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This Monday the County Commissioners are holding what may be the final Public Hearing on the proposed Comprehensive Plan Update. The hearing begins at 7:30 pm and will be held in the downstairs courtroom at the County Courthouse in Hillsborough. At their regular meeting on October 7, the Commissioners are expected to vote whether or not to adopt the Plan.
Submitting written comments in advance of the August 25 Public Hearing and/or presenting your comments on the 25th might be your final chance to provide input on this important subject.
I encourage OP readers to review at least the first two chapters (links below) of the proposed Comprehensive Plan and judge for yourself if the chapters clearly articulate how sustainability can be achieved in Orange County over the next twenty years.
The first chapter states that “we need to act in a manner that will achieve a quality of life that is sustainable into the future”. In the second chapter one reads that “growth and development within the county should occur in a pattern, location, and density that is sustainable over the long-term”. Since this Plan is intended to be in force until 2030 it’s critical that it provides ample guidance on how “sustainability” and “sustainable growth and development” can be achieved.
In the section entitled “Toward a Sustainable Future”, the first chapter lists many “key ideas … that relate directly to the goal of achieving a sustainable future.” Ideas are presented for all seven of the Plan’s elements: Economic Development, Housing, Land Use, Natural & Cultural Systems, Services & Facilities, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation. As noted in the section’s conclusion, “these initiatives reinforce each other. Taken together, “they form a platform of sustainable practices upon which current and future generations of Orange County residents can build productive lives.”
The second chapter presents eight planning principles endorsed by the County Commissioners in 2004. As an affordable housing advocate, I am bothered that none of the principles directly concerns “social equity”, which is typically one of the three fundamental dimensions of sustainability (the other two being environmental protection and economic vitality). The second principle concerns sustainable growth and development. Principles One and Seven address public- and private-sector economic issues, respectively. The remaining five principles concern preservation and conservation.
Comments
Thanks for the reminder
Two Chapters = Six Pages
The relevant section in Chapter 1 "Toward a Sustainable Future" is found on pages 6-9. Chapter 2 is merely 1 1/2 pages long.
Allan Rosen
Questions
I haven't finished reading the full document yet but after 3 chapters, I have the following questions.
1. As I read the plan, the emphasis is on planning for growth. I fully support that but shouldn't there be some acknowledgement of the need to maintain what we have? Everytime we build a new school or public building or park, operating costs increase. We're way behind where we should be on maintaining school facilities. Is there something I am missing in this plan that acknowledges the sustainability need for considering life cycle costs of facilities and services?
2. In the housing section of the plan, all recognition of need is on low income housing. To me, this community needs to focus much more attention on moderate income housing if we want to be sustainable. A family of 4 with a total income close to the median income would have a hard time finding a home locally. Is there anything I am missing that advocates for supporting a diverse socioeconomic profile?
Fiscal Considerations, Middle Income Housing
“I support the emphasis on compact mixed-use developments not only because it’s a good conservation strategy, but because this is the best strategy for significantly increasing the supply of housing affordable to working and middle class households.Allan Rosen
More on fiscal responsibility and housing
I saw that section on implementation, but if it still seems to me that there needs to be a policy that commits to ensuring the funding for maintaining any new county-owned property to a certain standard. Specifically, I am concerned about the schools. We continue to build new schools with capital budgets, without acknowledging the increased operating expenses and maintenance costs of those new facilities. SAPFO or something similar needs to address more than construction.
While I agree with your statement on mixed use development, I am concerned that land use policies relating to development all assume new growth rather than maintaining the quality of life, affordability, provision of service, and socioeconomic diversity of existing of the county. When I came to Chapel Hill in 1976, Carrboro and Orange County were heavily working class. Today, that population cannot afford to live here. They don't need new mixed use developments. They need for elected officials to acknowledge the impact of new development on the gentrification of working class neighborhoods. Efland comes to mind.
Public Hearing Closes,Commissioners get Planning Bd advice Oct 7
About ten citizens provided public comments at the meeting. Commissioners closed public hearing except for those comments expected from local municipalities. Planning Board recommendations expected to be presented to Commissioners on Oct. 7, but Barry Jacobs indicated Commissioners not likely to vote for/against adoption on that date due to complexity and magnitude of topic.
FYI, both county staff and commissioners emphasized over and over again that, post-adoption, the yet-to-be-defined Implentation Phases will be of greater consequence than passing the Comp Plan.
Four descriptive bullet points of implementation were provided in staff presentation:
1. County Advisory Boards/Staff review Goals & Objectives, collaborate, and recommend annual work plans to BOCC,
2. BOCC/County Manager review & authorize annual work plans
3. Study and indentification of implementation actions
4. New or changes to requlations with subsequent public hearings & community input
Allan Rosen