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Business Meeting

Orange County · Board of County Commissioners
Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Regular meeting Grants and outside fundingContracts and procurementHousing and affordabilityPolice and public safetyAppointments and personnelBudget and appropriationsEnvironment and sustainabilityFaith and cultural communitiesParks and recreationFire and EMSHealth and human servicesPublic facilitiesRezoningRoads and transportationSchools and educationTransitWater and sewer

Agenda document Watch

What's on this agenda

Holy Trinity Anglican Church asks Orange County's commissioners on 15 September to rezone about 15.5 acres at 1651 Old Lystra Road, in the joint planning area with Chapel Hill, from R-LD1 to a conditional R-4 district. The church plans an 11,200-square-foot building with a 300-seat sanctuary, a later 6,240-square-foot addition, and up to ten church-owned tiny homes to house people in need, all on well and septic. The county planning board recommended approval unanimously on 3 June, with a condition against cut-through traffic, and the rezoning takes effect only if Chapel Hill's council adopts it too. The joint public hearing is held at 6 p.m. that evening.

The board also holds hearings on the HOME program's annual report and on a $191,911 state and federal rural transit application, hears from OWASA on the drought and PFAS, and gets an update on the J Branch rail trail study. The consent agenda buys 35 Motorola portable radios for $352,560, hires engineers for the first phase of the VIPER radio expansion for $186,200, and borrows $504,000 to replace Durham Tech's rooftop HVAC units. It also shifts $337,096 of Chapel Hill-Carrboro school money from the McDougle roof to a boiler at FPG Elementary, and removes two advisory board members for missed meetings.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Speaking at this meeting

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Jump to an item (25 on this agenda)
  1. 1Additions or Changes to the Agenda
  2. 2Public Comments
  3. 3Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members
  4. 4.aHispanic Heritage Month Proclamation
  5. 4.bOWASA Update – Drought and PFAS Guiding Principles
  6. 5.aPublic Hearing on Draft 2025-26 Consolidated Annual Performance Repor…
  7. 5.b5311 Rural Area Formula Grant for Transit Programming for FY 2028
  8. 6.aZoning Atlas Amendment – Holy Trinity Church (Joint Planning Area – C…
  9. 7.aUpdate - J Branch Rail Trail Feasibility Study
  10. 8.aMinutes for August 25, 2026
  11. 8.bCybersecurity Awareness Month Proclamation
  12. 8.cFiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Amendment #3
  13. 8.dEssential Single Family Rehabilitation Program (ESFR) – Contract with…
  14. 8.eEssential Single Family Rehabilitation Program (ESFR) – Approval of P…
  15. 8.fRatification of Signature for Emergency Preparedness Grant from Centr…
  16. 8.gApproval of Engineering Services Agreement for VIPER Radio System Exp…
  17. 8.hPurchase of Public Safety Portable Radios
  18. 8.iApproval of a Revised Declaration of Easements and Restrictive Covena…
  19. 8.jRemoval of Boards and Commissions Members
  20. 9County Manager's Report
  21. 10County Attorney's Report
  22. 11Appointments
  23. 12Memorandum – Orange County Participating in Electrify the Triangle
  24. 13Closed Session
  25. 14Adjournment

Agenda items (25)

Contract or award · 5Procedural · 4Staff or committee report · 4Proclamation or recognition · 2Public hearing · 2Appointment · 2Presentation · 1Ordinance · 1Minutes approval · 1Budget action · 1Resolution · 1Closed session · 1
  1. 1 Additions or Changes to the Agenda
    Procedural
  2. 2 Public Comments
    Procedural
    One hour of comment on matters not on the agenda, three minutes per speaker, and comment on agenda items when they come up.
  3. 3 Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members
    Procedural
  4. 4.a Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation
    Proclamation or recognition Faith and cultural communities
    Proclaims 15 September to 15 October 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month, under the theme "Unidos, Somos Más."
  5. 4.b OWASA Update – Drought and PFAS Guiding Principles
    Presentation Environment and sustainabilityWater and sewer
    The Orange Water and Sewer Authority reports on water supply during the recent drought and on its actions to address PFAS in the public water supply.
  6. 5.a Public Hearing on Draft 2025-26 Consolidated Annual Performance Report (CAPER) for the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program
    Public hearing Grants and outside fundingHousing and affordability
    Hearing on the HOME consortium's report for July 2025 to June 2026: $464,907 was available, including local match and program income, and $169,322 went to tenant-based rental assistance.
  7. 5.b 5311 Rural Area Formula Grant for Transit Programming for FY 2028
    Public hearing Grants and outside fundingTransit
    Hearing and approval of an application to NCDOT for $191,911 in federal and state rural transit administration money, with a $33,867 local match from transit tax funds.
  8. 6.a Zoning Atlas Amendment – Holy Trinity Church (Joint Planning Area – Chapel Hill)
    Ordinance Faith and cultural communitiesRezoning
    Holy Trinity Anglican Church asks to rezone about 15.5 acres from R-LD1 to R-4 conditional zoning for a 300-seat church, a later addition, and up to ten church-owned tiny homes for people in need. The county planning board recommended approval unanimously with a cut-through traffic condition; the rezoning needs Chapel Hill's adoption as well.
    • 1651 Old Lystra Rd · no matching parcel on file
    • Pin 9787-00-8466 · Holy Trinity Anglican Church of Chatham INC · assessed $585,500
  9. 7.a Update - J Branch Rail Trail Feasibility Study
    Staff or committee report Parks and recreationRoads and transportation
    Consultant update on converting the nearly 11-mile J Branch rail line, from UNC's cogeneration plant through Carrboro to University Station near I-85, into a trail. The study is due in May 2027.
  10. 8.a Minutes for August 25, 2026
    Minutes approval
  11. 8.b Cybersecurity Awareness Month Proclamation
    Proclamation or recognition
    Proclaims October 2026 as Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
  12. 8.c Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Amendment #3
    Budget action Budget and appropriationsFire and EMSSchools and education
    Borrows $504,000 to replace Durham Tech's two rooftop HVAC units in Orange County, spends $40,000 on repairs at the cold weather shelter at 828 MLK Jr. Blvd., moves $337,096 of Chapel Hill-Carrboro school capital from the McDougle roof to an FPG Elementary boiler, and lets the Orange Rural Fire District spend $52,000 of its fund balance.
    • 828 Mlk Jr Blvd · no matching parcel on file
  13. 8.d Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Program (ESFR) – Contract with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, and Approval of Budget Amendment #3-A
    Contract or award Budget and appropriationsGrants and outside fundingHousing and affordability
    Hires Habitat for Humanity of Orange County for about four home repairs worth $180,000 of state money, and accepts a $273,000 NC Housing Finance Agency grant for the program.
  14. 8.e Essential Single Family Rehabilitation Program (ESFR) – Approval of Procurement and Disbursement Policy
    Resolution Contracts and procurementHousing and affordability
    Adopts the procurement and disbursement policy the state requires for the 2027-2029 repair program.
  15. 8.f Ratification of Signature for Emergency Preparedness Grant from Central Pines Regional Council
    Contract or award Grants and outside fundingPolice and public safety
    Ratifies a grant of up to $4,999 for replacement tablets used in damage assessment and shelter telehealth.
  16. 8.g Approval of Engineering Services Agreement for VIPER Radio System Expansion Phase 1
    Contract or award Contracts and procurementPolice and public safety
    Hires Engineered Tower Solutions for $186,200 to design the first phase of the VIPER radio expansion, including a new Eno tower and moving the Chapel Hill site.
  17. 8.h Purchase of Public Safety Portable Radios
    Contract or award Contracts and procurementPolice and public safety
    Buys 35 Motorola APX NEXT portable radios and accessories for $352,560 under a state contract.
  18. 8.i Approval of a Revised Declaration of Easements and Restrictive Covenants for the Jamezetta Bedford Crisis Care Center
    Contract or award Health and human servicesPublic facilities
    Revises the site agreement with the neighboring owner, Capkov Ventures, after the entrance road moved. The county reimburses up to $50,000 for erosion control and may stockpile soil on Capkov's lot.
  19. 8.j Removal of Boards and Commissions Members
    Appointment Appointments and personnelParks and recreation
    Removes one member each from the Visitors Bureau Advisory Board and the Parks and Recreation Council for missed meetings.
  20. 9 County Manager's Report
    Staff or committee report
  21. 10 County Attorney's Report
    Staff or committee report
  22. 11 Appointments
    Appointment Appointments and personnel
  23. 12 Memorandum – Orange County Participating in Electrify the Triangle
    Staff or committee report Environment and sustainability
    Information on a regional home energy and electrification program with free energy navigators, launching in October 2026.
  24. 13 Closed Session
    Closed session
  25. 14 Adjournment
    Procedural

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