Minutes - 05-29-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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receive evidence and public comment regarding the application for a class A special use permit to allow the existing structure to be used as the Olive Branch Inn Bed and Breakfast. She said that bed and breakfast establishments are permitted upon approval of the class A special use permit by the Board of County Commissianers under use category S54, Historic Sites, Nan-residential, Mixed Use in article 8 of the zoning ordinance. She made reference to the property on the County map stating that it is located on NC 57 in Caldwell. The zoning is rural residential, or R1 and it is in the Little River Protected Watershed. The surrounding adjacent property use is essentially R1, rural residential and agricultural residential, AR. The property contains 47.17 acres. The applicant is requesting the use of three rooms with restroom facilities and a common dining roam area. Na changes to the house are proposed as part of this application. Per section 2.28 of the Orange County Environmental Impact Ordinance, the applicant was required to submit an environmental assessment since the property was identified in an inventory of sites of cultural, historic, recreational, biological, and geological significance in the unincorporated portions of the County. This house has been placed an the National Register of Historic Places. The Planning staff has forwarded the EA and supplemental materials to the North Carolina State Clearinghouse and is awaiting comments. Subject to the comments from the state clearinghouse, the application appears to meet the County requirements at this point. Therefore, the Planning Department is recommending approval of the class A special use permit subject to the eight conditions. The administration is recommending that the Board refer the class A special use permit to the Historic Preservation Commission to determine whether the proposed use maintains the historic character of the house and property as required in the Orange County zoning ordinance and then to the Planning Board for a recommendation on the SUP to be returned to the County Commissianers no sooner than August 21, 2001. Commissioner Carey asked about the significance of condition #7, which is the requirement to dedicate the property within the right-of--way and the small portion on the eastern side of the right-of--way to NCDOT or Orange County prior to commencing operation. Craig Benedict said that when the applicant submitted the application the deed included the entire roadway. There had not been any right-af--way easements acquired by NCDOT. With any new proposal that comes in, that is the time to acquire the right-of--way. Commissioner Brawn asked about a piece of property down the road from her where the people own the property across the intersection and they do not pay taxes on that portion. Craig Benedict will get an answer to this question. Commissioner Jacobs asked if it was standard for special use permits to be valid far six years. Geoffrey Gledhill said that Orange County's ordinance limits the period of a special use permit to six years. Commissioner Jacobs asked about landscaping as mentioned on pages 42 to 45 and asked for an explanation of the partial landscape waiver for a visibility corridor. Craig Benedict said that the purpose of a partial landscape waiver far the frontage is so that the historical view of the house can still be maintained. There will also be a place for a conservative sign and the sign will not obstruct the view of the house. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to condition #4 and said that he is aware of at least three instances where the Fire Marshall was not included in the process of approval in a timely fashion so that people had to redo things and had to do things that were counter to policies that we were pursuing. He would like to be sure that there is better coordination between the Fire Marshall and the County's Inspection staff. Chair Halkiotis asked how much land is involved across NC 57. Craig Benedict said that it is approximately one acre of land 75 feet wide through a portion of the property. It is an issue we have been discussing with the Department of Transportation to correct the