TITLE
Vote on a request to schedule a public hearing to receive input on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to incorporate standards for high impact land use activities, including oil and gas exploration.
ABSTRACT
Action Requested:
Request to schedule a public hearing to receive input on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to incorporate standards for high impact land use activities, including oil and gas exploration.
Introduction & Background:
In August 2015, the Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance instituting a temporary moratorium on oil and gas development activities within Chatham County. Section 7 of the moratorium includes two tasks to be completed during the moratorium. The moratorium was extended twice to July 2018 and January 31, 2019, to provide additional time to complete an oil and gas exploration study and draft amendments to the county's land use regulations (moratorium documents can be viewed on the following website - http://www.chathamnc.org/government/departments-programs/planning/natural-gas-oil-information ).
Discussion & Analysis:
The two tasks listed under section 7 of the moratorium are as follows:
a) Studies: The Board of Commissioners will hire a consultant or consultants with expertise regarding fracking and other oil and gas development activities and their impacts on the natural, man-made, and social environments and its economic benefits and costs. The consultant(s) will be tasked to study Chatham County and to analyze state and federal regulatory programs and to prepare a report for the Board regarding the full range of expected impacts on Chatham County, including financial impacts. The study will include the most current analysis of impacts in localities similar to Chatham County in other states and the effectiveness of local ordinances in managing these impacts. This study and report should be completed within the first year of the moratorium and will include the consultant's conclusions as to whether additional time is...
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