Agenda - 12-15-2009 - Information Item 5

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=n~~nnq~+or, ~.+em ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director Administration ®`°°~c 6`°' 306E Revere Road (919) 245-2575 P. O. Box 8181 (919j 644-3002 (FAX) 1' S~ Hillsborough, NC 27278 www.co.orange.nc.us ~,r~~ 6&~°,,a° MEMORANDUM TO: Frank W. Clifton, Jr., County Manager Board of County Commissioners FROM: Craig Benedict, AICP, Planning & Inspections Director DATE: November 30, 2009 SUBJECT: UNC School of Medicine -Orange County Research Farm BOCC December 15, 2009 Information Item in October 2003, UNC asked for a Zoning Determination on a parcel of land in southwest Orange County, Bingham Township. The property was an approximate 57-acre parcel where UNC-CH had been operating for approximately 30 years. They wanted to expand the facility and asked what processes were necessary. The Planning Department consulted with the County Attorney and County Manager and collectively determined the following regarding this facility. The project is classified as P23 Universities, Colleges & Institutes of the 4.3 Permitted Use Table of the Orange County Zoning Ordinance. The university is the principal use and aN other uses are ancillary and accessory to the principal use. Teaching and research are the primary results of the activity. Where the facilities accommodate faculty and students in an office building, these areas are subject to zoning under the permitted by right category of P23 in Agricultural Residential areas. Where activities are related to the university in terms of research regarding agricultural livestock, then these areas may be more clearly related to farm activities, which are exempt from zoning. The applicant submitted the University Environmental Assessment plan for comprehensive review as a courtesy and accordingly subjected themselves to State Clearinghouse environmental review. The Planning Department has limited authority over activities that are exempt under state statute regarding farm operations. Most UNC facilities are not inspected by local governments. However, buildings for office and research were required to go through the site plan process. The site plan for the facility was approved in September 2004 to include an additional 66,771 square feet of floor area beyond the existing 23,514 square feet. An environmental assessment (EA) was conducted by S&ME. The Executive Summary from that EA is enclosed. Since then Orange County has communicated with UNC regarding their existing state DENR permits. The facility has expanded a portion (approximately 11,000 square feet) of their original expansion plan at this time. Please see additional comments from Tom Konsler, Environmental Health Department (attached).