BY ROBIN KNEPPER

Three members of the town of Orange Planning Commission voted Monday night to recommend the rezoning of the former Round Hill Farm to the Uptown North Orange Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) district.

Two members of the five-member commission, John Stanley and Kevin McMahon, were absent.

Stanley sent his comments about the rezoning application from applicant Carl Owens for the mixed-use project. McMahon left the meeting before the rezoning issue was considered by the commission. McMahon, a town resident, is employed as a planner by the Orange County government. He read a statement saying that he was excusing himself from the discussion of the rezoning application and that he would abstain from voting. He immediately left the meeting.

In an interview yesterday he said, "I felt conflicted about what I was asked to do as a Planning Commission member and the job I have to do every day. I was trying to take the safe route."

McMahon had questioned several aspects of the rezoning application at a previous commission meeting and said he expected discussion to continue Monday night. However, after Planning Commission Chairman Ben Sherman read the comments sent by Stanley, the three present commissioners voted without further debate.

There are still unresolved issues between the town and the developer, however, which will need to be addressed before the rezoning is considered by the Town Council. The county Board of Supervisors, acting under the authority of a joint town-county proffer agreement, has suggested that the applicant proffer $13.6 million to offset the impacts of his development.

Owens has said there was "no way" that could be done, but, according to the motion approved by the Planning Commission, the town is committed to obtaining some contribution from him for county schools. Other unresolved issues are contributions from Owens to fund improvements to the town's water system and construction of a new gravity sewer line--both necessary for the proposed development.

The rezoning application endorsed by the Planning Commission will put 135 acres of rolling hillside at the north end of Orange adjacent to U.S. 15 into the new TND district. As proposed, the Uptown North Orange development will contain approximately 750 dwelling units and about 200,000 square feet of non-residential and mixed-use commercial space. The Orange Town Council is expected to hold a public hearing and vote on the rezoning in December.

Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
Email: rknepper@earthlink.net