"Do you live, work or own land in Orange
County? Are you concerned about whether you and your children can find
work here and can afford a home near your job? Do you care if farmland
and natural areas are protected? Do you want your county to be a
healthy, sustainable place to live?
If so, your voice needs to be heard at the final public information session of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Update on Wednesday April 23 at 7 p.m. at the Hillsborough Exchange Clubhouse.
The Comprehensive Plan Update will
determine how Orange County will develop during the next 20 years. It
guides decisions for a wide range of local issues: housing, economic
development, transportation, land use, environment, parks/recreation,
and services/utilities. This update was begun in 2006 and will be adopted this fall.
This public input session
will have an overview and time for citizen comments. Your input will be
seen by the county commissioners at the May 19 public hearing on the
Comprehensive Plan.
The Community Action Network and the
Walkable Hillsborough Coalition are two of the nine organizations in
the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coalition. It is a diverse group
of community and business organizations whose mission is to encourage
public participation in this update process and encourage outcomes of
economic prosperity, environmental health and social equity.
We believe that the Comprehensive Plan should be a
positive document, directing appropriate commercial and residential
development to designated areas and recommend ordinances and processes
that encourage, reward and expedite a sustainable future.
Your voice in shaping the community's long-term future is important.
Learn about the Comprehensive Plan update at the county's dedicated Web site: www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/compre_cpupdate.asp.
-- Dolly Hunter, Community Action Network; Holly Reid, Walkable Hillsborough Coalition
