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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP-0070 - Toward a Sustainable Community 06-06-1994• ~ r • • POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL MEETING DATE: June 6, 1994 NUMBER: P:0070 EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 1994 REVISIONS: POLICY: Toward a Sustainable Community Orange County is committed to the concept of a sustainable community. A sustainable community uses and protects its human and natural resources to meet the current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It seeks improved public health, an informed citizenry, and a better quality of life for all of its residents while promoting efficiency, conservation, pollution prevention, and' developing local resources to strengthen the local economy. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES Sustainability is a fundamental organizing concept against which to evaluate proposed programs and policies in the areas of land use planning, environmental protection, economic development, housing, transportation, solid waste management, health and social services, and public safety. Such programs and policies should therefore be prepared in a manner which addresses the following principles of Sustainability: INTERDEPENDENCE: Integrate long-term economic, environmental, and social considerations into all decisions to reflect their inherent interdependence. PARTNERSHIP: Invite cooperation and unify efforts between govern- ments, business, environmentalists, non-profit organizations, citizens, and others to address interdependence. STEWARDSHIP: Balance resource use and conservation between present and future generations so that future generations are not compromised. DIVERSITY': Maintain diverse biological, economic, and social systems. PREVENTION: Anticipate and prevent social, economic, and environ- mental problems rather than attempt to solve them after the fact. EQUITY: Insure all community members equal opportunities to contribute to the economy, enjoy the environment and participate in decisions that affect them. RESPONSIBILITY: Ask all community members to take responsibility for sustaining their community and environment. • 11 January 1, 1995 and phase two which adds employment be phased in on January 1, 1996, (3) go back to the General Assembly to request enabling legislation which will include sexual orientation as a protected class. This will be contingent upon the development of a coalition effort with other Human Relations Commissions and community groups who want to support that kind of legislation and a development of a multi-county collaborative effort to support that kind of enabling legislation, and (4) that the County Commissioners support the necessary staff to make this an effective ordinance with two full-time personnel. In response to a concern expressed by Commissioner Gordon, Lucy Lewis said that policies and procedures will be developed which are to be approved by the commissioners, that will spell out the composition of the panel in terms of geographical representation and diversity as well as the methods by which they operate. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon,. seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to extend the timeline from ten days to fifteen days for a respondent to file an answer to a complaint. Lucy Lewis indicated she is trying to parallel the federal timelines. The goal is to make it work efficiently and quickly. THIS MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN A motion was made by Commissioner Insko, seconded by Chair Carey to approve the Manager's recommendation as stated in the abstract. VOTE: UNANIMOUS • D. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PRINCIPLES lp ~ ~p ` / `T A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Willhoit to approve a policy outlining sustainable community principles which could be used to evaluate local programs and policies. Commissioner Insko offered an amendment to the second sentence which was included in the policy as attached to these minutes on page VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT: UNANIMOUS VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION WITH THE AMENDMENT: UNANIMOUS E. EMERGENCY HOSPITAL COSTS John Link asked that the Board consider paying the emergency hospital costs incurred by a County jail inmate who was injured during an escape attempt at the County Courthouse. The costs incurred amounted to $24,946.92. These costs have been billed to Orange County, pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 153A-225 which makes County jails responsible for emergency medical care for those persons in custody. He explained that it would not be cost effective to try to recover the costs from the person. A motion was made by Commissioner Willhoit, seconded by Commissioner Insko that these expenses be paid from the County Contingency Fund. VOCE: AYES, 4; NOS, 1 (Commissioner Halkiotis) The Board asked that a resolution for health care for inmates be • developed for them to present to the General Assembly. • ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 6. 1994 Agenda Abstract -Item # ~-D SUBJECT: SUSTAINABLE CO]V~12UNITIE3 PRINCIPLES DEPARTMENT: Planning PUBLIC HF.ARIl~TG: Yes X No ATTACIEII1~iENTB: INFORMATION CONTACT: Draft Policy Statement Planning Director X2592 Draft 5/23/94 Public Hearing Minutes PHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Mebane 22?-2081 Durham 688-7331 Chapel Hill 967-9251 PURPOSE: To consider a proposed policy outlining sustainable community principles which could be used to evaluate local programs and policies. • BACHGROUND: A sustainable community is one which uses and protects its human and natural resources to meet the current needs while insuring that enhanced community assets are available for future generations. It seeks improved public health, an informed citizenry, and a better quality of life for all of its residents while promoting efficiency, conservation, pollution prevention, and developing local resources to strengthen the local economy. Nationally, the concept of sustainability has been advanced by several recent developments. The idea has become the focus of the National Commission on the Environment, and it was highlighted by Vice President Albert Gore in his book, Earth in the Balance. In communities across the country, information networks have been formed to prnmote the concept. Planning and design professions have also given attention to the subject, as evidenced by the growing number of articles and books on various perspectives of sustainability. In March of this gear, Commissioner Don Willhoit presented a report to the Board of Commissioners on the concept of sustainable development and its application to Orange County. His presentation was based on his attendance at a National Association of Counties (NACo) Conference in Washington, D.C. NACo has established a sustainable development task force and will be developing model programs for counties to consider. However, until more definitive programs are available through NACo or the Shaping Orange County's Future Steering Committee, Co**+**+~a~oner Willhoit suggested that the Board consider adoption of . a policy statement with emphasis on a "Sustainable Community" rather than just development. • 2 The proposed policy statement could serve as a fundamental organizing concept against which to evaluate proposed programs and policies in the areas of land use planning, environmental protection, economic development, housing, transportation, solid waste management, health and social services, and public safety. Proposed programs and policies .could, in turn, include proposed actions and strategies such as the following. * Acknowledge environmental constraints so as to live within physical and biological limits. * Reduce the exposure of people and property to natural hazards. * Reduce air and water pollution and the consumption of nonrenewable resources. * Promote a sense of place by preserving cultural resources and maintaining a visually pleasing community. * Promote safety through land use patterns and community strategies that lessen opportunities for crime. * Share a concern and provide equal opportunity for all citizens. • * Seek to eradicate poverty and insure a dignified life for all residents. * Strive to create spatial patterns and living environments in which all individuals and groups are treated fairly. * Provide housing opportunities for all residents. * Include planning processes and decision structures that encourage public participation and the involvement of a variety of community groups. At the May 23, 1994 public hearing, the Board of Com ±*+~+~~a~oners asked that the draft policy statement be placed on this agenda for consideration for adoption. The Board also indicated that, if adopted, the policy could be referred to various advisory boards, agencies, and departments for implementation recommendations. RECOMMENDATION: As the Board decides. • 3 PROPOSED POLICY -BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS POLICY MANUAL MEETING DATE: NUMBER: EFFECTIVE DATE: REVISIONS: POLICY: Toward a Sustainable Community Orange County is committed to the concept of a sustainable community. A sustainable community uses and protects its human and natural resources to meet the. current needs while insuring that enhanced community assets are available for future generations. It seeks improved public health, an informed citizenry, and a better quality of life for all of its residents while promoting effuiency, conservation, pollution prevention, and developing local resources to strengthen the local economy. Sustainable Community Principles Sustainability is a fundamental organizing concept against which to evaluate proposed programs and policies in the areas of land use planning, environmental protection, economic development, housing, transportation, solid waste management, health and social services, and public safety. Such programs and policies should therefore be prepared in a manner which addresses the following principles of sustainability: • Interdependence: Integrate long-term economic, environmental, and social considerations into all decisions to reflect their inherent interdependence. Partnership: Invite cooperation and unify efforts between governments, business, environmentalists, non-profit organizations, citizens, and others to address interdependence. Stewardship: Balance resource use and conservation between present and future generations so that future generations are not compromised. Diversity: Maintain diverse biological, economic, and social systems. Prevention: Anticipate and prevent social, economic, and environmental problems rather than attempt to solve them after the fact. Equity: Insure all community members equal opportunities to contribute to the economy, et}joy the environment, and participate in decisions that affect them. Responsibility: Ask all community members to take responsibility for sustaining their community and environment. • Jl~ty-01-1994 09 ~ 33 FRGM ORANC~c CT't ~GMM 195 i I~IvERS TO Pty=,~iN 1 NG P . 02 t, D ~ G^~ ff 4 ~ a 2 3 MINOTES 4 ORANGB COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 5 1~ND 6 ORAMG$ COUNTY PL~iNNING BOARD 7 QUARTffitLY PUBLIC HEARING 8 M~IY T3, 1994 9 10 The Orange County Board of Co®missioners and the Orange county Planning 11 Board held a quarterly public hearing on Monday, May 23,.1994 at 7:30 p.m. in 12 Superior Courtroos, Hillsborough, Borth Carolina. 13 14 H01tAD ~P COON'!'! CO10[ZSSIOM~tB PRESEl1'i': Chair Moses Carey, and 15 Commissioner Stephen H. Raikiotis, Alice M. Gordon, Veda C. Iusko and Don 16 willhoit. i7 4R~4s COflHTZ pL7-IffR'I~A BOARD ~O~ERB PREeEIi?: Chair William Waddell, and i8 members Virginia Boland, Margaret Brown, Paul 8oecke, Elizabeth Walters, 19 Cherie Rosesond, Clint Burklin, Joan Jobais and Clint Burkiin 20 21 C'4~'! ATTO~i? DR~R~1'!'z Geoffrey Gledhill (arrived at 8:30) 2a eo~rrri stele pBiBlATS County Manager John M. Link, Jr., EconoaiC 23 Development Director-Ted Abernathy, Clerk to the Beard Beverly A. Blythe, 24 Planning Director Marvin Collins, Planner Mary Willis, zoning Enforcement 25 Officer Ji.m Rinkley and Planner IDaily Cameron. 26 . 27 2s ~. oE~ia a~z8 i-mmc ~ ®-sg 29 Chair Moses Carey welcomed everyone to the asstinq and requested that 30 citiaens who xant to speak on an agenda item to sign the clipboard in the 31 front. 32 33 $s p48LZC :CR7-RGE 34 chair Carey read.thi public charge. 35 3b 37 C871~ Z]1 'l~Bf 38 uarvin Collins distributed a new facesheet and axplain8d that items 3a1, 39 3c1 and 3d2 have been removed Eros the agenda because they were not proper-ly 40 advertised as required by the Zoning Ordinance. Item 3e Was removed and will 41 ba considered in ~uqust. 42 43 ALL_ IflOiRlta?IOM IB 2If '1'~ P AQ3l~DS llLa Ili YSB 44 @L~l~d l1l-P'lCB 45 46 ' 4? ~ 48 }~ 808?AIIQELS CO~Q[VlLZTIES pRIl~CIgI.BB 49 lsarvin Collins presented for public coaments a proposed policy 50 outlining sustainable costsunity principles xhich could be used to evaluate 51 local programs and policies. In sumsary, a sustainable community is one arhich 53 uses and protects its human and natural resources to meet the current needs r ~ ~_~ JLiPJ-81-1994 09 34 FROM ORANGE CTY COMMISSIONERS TO PLAIN I NG P . 03 D ~ W ~ ~ 5 • Z 1 while insuring that enhanced camaunity assets are available for future Z generations. St seeks improved public health, an informed citizenry and a 3 better quality of life for all of its residents ~rhile promoting efficiency, 4 conservation, pollution prevention and developing local resources to 5 strengthen the local economy. In March of this year, Commissioner Nillhoit 6 presented a report to the Board of Cvaaiaaionsra and asked that the Board 7 consider adopting a policy statement with emphasis on a "Sustainable 8 Comaunity» rather than just development. It adopted, the proposed policy 9 statement would ba incorporated into the Hoard of Commissionars• Policy Manual 10 and applicable to all County departments and agencies. 11 1Z Tl3ER8 l~t$ NO QIIESTZONS FROPI MffirIDBRS OF THB BOARD OF COIINTY COMMISSIONLR9 OR 13 TtiE PLANNING BOARD. 14 15 CITI Zffi~ COMl~i'1`S i6 Melva Okun spoke in support of sustainable communities. She stated that i7 theta are different concerns in different parts of Orange County and ft is i8 important that people work together toward a coaoaon goal. She noted that many 19 areas are co®.inq together as a region to work tor~rard a regional effort. She ZO thanked the Board for their interest in this issue which she feels will make Z1 this a better county for everyone. Although she has no changes to Buggsst to 22 the policy, she encourages the County to solicit feedback from all the people a3 because there is a Head for as much communication as possible. z4 Christopher Cooke spoke in support of including this policy in the Board 25 of County CommissionQrs~ Policy Manual. He lives in Cheeks Township and works Z6 at the School of Public Health at DNC at Chapel dill. He said that it seems .27 that the consideration of. these principles have a lot to do with the future 28 of Orange County which is focused on develop;laer>tt -- how Hoch, where and at Z9 what cost. He feels that approving these principles will provide guidance for 30 development and maintain the quality of lite now enjoyed in Orange County. 31 32 avONSENSIIS QF THE :B ARn 33 Thera was a consensus of the Board to put this item on the agenda for 34 Duns 6, 1994 for decision. Commissioner willhoit suggQStQd that, at that 35 time, it ba referred to the Planning Board and other human service boards for 36 adoption. 37 38 39 ~ ~~QRZC pAE8ER4A'1'IOY ORDIlR718CE TAT lTA 40 a. Artials 4 (nQw) -Procedures for ReviQwinq Proposed Noafnations 41 to the National Register of Historic Places 4Z S®ily CameTOn presented for piublic comments a proposed 43 amendaent to 'the Historic Preservation Ordinance which would include 44 procedures for revievinq proposed nominations to the National Register of 45 Historic Places. ~! new Article 4 is proposed to duplicate in the Ordinance 46 the requirements o! the Certified Local Government Agreeaent pertaining to the 47 review of National Register nominations by Orange County and the Division of 48 Archives and History. 49 5 d THERE WERE NO QIIt&TIOHS OR CO1~'!ffi~iT3. 51 5Z l~~ u