Agenda - 11-23-2009 - C2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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46 Major transportation corridors, whether interstates or heavily traveled secondary roads, serve as both movers of traffic and as entranceways to the County from outside areas. These corridors and the development which occurs along theca establish for visitors and residents alike an indicator of the quality of life in the County, as well as the efficiency and safety of traffic movement through the area. in addition, the ability of different areas of the County to attract and accomodate different types of development often depends on the capacity of the thoroughfare system and the character and.quality of development along the major corridors. It is the intent of Orange County to protect the attractiveness and orderly development of land and enhance those natural and environmental.features which constitute important physical,-aesthetic, recreational and economic assets along major transportation corridors through the provision of a set of development standards and regulations for application to public and private development of land adjacent to the corridors. The Major Transportation Corridor District is, therefore, proposed as a district which overlays other zoning districts established in the Zoning Ordinance. The new use of any land or any new structure within. the RTC district shall comply with the use regulations applicable to the underlying zoning district as well as the requirements of the MTC - district. The district does not address the use of land. use is provided for by the underlying zoning district and guided by the Land Use Plan and its applicable plan category. The 14TC district: a. shall be applied to lands adjacent to 1--40 and I -85; b. may be applied by additional action of the Board to any major thoroughfare designated as an arterial in the Land Use Plan including, but not limited to US 70, 1:C 54, NC 86, NC 57 and Old 86. c. the district shall be applied along a continuous distance along the thoroughfare of lands within the County's jurisdiction and outside the extraterritorial planning jurisdictions of the Towns of Mlebane, Hillsborough, Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. d. the district shall extend up to 1,250 feet from the right -of -way on each side of the roadway, except at interstate interchanges where the District shall extend 1,250 feet from the right -of -way on each side of the intersecting roads rights -of -ways and extend 2,500 feet along the intersecting roads from the nearest right -of -way of the interstate. e. the district specifically establishes development standards and a site plan review process for development within the district. f. the provisions of this district shall not apply to any building or structure existing prior to the application of the district unless structurally altered to the extent of increasing the floor area-by fifty percent or more or enlarged to occupy a vacant lot. The provisions of this district shall not apply to any single or two family dwelling existing or to be erected. No construction activity shall begin nor shall any excavation, soil removal, filling, grading or disturbance of vegetation, including trees, be commenced nor any sign erected until such time. as a permit has been approved.by the Zoning Officer. Where an individual property has been rendered unusable due to establishment of the yard setbacN, there may be grounds for a variance. Variances shall be considered and granted by the Board of Adjustment. However, the Board of Adjustment shall ensure that the applicant compensate in equivalent landscaping improvement for any encroachment into the yard or buffer area.