ORD-2003-132 Amendment to the Subdivision Regulations Regarding Street Access for Major Subdivisions

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Commissioner Jacobs said that they are getting ready to embark on the aquatic center in �. Chapel Hill and that the Town of Chapel Hill has an ordinance requirement that 1 % of the monies designated for capital projects be used for public art. The Board was approached to embrace this standard. He understands that the two arts commissions from the Town and the County have met and are going to be working together. A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Carey to confirm Orange County's plans to designate 1 % of the funds allocated for Southern Community Park and the Homestead Aquatics Center for public art and also authorize the Orange County Arts Commission to work collaboratively with the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission on the public art aspects of these two projects funded jointly by Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 9. ITEMS FOR DECISION — REGULAR AGENDA a. Amendment to the Subdivision Regulations Regarding Street Access for Maior Subdivisions The Board considered a proposed amendment to the Orange County Subdivision Regulations, Section IV- B -3 -b. Craig Benedict said that this involves an amendment to open space standards for flexible development subdivisions, that subdivisions should have access to paved, public, state - maintained streets. The amendments were approved by the Planning Board unanimously. He made reference to the administration recommendation, page two, and added, "unpaved, state maintained road ". A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve the proposed amendment with the change. VOTE: UNANIMOUS b. Amendments to Open Space Standards for Flexible Development Subdivisions The Board closed the public hearing and considered proposed amendments to the Open Space Standards in subdivisions following the Flexible Development option. Craig Benedict said that this amendment would further help in the review process to ensure that open space is distributed throughout sites to the highest degree possible. He made reference to some changes that were made by Commissioner Jacobs and Commissioner Gordon. He said that they did anticipate questions about pedestrian open space areas and whether they are paved pathways or mulch. These areas are not required to be paved. Geof Gledhill said that the amount of the pedestrian open space areas can be greater than 5 %, but they only count for 5% of the 33% total open space. Commissioner Gordon asked if making this more restrictive is a problem. She said that when this went to public hearing, the public was not told that there would be this limitation concerning the amount of pedestrian open space that could be counted as total open space. She believes that provision should go back to the public hearing. Commissioner Gordon made reference to page 10 and said that her point is that right now we are requiring either 300 feet or 600 feet between access points to open space. This means that a lot of land must be devoted to pedestrian paths which access open space. She is saying that this is too much to require. She said that, in comparison, a common standard for walking to bus stops was one quarter of a mile, or approximately 1300 feet. She said that where the proposed ordinance says 300 feet between access points, it should be moved up to 600 feet and where it says 600 feet, it should be moved up to 1200 feet. She explained some other changes, which were outlined on her handout. She would like to make it more flexible for the developer to design and not have so many access points. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon to approve the staff recommendations, with the changes on her handout. There was no second. The motion failed. Commissioner Jacobs said that on page 10, the Board changed it to make it more flexible. li says approximately 300 feet and approximately 600 feet. He would rather leave it alone. A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to approve the ordinance as recommended by the staff, with the revisions (blue sheet).