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°~.~=~ Vernon Davis indicated his desire to speak in favor of the rezoning request because of a need for a hardware store in the area but expressed a need fora turning lane at the intersection of NC 54 and White Cross Road. Randy Danzinger expressed support for the need of such a neighborhood business. County Attorney, Geaf Gledhill cautioned the Planning Baard and Commissioners not to consider the specific use in a rezoning request unless it is a Special Use Permit application. There is no power in a general rezoning to require on-site improvements. .Commissioner Carey inquired about the reduction in building size needed to accommodate the trip generation allowed in the zoning district. Collins responded that the Health Department comments received were based on a building size of 9600 square feet. A reductian of building size by.half would be needed. 5. SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS AMENDMENTS a. Section IV-B-8 Landscaping and Buffer Requirements The prresentation was made by Marvin Collins. On December 6, 1986, the Board of Commissioners suspended enforcement of Section IV-B-8-c-1 of the Subdivision Regulations, pending further study of standards requiring installation of plant materials in building setback areas and on parcels designated for recreation/open space use. Concern had been expressed by land owners and developers about the high cost of complying with the standards. Clarification of application was also required. The Planning Soard Ordinance Review Committee has been working with a developer, forester and landscape architect in reviewing the --~ design standards. The proposed revisions represent changes to Section IV-B-8 as applicable to new subdivisions.. Approval of the amendment would allow more flexibility in the installation of required plant materials. Street frontages are required to have a canopy comprised of at least one (1) large tree per lot, with additional landscaping comprised of large and/or small trees. side/rear yards as well as recreation/open space. areas are still. required to have one (1) tree per 1,000 sq. ft. area, but tries may be grouped and large and small trees may be installed. Coupled with reductions in required plant sizes, the new standards result in lower installation costs. Emphasis is given to installation of healthy plants and proper maintenance rather than plants reaching designated heights within specified time periods. Furthermore, areas in which buffers are required or utility/drainage easements provided are excluded from compliance. In answer to a question from Mike Lewis, Collins responded it was never the intent of the ordinance to control landscaping or removal of vegetation beyond the point that ownership of the property was transferred from developer to owner. Collins continued that the original emphasis was to protect existing vegetation.