Dissolution of Guilford County/GSO Joint Water and Sewer Service Agreement (WSSA) – On June 15^th , GSO Council gave the County notice of their intent to dissolve the Joint Water and Sewer Service Agreement (WSSA) effective 12-31-10.  There is a perception that, among the other ramifications of dissolution, it will solve all our problems with joint plan review on projects that are getting city water and sewer but are in the County’s zoning and permitting jurisdiction.  It does not. 

 

The WSSA itself is not the problem; the city’s process is the problem and without major changes the problems will survive the dissolution of the WSSA.  In fact, it could get worse, because both the city and county will still be involved but there would be no agreement on how the developer should proceed with getting approvals - Catch 22.  As flawed as the current system is, it’s better than having no system at all. 

 

 

To ensure that our members, customers and economic development projects in general do not suffer, we have suggested that a customer group be convened in the very near future to hammer out solutions that can be in place by the 12-31-10 dissolution date. 

GSO Land Development Ordinance Passes (LDO) –City Council passed the LDO on June 15^th with a 7-2 vote.  Two controversial issues, a street connectivity ratio and a requirement to plant one tree per SF lot and ensure its survival for 1 year, were removed from the ordinance.  Both the old and the new ordinance will be available for use until July 1, 2011. There is a commitment to expedite changes to fix any glitches that are discovered, so please let us know if you find any. 

 

Many thanks go to the Citizens Advisory Team and staff for over 5 years of arduous work, and to Council for passing it. TREBIC members who participated were Trip Brown, Gary Hill, Gary Rogers, Gary Wolf, Mary Skenes, Dick Franks, Keith Price and Mike Fox. 

 

HP Conditional Use Zoning Changes – In February HP Council began considering in earnest changing from quasi-judicial Conditional Use District Zoning to legislative Conditional Zoning, a more user-friendly process that allows applicants and neighbors to talk to Council members about the project outside of the public hearing. TREBIC supports the change. A TREBIC task force has been reviewing a draft ordinance since April, and many of our concerns have been resolved. We continue to work with staff and Council on 2 main issues. A proposed requirement for a Master Plan drawing: not all conditions can be drawn or need drawings, so we feel this should be an option rather than a requirement. And ordinance language that could be interpreted to allow the city to require funding of off-site street improvements: such funding should be limited to street improvements on-site or at-site (such as turn lanes), and to the extent they can be directly tied to the demands of the development itself.

 

Project Economic Impact Study (EIS) Letter Program – Remember that TREBIC has a very affordable program for getting EIS letters for individual projects from UNCG Professor Emeritus and economist Dr. Don Jud. Letters can be generated for as little as $300 for TREBIC members ($1100 for non-members). Custom studies can cost several thousands of dollars. Using and EIS in rezoning hearings helps you win project approval AND raise awareness that land development is economic development. Call us for more details.

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