Orange County NC Website
PLANNING PROJECT PROPOSAL #8 -- November 2008 <br /> Lead Department: Planning & Inspections <br /> Primary Contact(s): Michael Harvey (245-2607); Karen Lincoln (245-2594); <br /> Jennifer Leaf(245-2603) <br /> Department Interaction: Administration and County Attorney <br /> Subject: Assessment of Regulatory Issues: Drive-thrus, Rural <br /> Traffic Impacts, Rural Lighting Impacts <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> Over the last few months, various development proposals and/or complaints have <br /> uncovered facets of our existing regulations that may be in need of re-examination. <br /> Some of the land development standards do not differentiate between urban and rural <br /> intensity levels. New environmental concerns of old methods of business such as drive- <br /> thrus may need to be reflected in green site development regulations. <br /> ISSUE: <br /> Drive-thrus — During the review of the Buckhorn Village Planned Development, concerns <br /> arose over the development and use of drive-thru facilities within the project, and throughout <br /> the County as a whole. <br /> The Orange County Zoning Ordinance does not contain any reference to specific design <br /> criteria, or language establishing an outright ban, on the development of such facilities (with <br /> the exception of the Hillsborough Economic Development District). <br /> PROPOSAL Staff believes there are two (2) options available if the County decides to <br /> regulate drive-thrus, specifically: <br /> OPTION A: The Ordinance can be amended to include a prohibition on the <br /> development of drive-thru facilities for any and a non-residential uses including, but <br /> not limited to: restaurants, banks, drug stores, dry cleaners; etc. This prohibition <br /> would be located within Article Six (6) Application of Dimensional Requii rnents of <br /> the Ordinance. <br /> • <br /> OPTION B: The Ordinance could be amended to include specific design criteria <br /> designed to address the ancillary impacts of these types of accessory uses. <br /> PROCESSITlMELINE: <br /> Staff intends to present both options for review and possible action by the BOCC at the <br /> • February 2009 Quarterly Public Hearing with staff proposals to the Planning Board <br /> Ordinance Review Committee. <br />