TITLE
Vote to approve a legislative request by the City of Durham on behalf of Western Intake Partners (City of Durham, Chatham County, Town of Pittsboro, and OWASA) for a rezoning from R-1 Residential to Conditional District Light Industrial, on parcels 17538 and 17546, being approximately 121.583 acres), located on Seaforth Road, for a regional drinking water treatment facility, New Hope Township
ABSTRACT
Action Requested:
Vote to approve a legislative request by the City of Durham on behalf of Western Intake Partners (City of Durham, Chatham County, Town of Pittsboro, and OWASA) for a rezoning from R-1 Residential to Conditional District Light Industrial, on parcels 17538 and 17546, being approximately 121.583 acres), located on Seaforth Road, for a regional drinking water treatment facility, New Hope Township.
Introduction & Background:
A legislative public hearing was held January 16, 2024. Planning staff presented the request and members of the applicant's team provided a PowerPoint presentation. Two residents spoke with one opposing due to concerns over hazardous materials, emergency evacuations, noise, land values, and peace and safety, and one requesting the unused land be protected as green space.
Orange Water And Sewer Authority (OWASA) purchased this property in 1989 in preparation for constructing a future water intake in Jordan Lake and treatment plant. Now that the population of the jurisdictions that would benefit from this facility has increased, the project is now underway. The projected time to be completely operational is 2031.
The Appearance Commission reviewed the proposed site plan on August 23, 2023. They were satisfied with the amount of vegetation that would be remaining and noted areas that did not continue with an opaque, vegetative, year-round screen should be supplemented as described. After further discussion, they recommended approval of the plan.
A community meeting was held July 20, 2023, and several residents in the community...
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