The Orange County Commissioners are expected to vote on the Planning Board's Comprehensive Plan proposal at their November 18, 2008 meeting. For more than one year, the Comprehensive Plan Coalition has tracked the planning process. We've concluded a serious effort to solicit public opinion and advice is needed. Without meaningful public participation at this critical juncture, adopting the plan will enshrine a document that was subject to decreasing public input as the planning proceeded. As a consequence the Coalition does not endorse the proposed Comprehensive Plan Update.
Read More ...
To go to the Coalition website, click here
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Out of your car and onto light rail transit
Monday Sept 22 is Car Free Day 2008. In our 5th year of celebrating Car Free Day, The Village Project is hosting a letter writing campaign to let our local leaders know that Orange County wants the proposed light rail transit to Durham. Over 500 people have already expressed support and so can you by going to www.gocarfree.com. Sign the letter to show your support for light rail in the Triangle!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Final Public Hearing on Comprehensive Plan
On August 25, the Orange County Commissioners will hold what may be the final Public Hearing on the proposed Comprehensive Plan Update. The hearing is at 7:30pm and will be held in the downstairs courtroom at the County Courthouse in Hillsborough. Submitting written comments in advance of the Public Hearing and/or presenting your comments in person tonight might be your final chance to provide input on this important subject. Written comments can be emailed to the County's Comprehensive Planning supervisor at CompPlanUpdate@co.orange.nc.us.
Read more ...
Read more ...
Monday, June 16, 2008
Economic analysis of Buckhorn Village is flawed
The Orange County planning board determined (7-2) last week that the economic analysis of the proposed Buckhorn Village near Mebane and prepared by a consultant to the county commissioners is "seriously flawed." Take a look at the article printed in the Chapel Hill News regarding the issue.
James Carnahan, member and chair of the Village Project, commented on the project on May 28:
"With gas selling near $4 a gallon and increasing global demand presaging no relief whatsoever, their prescription that Orange County should rely on interstate automobile traffic for economic security is desperately naive. If gas cost $6 a gallon when Buckhorn opens its doors, would today’s revenue projections still apply?"
James Carnahan, member and chair of the Village Project, commented on the project on May 28:
"With gas selling near $4 a gallon and increasing global demand presaging no relief whatsoever, their prescription that Orange County should rely on interstate automobile traffic for economic security is desperately naive. If gas cost $6 a gallon when Buckhorn opens its doors, would today’s revenue projections still apply?"
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Walkable Hillsborough Day - June 7
Join other pedestrians and cyclists in "Taking Steps to Connect" Hillsborough on June 7 in the 7th Annual Walkable Hillsborough Day, an event to celebrate National Trails Day.
The event, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Old Courthouse in downtown Hillsborough, will include two bike rides this year along with three guided walks of varying lengths and exertion. At the courthouse at 10:30 a.m., there will be activities, prizes and refreshments. Information from various organizations - such as the Eno River Association, Audubon Society and Special Transit Advisory Commission - also will be on display.
See the Walkable Hillsborough website for more details.
The event, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Old Courthouse in downtown Hillsborough, will include two bike rides this year along with three guided walks of varying lengths and exertion. At the courthouse at 10:30 a.m., there will be activities, prizes and refreshments. Information from various organizations - such as the Eno River Association, Audubon Society and Special Transit Advisory Commission - also will be on display.
See the Walkable Hillsborough website for more details.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Draft Comprehensive Plan for May 19th public hearing is now available
Draft 2 of the Comprehensive Plan that will serve as the key document at the public hearing meeting on May 19, 2008 is now available on the county's website. When making comments at the hearing, use this most recent draft.
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/DRAFTCOMPPLAN050608.asp
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/DRAFTCOMPPLAN050608.asp
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Opportunities to Help Shape the New Orange County Comprehensive Plan
Do you live, work or own land in Orange County? Are you concerned about whether you and your children can find work here and afford a home? Do you want farmland and natural areas to be protected? Do you want to see our communities doing something to address climate change?
If so, you are invited to come and express your views at the upcoming Orange County meeting on May 19th:
Public Hearing - Monday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gordon Battle Courtroom, 106 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough
This meeting is taking place because Orange County is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan update will direct how Orange County will develop through the year 2030. It guides decisions for a wide range of local issues: housing, economic development, transportation, land use, environment, parks & recreation, and community services & utilities.
Making public comments is easy and can be done in several ways.
* You can submit written and/or verbal comments
* You can email comments to County staff at CompPlanUpdate@co.orange.nc.us.
* You can call county staff with your comments at (919) 245-2575, or you can mail written comments to the Orange County Department of Planning and Inspections, 306-F Revere Road, PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Please submit comments before May 19th.
For more information on the planning process or to read the first draft of the plan, visit the Orange County Comprehensive Plan website: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/compre_cpupdate.asp.
There will be a 2nd draft available on May 7th.
This message is brought to you by the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coalition, with support from The Village Project (www.thevillageproject.com) and the Strowd Roses Foundation (www.strowdroses.org).
If so, you are invited to come and express your views at the upcoming Orange County meeting on May 19th:
Public Hearing - Monday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gordon Battle Courtroom, 106 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough
This meeting is taking place because Orange County is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan update will direct how Orange County will develop through the year 2030. It guides decisions for a wide range of local issues: housing, economic development, transportation, land use, environment, parks & recreation, and community services & utilities.
Making public comments is easy and can be done in several ways.
* You can submit written and/or verbal comments
* You can email comments to County staff at CompPlanUpdate@co.orange.nc.us.
* You can call county staff with your comments at (919) 245-2575, or you can mail written comments to the Orange County Department of Planning and Inspections, 306-F Revere Road, PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Please submit comments before May 19th.
For more information on the planning process or to read the first draft of the plan, visit the Orange County Comprehensive Plan website: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/compre_cpupdate.asp.
There will be a 2nd draft available on May 7th.
This message is brought to you by the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coalition, with support from The Village Project (www.thevillageproject.com) and the Strowd Roses Foundation (www.strowdroses.org).
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Countywide meetings in April to comment on the Comprehensive Plan drafts
The county will be holding meetings during April to allow the community to comment on the draft plan elements for the comprehensive plan update. The first meeting is on April 9, 2008 in Chapel Hill and the second meeting is on April 23, 2008 in Hillsborough. The public is encourage to attend these meetings. Additionally, the county is holding an Open House to provide citizens with more information on April 3, 2008.
The drafts of the plan elements should be available on the county website. See the county website for up to date information.
The drafts of the plan elements should be available on the county website. See the county website for up to date information.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Buckhorn Village: 'Business as Usual' or sensible economic development?
Buckhorn Village is a proposed 'center like The Streets at Southpoint' (N&O, Jan 12) to be located in Orange County. Over a million square feet of retail, hotel & movie theater uses are proposed on 128 acres at the intersection of Buckhorn Road and I40/I85. They estimate the County would realize $7.2 million a year in sales & property tax revenues. But what might these revenues cost us?
James Carnahan asks this question on the Orange Politics blog. Take a look at what he has to say and weigh in yourself: go to the blog here
Take a look at The Village Project article about Buckhorn Village.
James Carnahan asks this question on the Orange Politics blog. Take a look at what he has to say and weigh in yourself: go to the blog here
Take a look at The Village Project article about Buckhorn Village.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Orange County Comprehensive Plan Coalition
Orange County has begun to update its Comprehensive Plan for the first time in 25 years. The update will be the key document that county government and the commissioners will use to make decisions about land use, transportation, housing, economic development, environmental protection and other critical issues.
Because Orange County is at a critical crossroads economically, socially, and environmentally, a diverse coalition of community stakeholders have come together to create and endorse a vision statement and a set of goals and objectives for Orange County's Comprehensive Plan Update that brings together these principles in a way that truly promotes a sustainable future for our county.
The Village Project would like to thank the Strowd Roses Foundation for its generous grant that is helping to make our work on the Orange County Comprehensive Plan possible. To read more about the coalition, see our new brochure and the Coalition website at http://www.thevillageproject.com/cpu.
The coalition believes sustainability is achieved when stakeholders representing diverse interests work together cooperatively to assure a healthy balance among interdependent social, environmental and economic priorities. Therefore we encourage county residents and other stakeholders to join the coalition and to participate in the update process. For a list of upcoming public participation opportunities, click here.
Because Orange County is at a critical crossroads economically, socially, and environmentally, a diverse coalition of community stakeholders have come together to create and endorse a vision statement and a set of goals and objectives for Orange County's Comprehensive Plan Update that brings together these principles in a way that truly promotes a sustainable future for our county.
The Village Project would like to thank the Strowd Roses Foundation for its generous grant that is helping to make our work on the Orange County Comprehensive Plan possible. To read more about the coalition, see our new brochure and the Coalition website at http://www.thevillageproject.com/cpu.
The coalition believes sustainability is achieved when stakeholders representing diverse interests work together cooperatively to assure a healthy balance among interdependent social, environmental and economic priorities. Therefore we encourage county residents and other stakeholders to join the coalition and to participate in the update process. For a list of upcoming public participation opportunities, click here.
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