Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 2, 2009 <br />.2 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. .5a <br />_SUBJECT: Zoning Ordinance Amendment Establishing Regulations for Drive-thru Facilities <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Proposed Ordinance Amendment <br />Options <br />2. Minutes from April 1, 2009 Planning <br />Board Meeting <br />3. Minutes from February 23, 2009 <br />Quarterly Public Hearing <br />CONTACT INFORMATION: <br />Craig Benedict 245-2592 <br />Michael D. Harvey 245-2607 <br />PURPOSE: To receive the Planning Board recommendation and consider taking action on a <br />staff initiated Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to Article Six (6) Application of Dimensional <br />Requirements to establish regulations governing the development of drive-thru facilities within <br />the County. <br />BACKGROUND: This item was presented at the February 23, 2009 Quarterly Public Hearing. <br />As staff stated during the hearing, the purpose of the proposed amendment is to address <br />concerns over the use and development of drive-thru facilities and their impacts on the <br />environment. <br />During the hearing, staff identified the following options: <br />1. Adopt regulations banning the development and/or use of such facilities throughout the <br />County's planning jurisdiction, or <br />2. Adopt regulations designed to mitigate the impacts of such facilities through the <br />imposition of buffering and site design standards. <br />Staff recommended pursuing Option Two (2) which would establish reasonable regulations <br />governing the development and operational characteristics of drive-thru facilities and address <br />their impacts on the local environment. <br />During the hearing, some Commissioners spoke in favor of banning drive-thru facilities outright <br />while others spoke of the need for comprehensive zoning regulations to offset their <br />environmental impact. Staff and the Planning Board were asked to review the options and <br />make a recommendation on which path to pursue. <br />PLANNING BOARD REVIEW: The Planning Board reviewed this item at its April 1, 2009 <br />regular meeting. <br />