UDO Amendments

[Rachel Bearman]

Dear Orange County Commissioners  -

Please reject the staff proposal to eliminate Planning Board members and Commissioners from the subdivision plan review process. 

Such changes would benefit developers but deprive citizens of timely notice about development plans with potential impacts on farms, wells, water quality and public safety in rural communities.

I respectfully request that you: 

• Reject proposed UDO amendments that would eliminate public review of subdivision plans and plats by County Commissioners and Planning Board members - the proposed amendments are unreasonable and run counter to the public interest.
• Ensure a public review process, including resuming staff coordination and attendance at Neighborhood Informational Meetings, to inform citizens and answer questions about proposed developments, the application and appeal process
• Complete the Land Use Plan 2050 process resuming on September 14, seeking community engagement in a vision for protecting farms and rural communities’ future
• After adopting a new land use plan, update UDO amendments to align regulations with the LUP's guiding vision
• Require both a Statement of Consistency and Statement of Inconsistency for all Planning Board and BOCC decisions, outlining reasons to vote for or against a proposal

Sincerely, 

Rachel Bearman 

Sent from my iPhone