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75 <br />David's cell 919 - 260 -0163 <br />www.swonsontandscapearchitecture.co <br />David Swanson david @swansonlandscapearchitecture .com <br />Terri Swanson terri @swansonlandscapearchitecture .com <br />General inquiries info @swansonlandscapearchitecture .com <br />Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail <br />Dolly Hunter, Bingham Township, <br />Carolyn Christman, Efland- Cheeks Township <br />Allan Rosen, Chapel Hill Township <br />Orange County Unified Development Ordinance Phase 1 Evaluation and <br />Recommendations <br />Evaluation <br />UDO Phase 1 has achieved its purpose of integrating Orange County's land development <br />ordinances into one cohesive document, eliminating inconsistencies, updating certain <br />regulations and applying state statutes. It is better organized, more clearly written and has <br />better tables and illustrations. Conditional Zoning is an improvement over Planned <br />Development, provides some flexibility to tailor rezoning uses to the site while protecting <br />neighboring properties by limiting the use to only what it is rezoned for. <br />The Planning Board's focus has been to assure the UDO has the same protection of their <br />Townships and the environment as currently required maintaining the same standards, <br />performance levels and revisions retaining the current intents. <br />A recommendation for UDO Phase 1 before adoption is that the revisions of <br />Landscaping, Buffers and Tree Protection; Parking and Loading, and Signage be <br />compared to current regulations by local professional architects, landscape architects and <br />business developers in order to insure accuracy and no added costs. <br />PLANNING STAFF RESPONSE: Both internal County staff reviewers and members of <br />the public who have reviewed and submitted comments, have the professional credentials <br />and background suggested. Any additional pro bono review and comment is welcomed. <br />Recommendations <br />UDO Phase 2 should: <br />Focus on the greatest value for the greater good of the entire county with purposeful <br />philosophy and policies to achieve the economic resiliency and community diversity we <br />desperately need and require at this time. <br />A time -line chart for each land -use review process (re- zoning, subdivision, permits, land - <br />use amendments etc.) should be made showing who reviews each step and when. <br />Identify time lags and the reason - such as delays caused by review board's schedules. <br />Identify how approval processes can be simple, efficient, and short. <br />