Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
6 <br />remaining land. The boundaries of all of these areas are consistent with <br />the current Land Use Plan. The main difference between these areas is in <br />the RR area where there is a minimum lot width of 130 feet and the AR which <br />has a minimum lot width of 150 feet. Those figures would apply when <br />subdividing property. The other distinction is that the AR districts allow <br />a few more uses than the RR. Those additional uses focus on farm business <br />activities. For example, a grain and feed store would be a use that would <br />be allowed in the AR district but not in the RR district. <br />In Little River there are three nodes and in Cedar Grove the base <br />zoning for all of the Township is Agricultural-Residential with several <br />activity nodes. Within the activity nodes there are already areas that are <br />being used for commercial businesses and those would be given a Local <br />Commercial (LC1) or Neighborhood Commercial (NC2) designation. <br />Ms. Willis indicated that any existing lot which is currently built <br />upon can continue to be used for its current purpose. This was in response <br />to the question of rebuilding after afire. This is also true for existing <br />commercial businesses which are in areas designated as Commercial. If the <br />area is not designated as commercial it would be considered a non- <br />conforming use which would require that no expansion or rebuilding occur. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OF <br />COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND PLANNING BOARD <br />In response to a question from Commissioner Willhoit regarding the <br />status of green box collection sites, Ms. Willis indicated that green box <br />uses would be permitted in any district. <br />Commissioner Insko asked for an explanation of the rational between <br />the 1/2 mile radius and the 1/4 mile radius in Little River Township. Ms. <br />Willis indicated that the nodes with the 1/4 mile radius are designated in <br />the Land Use Plan as the Rural Neighborhood nodes. The ones with the 1/2 <br />radius are designated as the Rural Community Nodes. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR CITIZEN COMMENT <br />ROBERT NICHOLS asked for clarification of the term "stream". Ms. <br />Willis indicated that the solid, or dotted blue line on the USGS map is <br />considered a "stream". These are perennial or intermittent streams. The <br />USGS map is used by county staff in determining streams in order to apply <br />buffers, etc. Uses that are permitted within stream buffers are utility <br />lines for electricity, telephone cable services, farming uses, streets, <br />bridges and railroads. All other uses are prohibited. In response <br />to a question from the audience, it was explained that the minimum <br />standards are greater than the state requires due to the findings of the <br />technical study. Non-residential uses are limited and are allowed only in <br />the activity node. The minimum lot size is also impacted. Under current <br />regulations, any land use type is allowed. With the new standards, non- <br />residential uses will be limited to the Activity Nodes. The other major <br />change deals with the minimum lot size for residential development. The <br />