Orange County NC Website
PAGE2 6 E <br />The required stream buffer zone shall not be limited to one calculation but <br />shall be based on calculations made'at points where topographical and ground <br />cover conditions change based on an analysis of the site. <br />In addition to the buffer zone resulting from the above calculations, a <br />stream buffer shall include any portion of a floodplain as defined in the <br />Orange County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, by special survey by a . <br />registered engineer or surveyor or by alluvial soils as designated in the <br />Orange County Soils Survey. <br />6.25.5.2 Buffer Zones Included As Part Of Minimum Lot Size <br />Stream buffer zones can be used as part of the required lot area or lot size <br />established as part of these development standards. <br />6.25.5.3 Existing Ve etation in Buffer Zones <br />Existing forested areas and other vegetation in a healthy condition cannot <br />be removed from or disturbed in a stream buffer zone. Diseased and/or dead <br />vegetation may be removed and replaced with vegetation resulting a <br />comparable stormwater runoff velocity and quantity. <br />6.25..5.4 Permitted Uses Within Buffer Zones <br />Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article, no impervious surface <br />shall be located in or closed than twenty (20) feet to the nearest edge of a <br />designated buffer zone, except that the Zoning Officer may authorize the <br />crossing of a designated buffer zone and the presence of impervious surface <br />therein by or for: <br />a. A public or private street where the crossing is perpendicular to the <br />stream and is justified in that:. <br />1. Without such a crossing, over fifty percent (50%) of the land area <br />would be without access and therefore undevelopable; or <br />2. It allows a design that would clearly result in less damage to the <br />watershed than would result if the property were developed without <br />such a.crossing. <br />b. Above ground and buried utility lines for the distribution of <br />electricity, gas, telephone, and cable television service where: <br />1. It is practicably unavoidable if the subject property and <br />adjoining property are to be served or potentially served by a <br />public service, and an alternate design would result in greater <br />damage to the watershed; and <br />2. The system, as a whole, emphasizes placement outside designated <br />buffer zones; and <br />3. To the extent practical, the direction of the line crossing is <br />perpendicular to the stream.