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Agreement will have to be amended, requiring approval of all participating entities (i.e.<br />
Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro) after a joint public hearing.<br />
• While this may promote development of ‘affordable housing’ these issues represent only<br />
1 small component of housing costs. This issue transcends Planning and will not be<br />
resolved solely through altering existing land use regulations.<br />
Recommendation<br />
The Manager recommends that the Board receive the information and provide<br />
comments/direction on potential subdivision amendment(s).<br />
Chair McKee said he appreciated the presentation, but he is not sure that the changes<br />
being discussed will affect the affordability of the lots. He said he understands that affordable<br />
housing will not be developed in the northern part of the County as it is away from water and<br />
sewer.<br />
Michael Harvey said this is just one aspect of a global issue that warrants discussion.<br />
He said if there is significant reduction in lots sizes with the implementation of innovative, off-site<br />
septic with increased density allowances and with incentives for developers, there may be an<br />
improvement with respect to the cost of the lot. He said the value of land in a protected area<br />
versus an unprotected area versus the rural buffer will all be different.<br />
Commissioner Pelissier said this has been a great presentation and it was done in<br />
response to her petition. She said the original intent of her petition was not so much affordable<br />
housing but rather preservation of rural character. She said the hope of an affordable housing<br />
byproduct was secondary.<br />
Commissioner Pelissier asked if there are any successful examples of the options<br />
outlined this evening from other locations.<br />
Craig Benedict said several examples have been received that included a variety of the<br />
options.<br />
Commissioner Pelissier asked if there is anything that could be developed to<br />
differentiate the size of a development.<br />
Michael Harvey said there is some viability with this idea. He said further discussion is<br />
needed regarding incentivizing developers.<br />
Commissioner Pelissier said in her tenure on the BOCC, every major subdivision has<br />
been high-end housing. She asked if mixed housing could be incentivized to allow for greater<br />
diversity of price points. She asked if this idea is even realistic.<br />
Michael Harvey said there is probably no incentive that can be offered unless the County<br />
is purchasing the property. He said the value of land is the value of land.<br />
Commissioner Jacobs asked if permanent protected open space is valued by Orange<br />
County, could the BOCC direct the appraiser to appraise at a reduced value for permanently<br />
protected open space in a subdivision.<br />
Commissioner Price said conservation easements could perhaps reduce costs. She<br />
said the Community Home Trust has several homes that are mixed into the high-end<br />
subdivisions. She said she does not promote the idea but noted it points to an example.<br />
Commissioner Dorosin referred to Commissioner Jacobs’ point about incentivizing. He<br />
said it is important to determine what the County wants to incentivize. He said he would like to<br />
address the question of affordable housing. He said if the main concern is environmental<br />
preservation then it is not practically possible to have affordable housing in these areas. He<br />
said it may be worth exploring how development in the environmentally sensitive areas can<br />
subsidize the building of affordable housing elsewhere. He said it may be an impact fee or a<br />
cost in exchange for the incentives. He said he is very excited about the concept of off-site<br />
septic.<br />
Craig Benedict said there is currently a multi-department effort on affordable housing.