Orange County’s Board of Commissioners recently met with Mebane to discuss ways to plan for the future of the city and how to accommodate its growing population. Although currently the county’s smallest municipality, it is also its fastest growing one.
In Dec. the city’s council adopted “Mebane 2045,” a comprehensive plan outlining future land use goals including a vibrant downtown, walkable and bikeable streets, and protected natural areas. With about half of that planned space located in Orange County, the March 19 joint meeting with the commissioners focused on shared goals for housing and development projects — especially as the county aims to adopt its own updated land use plan next year.
“It’s [Orange County’s] first land use plan since 2008,” Orange County Planning and Inspections Director Cy Stober said. “So nearly 20 years later, and it is reflective of a changing county, changing dynamics, notably among that is Mebane.”
Despite currently being one of the county’s more affordable places to live, many of the elected officials noted how Mebane is not excluded from the county’s overall need for affordable housing. Mayor Ed Hooks explained how land prices are going up, citing water and sewer and less developable land as challenges…