Agenda - 09-01-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

September 1, 2009 BOCC ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING &INSPECTIONS Craig N. Benedict, AlCP, Director , Current Planning (9'19) 246-2676 (9'19) 644-3002 (FAX) vvww.co,orange.nc,uS 0 N Attachment 1 Agenda Item 6a DEPARTMENT 306F Revere Road P 0 Box 8181 Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278 Orange County Environmental Impact Ordinance (Adopted September 1990) General Environmental Im Pict Ordinance Prologue The Environmental Impact Ordinance (EIO) stated intent is: `to provide a mechanism for full disclosure of anticipated impacts of developments as herein defined and to make such information publicly available so that citizens of the County may have input into developmental issues before they become moot' Furthermore, the intent is 'to require the preparation and evaluation of environmental impact documents for projects that either require certain state permits, or require a local land use permit for development within environmentally sensitive areas, as provided in Section 2 of this ordinance. Ora-nge- County Environmental Impact Ordinance Review Guidelines The Orange County EIO requires, in certain instances, that applicants prepare either an Environmental Assessment (EA) document or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) document. Initially, an EA level of review is requested to understand the basic parameters of a proposed development project. The specific document required is determined based on either: 1) the project use or uses (e.g. handling hazardous waste or mining), or 2) the unique attributes of a project (e.g. -exceeding grading limits, high water usage, located in a watershed critical area). The project planner, after holding a pre-development meeting or phone consultation to discuss the project's scope, informs the applicant of the review process externally at the Department of Administration (State Clearinghouse Section) and internally to Orange County development advisory departments.