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transition area or an area that already has water and sewer if the lot size was reduced to 5,000 <br />square feet. <br />Off-site septic easements are permitted for developments that are not in a protected <br />watershed, The amendment proposes to reduce the amount of open space, which can be used <br />for an off-site septic system. Currently, 50% of the required open space may be used for off-site <br />septic easements, and the amendment proposes that the amount of open space allowed for <br />septic easements be reduced to 25%. <br />COMMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PLANNING BOARD None. <br />Commissioner Jacobs referred to page 7, #3 and asked if a carport would be <br />considered open space. After some discussion it was determined that it could be interpreted to <br />mean that a carport could be considered open space. There was a consensus that the Board of <br />Commissioners did not intend for carports to be considered open space. <br />Planning staff explained that the Zoning Ordinance defines open space with respect to <br />calculating land use intensity. The amendment adds a definition with respect to open space in <br />flexible development subdivisions. <br />Attorney Gledhill suggested that rather than changing the definition, it would work to <br />have a separate definition of Open Space for Flexible Development purposes. This would <br />protect the land use intensity system by making sure that the overall definition of open space, <br />which does not pertain to Flexible Development issues, is not changed inadvertently. <br />Commissioner Gordon suggested that the Board of County Commissioners look at the <br />overall definition of open space as it is used throughout the ordinance. Some of the original <br />language came from regulations being used in more urban areas and this might be a good time <br />to review that language. <br />Benedict indicated that they will be sure that the definition of open space refers only to <br />Flexible Development Subdivision Open Space. He indicated that they would also review the <br />definition of open space throughout the ordinance. <br />Barrows referred to page 3, bullet 3 and asked if the 100-foot buffer referred only to <br />Flexible Development. <br />Benedict indicated that the 100-foot buffer referred only to Flexible Development, <br />however, in the future the possibility of including this buffer for other areas will be considered. <br />This needs to be approached carefully so that an unexpected burden is not created on <br />conventional developments. Also, in the future, the Planning Staff will review roadside buffer <br />requirements. <br />Commissioner Carey referred to page 3, Article 22, Definitions (a) and asked if there <br />had been cases where developers attempted to use front and side yard setbacks as open <br />space.