ORD-2008-110 - Zoning Ord Text Amendment Hillsborough Area Eco Dev District EDD Buffer Regulations

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c 7— G A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to receive P y the rezoning petition; refer the matter to the Planning Board for a recommendation to be returned to the Board of Commissioners no later than January 8, 2009; and adjourn the public hearing until February 3, 2009 in order to receive and accept the Planning Board's recommendation. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 6. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS: Review of Zoning Ordinance Amendments, specifically to the Economic Development Design Manual, to revise existing buffer regulations. Michael Harvey made this presentation. Review of a petition to AMEND the Orange County Zoning Ordinance with respect to landscape standards within the Hillsborough EDD Issue: -Existing EDD landscape regulations do not allow for, or promote, the adaptive reuse of residential structures, -There is no flexibility in current landscape regulations allowing for a smaller buffer when a single - family residence is being used for a non - residential purpose -The required buffer reduces the available land area for the lot, -There is no incentive to preserve or use the existing structures. Proposal: With this amendment, staff is proposing the following: *Include a new landscape standard within the EDD Manual for professional offices proposing to utilize existing single - family residential structures, *Reduce the required landscaped area to twenty (20) feet, •Establish a minimum planting height for such landscaped areas, *Encouraged shared drive -way access and cross easements for shared parking *The amendment would create more useable space, -The reduced buffer would allow for the existing structure to be used for non - residential purposes, •The amendment would make it easier to preserve the aesthetic quality of roadway corridors within the Hillsborough EDD Staff Observations: *This proposal is similar to recent amendments to the Zoning Ordinance establishing the Efland Cheeks Overlay Zoning District (ECOD), *Staff believes we have an opportunity to preserve existing residential structures while allowing for them to be used for non - residential purposes in designated economic development districts. Staff Recommendations: •Receive the rezoning petition, •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 no sooner than January 8, 2009