Do you live, work or own land in Orange County? Are you concerned about whether you and your children can find work here and afford a home? Do you want farmland and natural areas to be protected? Do you want to see our communities doing something to address climate change?

If so, you are invited to come and express your views at two upcoming Orange County meetings:

• April 23 at 7 p.m. at the Exchange Clubhouse, 331 Exchange Park Lane, Hillsborough
• May 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gordon Battle Courtroom, 106 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough

These meetings are taking place because Orange County is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan update will direct how Orange County will develop through the year 2030. It guides decisions for a wide range of local issues: housing, economic development, transportation, land use, environment, parks and recreation, and community services and utilities.

Making comments is easy and can be done in several ways.

• You can submit written and/or verbal comments at the meetings
• You can e-mail comments to CompPlanUpdate@co.orange.nc.us.
• You can call county staff with your comments at (919) 245-2575, or you can mail written comments to the Orange County Department of Planning and Inspections, 306-F Revere Road, PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Please submit comments by May 19.

For more information on the planning process or to read the first draft of the plan, visit the Orange County Comprehensive Plan Web site: www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/compre_cpupdate.asp.