County receives application for development of Efland Industrial Park On Sept. 15, 2021, staff accepted for review a non-residential Zoning Compliance Permit (ZCP) application and site plan proposing the development of the Efland Industrial Park. The project case number is SPR21-0006. The plan is for 886,240 square feet of light industrial/warehousing space.
The development at 304 Mount Willing Road in Efland involves two parcels totaling approximately 100 acres in the Cheeks Township (parcel identification numbers 9854161576 and 9854363711). The parcels were part of the Efland Station Conditional District application, which was withdrawn earlier this year.
The parcels are located within the Commercial-Industrial Transition Activity Node (CITAN) as defined by the adopted 2030 Orange County Comprehensive Plan. Parcels within the CITAN are typically located near major transportation routes (i.e. Interstates and major highways) that could be provided with public water and wastewater services and is appropriate for retail and other commercial uses, manufacturing and other industrial land uses.
As part of the CITAN, the parcels are also zoned for non-residential activity, so the current proposal constitutes a permitted use of property. Permitted uses require staff review/action in accordance with Section 2.5 of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). This review will require the project to conform to the development, environmental, and building standards contained in the County’s Unified Development Ordinance. The project does not require approval from an advisory board or the Board of County Commissioners as long as the use is permitted and the project conforms to the established standards.
- Click here for more information.
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Eno Arts Mill to host Grand Opening on Oct. 1The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) announced the grand opening of the Eno Arts Mill will be held Friday, Oct.r 1, from 6-9 PM. The event will feature the work of resident artist Kennedi Carter, music by XOXOK, and the opportunity to visit the working studios of the Mill’s additional resident studio artists. Masks and social distancing will be required.
Kennedi Carter is a Durham native whose subjects include Beyoncé, Simone Biles, and Erykah Badu. Her striking photography primarily focuses on Black subjects, highlighting the Black experience: skin, texture, trauma, peace, love and community, and aims to “reinvent notions of creativity and confidence in the realm of Blackness.” In December 2020, she became the youngest cover photographer in the history of British Vogue, capturing Beyoncé for the cover shoot. Other clients include GQ, Essence, The New York Times, and TIME. The British Journal of Photography included Carter in their “2020 Ones to Watch” and in May, the New York Times named her as one of four “Next Great Image Makers.”
The Arts Mill is a 7,000 square foot multi-purpose arts space located within the historic Eno River Mill in Hillsborough. The space adjoins the 3,000 square foot Eno Mill Studios which opened in February, 2020, offering affordable work space for eleven artists. The new addition provides teaching space for classes in the visual, performing, and literary arts, a gallery, four artist studios, and a new Hillsborough office for the Carrboro-based Art Therapy Institute. The Board of County Commissioners approved the project in May, 2021, in response to the lack of physical space for the arts in Orange County, particularly working and teaching space.
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Orange County to host 2022-27 Master Aging Plan Community Engagement Events The Orange County Department on Aging and its Advisory Board are excited to announce the kick-off of the next Master Aging Plan. To get started, we will host Community Engagement Drop-in events during October at key locations around the County.
“This is our fifth Master Aging Plan and through the many partnerships that have been formed through this process, we are able to celebrate and say that Orange County is one the best places to age well in NC,” said Janice Tyler, Director of the Orange County Department on Aging. “We are looking forward to engaging with you at one of the community MAP gatherings.”
July 1, 2021, marked the beginning of the planning year for the 2022-27 Master Aging Plan (MAP) when we were out in the community sharing a survey to hear about the issues that Orange County residents were most concerned about for the next five years. In October we will host drop-in events across the county to share what was learned and to provide another opportunity for community members to share their thoughts and to engage with the MAP workgroup leaders.
There are seven MAP workgroups (Social Participation, Community Supports and Health Services, Transportation, Housing, Civic Participation and Employment, Outdoor Spaces, and Communication). We welcome community members that are interesting in helping formalize the goals and strategies for the 2022-27 MAP to join one of these workgroups.
- Click here to learn dates and sign-up information.
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Applicants needed for Advisory Boards and Commissions One way residents can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to volunteer to serve on an advisory board or commission. The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting applicants for the following advisory boards and commissions:
- Affordable Housing Advisory Board
- Agricultural Preservation Board
- Animal Services Advisory Board
- Board of Equalization and Review
- Orange Unified Transportation Board
To view more information about the specific openings, click here. Orange County strives for authentically diverse representation on volunteer advisory boards and commissions. Residents of all demographic backgrounds, identities, and perspectives are encouraged to apply. Applicants must reside in Orange County. Volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners have the opportunity to directly influence the County’s decisions, policies, and priorities.For additional information contact Tara May at 919-245-2125 or tmay@orangecountync.gov. If interested, apply at www.orangecountync.gov/Apply.
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Economic Development grant programs accepting applications The Orange County Business Investment Grant and Agriculture Grant Programs will be accepting applications for the next deadline through Sept. 30. These programs can offer grants up to $10,000 for eligible businesses and agriculture operations.
Additional information, including program guidelines and applications, can be located at the Economic Development website: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2761/Financial-Resources
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Arts Educator Grants available from OCAC Public school arts educators in Orange County Public Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools are invited to apply for small grants of up $250 to help with costs related to their creative and professional development. The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) created the Arts Educator Professional Development Grant Program in 2018 to assist arts educators in advancing their careers. These small grants can assist with professional and artistic development, including:
- Travel expenses related to workshops or seminars, or to do research related to his/her art form, such as meals, lodging and transportation.
- Expenses related to workshops, master classes or coaching that will enhance the teacher’s abilities and/or allow the acquisition of Continuing Education Units, such as registration fees, substitute teacher costs, or required supplies.
- Purchase of supplies, materials or equipment necessary for the completion or production of work, which is essential to the advancement of his/her teaching career.
The grants are available to any public school educator in Orange County teaching the in the visual or performing arts. Educators may apply online for projects or programs taking place before June 30, 2021. The application period will be open through midnight on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at https://artsorange.org/ocacgrants/artsedgrants.
This grant program is the result of research the OCAC conducted in 2017 and early 2018 to identify the needs of the Orange County arts community. Local arts educators expressed a need for assistance in obtaining Continuing Education Units through professional development opportunities and assistance in advancing their creative growth. By helping arts educators continue to grow in their art form, the OCAC hopes to sustain the quality of arts education in our public schools.
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Animal Services offers grant program to support animal welfare initiatives in Orange County
Orange County Animal Services is offering The Pat Sanford Animal Welfare Grant, a program to support animal welfare initiatives and projects in Orange County, thanks to a generous donation from Friends of Orange County Animal Shelter. This is the sixth year the award has been offered, and it will be awarded for initiatives up to $500. Applications must be received by Friday, Oct 15. The grant can be used for a wide range of pilot or seed projects or to supplement other programs, projects, and grants which support companion animals, including those animals used in recreation or therapy. It is available to individuals, groups, and organizations and although the recipients do not have to live in Orange County, the funds must be used to aid animal welfare efforts in Orange County. Past recipients include Hope Animal Rescue, Independent Animal Rescue, NC Therapeutic Riding Center, Pet Pals, Trestle Leaf Web Design, and Carolina Boxer Rescue. The program honors Pat Sanford, former Executive Director of the Animal Protection Society of Orange County (APS). Sanford served there for 17 years, where she pushed for spay/neuter to combat the county’s pet overpopulation problem, helped expand the APS twice, and created a wildlife rehabilitation component that would carry on beyond her retirement. After her retirement in 2002, Sanford continued her work for Orange County animals and served on the county’s Animal Services Advisory Board for several years. Ms. Sanford’s accomplishments are vast and her contributions helped Orange County become one of the leading counties in the state and country for animal placement, recovery, and overall well-being. The grants awarded in her honor will support efforts that exemplify the same dedication and commitment to animal welfare in Orange County. The initial donation will sustain the program for a 10-year period. Additional donations are welcomed to increase the annual award amount and to extend the period in which the grant is awarded. For more information on the grant, to find the application, and to find out more about giving opportunities for this program, visit http://www.orangecountync.gov/368/Pat-Sanford-Animal-Welfare-Award.
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