed by Bowen National Research • The analysis is statewide but provides a Housing Supply Gap Analysis for each county.For Orange County,the study identified a 2029 need for • 7,557 new rental units,4,467 of which need to be"affordable"(defined as<80%of the Area Median Income) • 6,312 new for-sale home,305 of which need to be"affordable" • Assuming that all multifamily units and one-third of townhomes units will be rentals,the recent survey identifies that Orange County is providing: • 8,726 new rental units 2,639 new for-sale homes 752 units are restricted as"affordable" m 16 Slide#15 Housing Availability in Orange County: Triangle Community Foundation Study Staff Compared Survey Results to Housing Analysis From • Triangle Community Foundation's 2025 "Orange County, North Carolina Affordable Housing Market Data", as analyzed by Balance Community Advisors • The analysis is derived from a regional "snapshot"of Housing Affordability focusing on cost burdened households and availability of housing types and stock at all price points. • For Orange County, the study identified a 2025 need for 9,555 units(new and existing)for"low-income" residents(defined as<SO%of the Area Median Income) 17%of homeowners,and 64%of low-income homeowners,are"cost-burdened" 45%of renters,and 71%of low-income renters,are"cost-burdened" Assuming that all multifamily units and one-third of townhomes units will be rentals, the recent survey identifies that Orange County is providing: 8,726 new rental units 2,639 new for-sale homes 752 units are restricted as"affordable" 14\ili, a Cy Stober said based on the study in slide#15, the county is meeting the rental demands, but not the for-sale needs. He said the county would be meeting the for-sale affordable need, but the not the rental affordable need. Vice-Chair Fowler said "9,555 new and existing units" was confusing. Cy Stober said they need 9,555 at an affordable price point. Vice-Chair Fowler asked how many units in that category already exist. Chair Hamilton said it's the figure needed given the population that is low-income. Vice-Chair Fowler said she would like to know how many new ones are needed. Cy Stober said 9,555 is needed, whether it is new or an existing home that is donated to a land trust or to a home trust and kept secure at an affordable price. 17 Slide #16 Approved Residential Plans & Permits, Orange County, February 2026 2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 . - — ' ■ Carrbara Chapel Hill Hillsborough Mebane Orange County ` L mily 104 6,988 1,092 0 0 ome 0 730 453 443 0 -Family 109 9 316 1,000 122 m As reported on this graph,'Orange County'represents the planning jurisdiction of unincorporated Orange County Slide #17 Approved Residential Units Not Yet Built in Orange County, February 2026 Approved Residential Plans &Permits 1,443,13% 1,861,15% ' ■Carrbara ■Chapel Hill .Hillsborough .Mebane ■Orange County m As reported on these charts,'Orange County"represents the planning jurisdiction of unincorporated Orange County 18 Slide #18 Approved Residential Units Not Yet Built in Orange County, February 2026 Approved Residential Units Not Yet Built Approved Residential Plans &Permits 111,2%� 212,3% 122,1%, �212.2% ,r IA43,19% 1,206,16% ■ pro ■Chapel Hill ■Hillsborough ■Mebane ■Orange County ■Carrboro ■Chapel Hill ■Hillsborough ■Mebane ■Orange County As reported on these charts,"Orange County"represents the planning jurisdiction at unincorporated Orange County Commissioner Carter referred to slide #14. She noted that the county is nowhere near meeting the affordable housing need in the county when looking at all the studies. Cy Stober provided a caveat that based on a recent approval by Chapel Hill, 1,100 units are restricted as affordable. Commissioner Greene said that Carrboro is currently revising their UDO. She said that a Carrboro council member said that they are planning to position the town to build more housing in the next few years. Vice-Chair Fowler asked if it would be multi-family. Commissioner Greene said that's yet to be determined. Chair Hamilton said this is timely information given the retreat planned for March 21 st. She noted that housing affordability has been an issue in the county since she moved here in 2001. Commissioner Bedford said she is thinking of going back through the draft land use plan and reviewing the suggested revisions again. She asked if staff was going to go back through the plan or if they needed the commissioners to do some homework. Tom Altieri said they would like to hear from the Board if there is anything in the document that is off-base and should be removed. He said there may be aspects where the Board isn't sure, and they'd like more information from the public. He gave an example of rural conservation neighborhoods where the Board might like more feedback. Commissioner McKee asked if there is an estimated cost to the county for providing affordable housing. Cy Stober said that is difficult to determine due to changing federal funding levels. Commissioner McKee said that is something the Board will have to reconcile in the future. 19 3. Adult Care Home and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee —Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Adult Care Home and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee. BACKGROUND: The Adult Care Home and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee works to maintain the intent of the Adult Care Home and Nursing Home Residents' Bills of Rights and promote community involvement and cooperation with these homes to ensure quality care for older and disabled adults. The Board of County Commissioners appoints all fourteen (14) members. REMINDER: As of July 1, 2017, House Bill 248 was adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly regarding the training period for pending members of the"Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee and Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee". Applicants will be selected from the County "Applicant Interest List" for a condensed training and, if the applicant successfully completes the training, they would be recommended for appointment. Therefore, when an applicant is recommended for appointment, it would initially be for a one-year preliminary term and the training will have already been completed. Both members recommended for reappointment have completed their one-year preliminary terms. The following individuals are recommended for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Sandra Okeke At-Large Partial term 09/30/2026 Bates (reappointment) Alicia Reid At-Large Partial term 09/30/2027 (reappointment) SPECIAL NOTATION: None of the other applicants have completed the mandatory pre- appointment training and are therefore not eligible for appointment at this time. If the individuals listed above are appointed, the following vacancies remain: POSITION EXPIRATION VACANCY INFORMATION DESCRIPTION DATE Adult Care Home 09/30/2028 Vacant since 11/02/2023 Administrator Nominee Adult Care Home 09/30/2026 Vacant since 11/02/2023 Administrator Nominee Nursing Home 09/30/2027 Vacant since 11/02/2023 Administrator Nominee 20 Nursing Home 09/30/2028 Vacant since 11/02/2023 Administrator Nominee Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint the recommended individuals. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the attendance of the recommended individuals. Tara May said that the individuals missed two out of three possible meetings, but they are also performing a lot of work outside of the meetings. Vice-Chair Fowler and Commissioner McKee said they are supportive of the individuals. Commissioner Carter asked if there should be a formal attendance policy exemption for this board. Chair Hamilton said they should discuss this further. Tara May said she would research the work of this board and send it to the Board of Commissioners. 4. Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool —Appointments Discussion The Board will discuss appointments to the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool. BACKGROUND: The Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool hears appeals from violations of the Orange County Code of Ordinances, protects the health, safety and welfare of Orange County residents and the animals residing in Orange County, and conducts fair and impartial hearings of appeals of potentially dangerous dog declaration and any other appeals as may be required by the Animal Control Ordinance. The Board of County Commissioners appoints all eighteen (18) members, with representatives from various related fields and geographic locations in the county. Since the work of this body is dependent on hearings, it does not submit an Annual Work Plan. The following individuals are recommended for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM James Wheeler Public Health Field First Full Term 03/31/2029 (reappointment) Michael At-Large First Full Term 03/31/2029 Dempsey Unincorporated (reappointment) Count Dawn Roberts Animal Services Second Full Term 03/31/2029 Advisory Board Member BOCC Town of Chapel Hill First Full Term 03/31/2029 Appointment BOCC At-Large First Full Term 03/31/2029 Appointment If the positions listed above are filled, the following vacancies remain: 21 POSITION EXPIRATION VACANCY INFORMATION DESIGNATION DATE Town of Carrboro 03/31/2029 Vacant since 03/31/2023 Town of Carrboro 03/31/2029 Vacant since 09/17/2025 Town of 03/31/2028 Vacant since 03/31/2022 Hillsborough Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint the recommended individuals. Commissioner Bedford nominated Ellen Pearsall for the Town of Chapel Hill position. Chair Hamilton nominated Judith Markey for the At-Large position. The Board agreed by consensus to Ellen Pearsall and Judith Markey. 5. Arts Commission —Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Arts Commission. BACKGROUND: The Arts Commission recommends strategies to promote the artistic and cultural growth of Orange County, advises the Board of County Commissioners on matters involving the arts, and acts as the granting panel for funding programs available to individual artists and non-profit groups sponsoring arts projects in Orange County. The Board of County Commissioners appoints fourteen (14)At-Large members and one (1) UNC Student who serves a one-year term. The following individuals are recommended for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Bren West At-Large First Full Term 09/30/2028 Mary Carter At-Large First Full Term 03/31/2028 Taub Francesca At-Large First Full Term 03/31/2029 Talenti (reappointment) Denise Duffy At-Large Second Full Term 03/31/2029 Gideon Young At-Large Second Full Term 03/31/2029 If the individuals listed above are appointed, no vacancies remain. Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Bren West and Mary Carter Taub. Commissioner Bedford wanted to reappoint Francesca Talenti and Denise Duffy. She said Gideon Young did not meet the attendance requirements and she did not want to reappoint. Commissioner Greene said she supported Gideon Young. Commissioner McKee and Vice-Chair Fowler also supported Gideon Young. Commissioner Carter, Commissioner Bedford, Commissioner Portie-Ascott, and Chair Hamilton were not supportive of Gideon Young. Commissioner Bedford suggested Pascal Moore for the At-Large position. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Francesca Talenti, Denise Duffy, and Pascal Moore for At-Large positions. 22 6. Board of Equalization and Review—Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Board of Equalization and Review. BACKGROUND: The Board of Equalization and Review is a quasi-judicial body that hears appeals from residents concerning various property tax issues, including valuation and exemption appeals. The Board of Equalization and Review is charged with ensuring that all taxable property is appraised and assessed according to the standards required by the North Carolina General Statutes. The Board of County Commissioners appoints three (3) members, seven (7) alternates, and designates the Chair. Appointees serve two-year terms, but there is no limit to the number of terms they may serve. Since the work of this body is dependent on hearings, it has not historically submitted an Annual Work Plan. The Board of Equalization and Review does not make recommendations for appointments. The following positions are presented for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM BOCC Alternate Partial Term 03/31/2027 Appointee BOCC Alternate Partial Term 03/31/2027 Appointee If the positions listed above are filled, no vacancies remain. Tara May introduced the item. Commissioner McKee recommended Annette Moore. Chair Hamilton, Vice-Chair Fowler, Commissioner Bedford, Commissioner Carter, Commissioner Portie-Ascott, and Commissioner Greene were not in support of the recommendation. Commissioner Carter recommended Elizabeth Young. Chair Hamilton, Vice-Chair Fowler, Commissioner Bedford, Commissioner McKee, Commissioner Portie-Ascott, and Commissioner Greene supported the recommendation. Commissioner Bedford recommended Patrick Mulkey. Chair Hamilton, Vice-Chair Fowler, Commissioner Carter, Commissioner McKee, Commissioner Portie-Ascott, and Commissioner Greene supported the recommendation. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Elizabeth Young and Patrick Mulkey. 7. Historic Preservation Commission —Appointment Discussion The Board discussed an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission. BACKGROUND: The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is charged with undertaking an inventory of properties of historical, prehistorical, architectural, and/or cultural significance. It recommends areas to be designated or removed as "historic districts" and reviews and acts upon proposals for alterations, demolition, new construction, etc. 23 In considering new applicants, the HPC is required to follow the guidelines from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in order for the County to remain eligible to participate in the state's Certified Local Government (CLG) program. Those guidelines include the following language governing the qualifications of prospective HPC applicants: "All members shall have demonstrated experience or knowledge in history, architecture or related disciplines that is supported by resume information sufficient to allow the SHPO to confirm the qualifications of members, pursuant to 36 CFR Part 61." The Board of County Commissioners appoints all seven (7)At-Large members. The following individual is recommended for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Carol Ann At-Large First Full Term 03/31/2029 Lewald (reappointment) If the individual listed above is appointed, no vacancies remain. Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint the recommended individual. 8. Orange County Board of Adjustment—Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Orange County Board of Adjustment. BACKGROUND: The Board of Adjustment hears, reviews, decides appeals, and reviews any order requirement, decision, or determination made by the Zoning Officer in the performance of official duties. It also hears and decides applications for the approval of those Special Uses requiring Board of Adjustment approval, in accordance with the rules and conditions laid down in the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), hears and decides appeals for variances from the dimensional regulations of the Unified Development Ordinance(UDO), and decides or determines other matters as may be required by the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) or State law. There are no term limits for Board of Adjustment members. The Board of County Commissioners appoints all five (5) members and two (2) alternates. The Board of Adjustment does not make recommendations for appointments. The following individuals are presented for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Jeff Scott At-Large Third Full Term 06/30/2029 Elizabeth At-Large Second Full Term 06/30/2029 Bronson If the individuals listed above are appointed, no vacancies remain. 24 Tara May introduced the item. Commissioner Bedford said that Elizabeth Bronson is also on the Planning Board and that the Board did not want to have the same individuals on both boards. She recommended Jeff Scott and Leto Copeley. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Jeff Scott. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said that Leto Copeley is not interested in the position. The Board agreed to keep re-advertising for the At-Large position currently held by Elizabeth Bronson. 9. Parks and Recreation Council —Appointments Discussion The Board discussed appointments to the Parks and Recreation Council. BACKGROUND: The Parks and Recreation Council consults with and advises the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks, and Recreation, and the Board of County Commissioners on matters affecting parks planning, development, and operation, recreation facilities, policies, and programs, and public trails and open space. The Board of County Commissioners appoints twelve (12) members, with representatives from each of the County's townships and municipalities, and two (2) non-voting youth delegates. The following individuals are recommended for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF EXPIRATION DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT DATE TERM Louise Flinn Bingham Township Second Full Term 03/31/2029 Navya Sharma Youth Delegate (non- First Full Term 03/31/2029 voting) rea ointment If the individuals listed above are appointed, the following vacancies remain: POSITION EXPIRATION VACANCY INFORMATION DESIGNATION DATE Carrboro City 03/31/2027 Vacant since 08/14/2025 Limits At-Large 03/31/2028 Vacant since 02/02/2026 Little River 03/31/2026 Vacant since 10/20/2025 Township Tara May introduced the item. Commissioner Carter noted Navya Sharma's attendance issues. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if the attendance policy should apply to youth. Tara May said that is up to the Board. Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she supported Navya Sharma. Chair Hamilton said that advisory boards now know that the Board will be looking at attendance. She said if they get feedback about barriers to attendance, they can adjust. Commissioner McKee said that staff should remind the youth delegates of the attendance expectations. Laura Jensen said one nuance is that youth delegate positions are non-voting. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint the recommended individuals. 25 Vice-Chair Fowler nominated Marissa Hoer for the At-Large position. Commissioner Bedford agreed with the nomination. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint Marissa Hoer. 10. Orange County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council —Appointment Discussion The Board discussed an appointment to the Orange County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. BACKGROUND: The N.C. Department of Public Safety partners with the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) to galvanize community leaders, locally and statewide, to reduce and prevent juvenile crime. JCPC members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). Members represent nineteen (19) different fields/organizations, and the BOCC may also appoint up to seven (7) at-large members. There is no application process for the Council currently. The following individual is presented for Board consideration: NAME POSITION TYPE OF TERM DESCRIPTION APPOINTMENT EXPIRATION TERM DATE Sanai Bryant A Person Under the Partial Term 06/30/2027 Age of 21 Tara May introduced the item. The Board agreed by consensus to appoint the recommended individual. Chair Hamilton said that they are looking forward to having the JCPC board as part of their regular appointment process. She said that she's requested research on quasi-judicial boards and how other counties appoint to those roles. Vice-Chair Fowler asked who has been attempting to fill school, business community, or district attorney designee positions. Tara May said it's been with DSS, but that she will include those positions in her advertising. Vice-Chair Fowler asked if the designee is for both school systems. Tara May said statutes require one. Chair Hamilton said an at-large position could used for the other school system. Adjournment A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Bedford to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Jean Hamilton, Chair Recorded by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board Submitted for approval by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board