ORD-2007-222 - Economic Development Districts Orange County Zoning Ordinance 6.29

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 19, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. _ SUBJECT: Economic Development Districts Orange County Zoning Ordinance Section 6.29 DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspection PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No Department ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) PowerPoint Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 245 -2592 Willie Best, Interim Economic Development Director, 245 -2308 PURPOSE: To discuss possible amendments to the Economic Development District Manual and add performance criteria for retail establishments and other uses, including an amended review and approval process. In addition, a new threshold categorization classification of low - intensity non - residential use is possible. BACKGROUND: Economic Development District (EDD) land use designations were created in 1994. Subsequently, Orange County amended the Zoning Ordinance Article 6.29 to include `The Orange County Economic Development Districts Design Manual'. This document sets forth the description and intent of three economic development zones; ■ 1 -85 Buckhorn Road, ■ 1-40 10ld NC 86 (now known as the Hillsborough Area EDD) and the ■ 1 -85 /US Hwy 70 (now known as Eno Township EDD) SMALL AREA PLAN AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVITY These areas are in varying degree of planning and infrastructure research, analysis and Small Area Plan Implementation. Portions of these areas have received or are in the process of receiving water and sewer infrastructure and therefore additional planning is underway to ensure compatible uses and a pattern of development that will support existing uses as well as future uses. Other planning efforts regarding these areas are the Efland- Mebane Small Area Plan Implementation Focus Group, Waterstone Area Planned Development and Eno EDD Task Force. REEVALUATION OF PERMITTED USES, PROCESSES, AND STANDARDS The manual and table employs different sets of approval processes, i.e. administrative, Class A or B Special Use Permit (SUP) or Planned Development (PD) rezoning. Although, this is a classic zoning mechanism that can be effective, other methods can be used to promote compatibility. In fact, the two other EDD zones used other methods such as placing compatible uses in a prescriptive large zone (either Primary or Secondary EDD) so the potentially conflicting land uses of retail and light industrial or residential would not occur.