|
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners (BOC) suspends another advisory committee; hears the 30-year Chatham Co. Comprehensive Transportation Plan; holds public hearing on Affordable Housing Payment from Briar Chapel; approves AV equipment for new Justice Center; Chatham Economic Development Corporation to begin work on Land Use Plan.
Work Session and Regular Session: Mike Cross Absent.
(1) Chatham County Comprehensive Transportation Plan. The 30-year plan is a state requirement and is the "wish-list" for bike, transit, rail and roads, such as the 15/501 bypass to the east of Pittsboro. Considers future traffic volume and population. Questions were whether Carolina Park, the 7,000 acre development mainly to southeast of Pittsboro, was included in the population forecasts and volume capacities of the carrying roads. Presentation by NC DOT staff.
(2) Suspend the Affordable Housing Committee. This committee was suspended indefinitely by the three Republicans, supposedly because of lack of staff support. The volunteer committee, chaired by Bill Leroy, was unpopular with the BOC majority and Chairman Bock stated at several meetings he did not know why this committee should exist, since the County is not in the housing business. Bock asked for a statement of purpose, and Leroy asked for guidance on who can serve as officers on the committee. Leroy said the committee could come up with recommendations for spending the Briar Chapel money (see 4 below) Bock moved ahead with vote to suspend, now. Commissioner Stewart said the group could still meet together, without staff support, and perhaps be reactivated when there was a "need for their advice." Kost voted against.
(3) Audio-Visual Equipment for new Justice Center. Bid awarded to TSAV for $577,852 which covers 4 courtrooms, 2 conference rooms, 2 hearing rooms, attorney's workroom.
(4) Public Hearing for Affordable Housing Payment-in-Lieu contract between the County and Briar Chapel.
No one spoke on this item, and it is referred to the Planning Board. Reminder, Briar Chapel now has the option to pay the County a $900,000 lump sum to be used for affordable housing (see 2 above) instead of actually building affordable housing in Briar Chapel.
(5) Chatham Co Economic Development Corp takes on Land Use Plan. An informal discussion at another meeting led the Economic Development Corp to jump in to this arena. The creation of a Land Use Plan was shelved when Bock, Petty, Stewart were elected in 2010, and would not pay any consultant. Now the EDC seeks to identify land that could be used for industrial or commercial purposes and wants to take the initial fact-finding steps. Kost recommended the EDC first work with the County's GIS Department, and suggested getting community involvement in this process, now. Vote for EDC to move ahead, 3 to 1 (Kost voted against).
Diana Hales, retired
Quote this article on your site
To create link towards this article on your website,
copy and paste the text below in your page.Preview :
|
