ORD-2009-030 - Zoning Ord-Level of Non Residential Zoned Area Permitted Comm Activity Nodes

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*Staff believes there is an opportunity to allow for the Nodes to be developed as originally intended by the County and provide greater opportunity for the County Commissioners to be more involved with the development process Example Node Boundaries: PROPOSAL: *Amend Section(s) 4.2.8 (b) (4) and 4.2.9 (b) (4) to increase the maximum allowable non- residential development within Rural Community Activity Nodes to ten (10) acres, "Limit non - residential development within other Nodes to five (5) acres (i.e. Five (5) acres of LC- 1 and NC -2 zoning), and *Include a provision allowing the possibility of additional non - residential development with the submission, review, and approval of a Planned Development (PD) application RATIONALE: •The Rural Community Activity Nodes were intended to allow for higher intensity non - residential development to eliminate the need for residents to commute to urbanizing areas. By increasing the cumulative amount of allowable non - residential zoning we accomplish this goal, *The remaining Nodes can still be developed at what staff has determined acceptable levels of intensity given their purpose as defined within the Comprehensive Plan 'By adding new language relating to the possible allowance of additional non - residential zoning through the review of a Planned Development project, the County has the opportunity to address changing needs within the Nodes without having to continuously amend the Zoning Ordinance Staff Recommendations: •Receive the staff initiated zoning text amendment proposal including staff's report and presentation materials, •Conduct the Public Hearing and accept comments from all interested parties, *Refer the matter to the Planning Board for a recommendation to be returned to the County Board of Commissioners in time for the August 18, 2009 BOCC meeting, •Adjourn the Public Hearing until August 18, 2009 in order to receive the Planning Board's recommendation. Mark Marcoplos said that the Rural Neighborhood Node, which is close to where he lives, has a convenience store, a nursery, a horse feed /general hardware store, and other businesses, including a junk yard. He said that there is more activity in the rural neighborhood than in the Rural Community Activity Node. He said that the transfer station is supposed to go in the Rural Neighborhood Node. He said that there is a UNC Animal Testing Facility here and there is a huge amount of expansion in this area. He said that the map does not really communicate the activity that is going on and it is confusing. Commissioner Gordon said that there is some uncertainty about boundaries and she is concerned about this. She said that the boundary should be certain, and if the boundary has to be modified, then it can be amended. Michael Harvey said that one of the reasons for the planned development is so that there can be some non - residential uses.