Orange County NC Website
VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />c. Contract for Limited Site Assessment of Underground Storage Tank (UST) <br />The Board considered contracting with Quantum Environmental, Inc. in the amount of $20,645, <br />to provide technical services far preparation of a limited site assessment report to the Groundwater <br />section of the state Division of Water Quality. <br />Public Works Director Wilbert McAdoo said that a proposal was sent out and three <br />responses were received. This assessment will be sent to the State to identify the remaining soil <br />contamination in the immediate vicinity of where the tanks were removed. The contamination should <br />not be extensive. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to <br />contract with Quantum Environmental, Inc. in the amount of $20,645 to provide technical services for <br />preparation of a limited site assessment report to the Groundwater section of the state Division of <br />Water Quality. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />d. Stream Buffer Zoning Ordinance Amendments <br />The Board considered proposed stream buffer amendments. Planner Robert Davis <br />outlined the changes as suggested by the Ordinance Review Committee and approved by the <br />Planning Board. This item went to public hearing on August 28, 2000 and was referred back to the <br />Ordinance Review Committee. The Ordinance Review Committee recommended to the Planning <br />Board to approve the stream buffer ordinance. The Planning Board also recommended approval with <br />some changes to the ordinance. The purpose of the amendments is to provide clearer language for <br />stream buffer calculation; add new definitions for Usable Lot Area and Federal Emergency <br />Management Agency; set minimum square footage of lots that must be unencumbered by stream <br />buffers, easements, water bodies, wildlife corridors, etc.; and establish a minimum of 50-foot {each <br />side) stream buffers for perennial and intermittent streams outside of Watershed Protection Overlay <br />Districts. The zoning text amendment does not affect bona fide farming operations. If the <br />amendments are approved, they will apply to the entirety of Orange County. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to page five and the added section and asked if <br />number two should be septic system repair areas for existing structrares. <br />Commissioner Jacobs questioned a situation where a subdivision has been approved but <br />has not been platted. He does not think that where the septic system repair area is vested is a very <br />clear cutoff point (i.e., upon issuance of a building permit, or platting of the property}. <br />Geoffrey Gledhill asked that section 8 be excluded from the approval and that he bring it <br />back with a more clear explanation (i.e., at what point the vesting would occur}. <br />Commissioner Gordon painted out that the vesting portion did not go to public hearing. <br />She thinks the staff is going to have to came back with some possibilities and some pros and cons. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that it sounds like the definition of "wildlife corridor" would have <br />to be changed to 150 feet. He said that if the County Commissioners believe that 110 meters is a <br />valid width for a wildlife corridor, then there may need to be some recognition in the process by the <br />person purchasing the lot that an additional amount of land would constitute a wildlife corridor. Robert <br />Davis said that "wildlife corridors" are not mapped on the plat. <br />Commissioner Jacobs also questioned how a buffer could be set around a body of water <br />that may at same point in the future be eliminated (i.e., filling in a pond). Robert Davis said that if a <br />pond were in the middle of the field, it would not be included because it would not be in the same area <br />of the stream buffer. If the pond were adjacent to the floodplain, then the buffer would be included. <br />Commissioner Carey asked about the new floodplain designations and the FEMA maps <br />done in 1981. Robert Davis said that the maps showed established floodplains done by the FEMA. <br />The County Engineer is in the process of working with FEMA to update the maps and to determine <br />whether the floadplains have become wider or narrower. He said that this would not be a vesting <br />regulation because it would be a State or Federal change. <br />Craig Benedict said that when the new FEMA maps are available, any development that <br />exists now would be subject to those Federal regulations. <br />