Agenda - 10-04-2011 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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25 1 Michael Harvey: And the Planning Board will be accepting written comments. 2 3 Commissioner Jacobs: The issue with the variable buffer, would we do something similar for 4 .any developer, or are we making a special case. When is the case to be made? 5 6 Michael Harvey: The case has been presented by the applicant through the initial use 7 permitting process just like the planning development permitting process. The developer has an 8 opportunity to ask this body to waive, modify, or rescind development regulation requirements to 9 address on-site specii•ic conditions and provide evidence, testimony, or direct rationale for why 10 it's necessary to this project. I think the direct answer to your question is yes, we will do it for 11 any developer in this process. It is ultimately up to the County Commissioners_ 12 13 Commissioner Jacobs: Not making an argument pro or con, but one of the statements that 14 you made earlier was that it would essentially be a continuous fabric of similar density 15 residential development in which this would fit. Why then have anything more than setbacks on 16 the individual lots? We use for the buffer for more open space. 17 18 Michael Harvey: That is certainly a viable alternative and a viable suggestion. Our priority on 19 this, Commissioner Jacobs, was to ask the applicant to abide with the components of the 20 ordinance as they currEntly exist and request that the applicant make the necessary arguments 21 as to why a development alternative was appropriate. From my standpoint I have no concern 22 with the requested modifications. 23 24 Commissioner Jacobs: Another question was raised by Commissioner Hemminger about 25 walking to school. We had a discussion about Ashwick regarding sidewalks, and I don't see 26 that there are any sidewalks. My question is, and I'm sure one reason is there's a cost 27 component. Does a public entity need to have any kind of easement to put in sidewalks, and 28 would it be proficious?? to go ahead and reserve that now without requiring any kind of 29 sidewalks to be built? 30 31 Michael Harvey: I'll let Mr. Benedict talk on this as well, but my two cents is that it wouldn't be 32 a-bad idea to begin a dialogue with Habitat that we initiate further discussion on this project. It 33 certainly would behoove the County. if they intend to put a sidewalk along School House Road to 34 initiate such a discussion as part of this project this evening. I will note that there have been 35 some preliminary discussions with Mr. Chuck Edwards with NCDOT. Their preference is not to 36 have to maintain sidewalks, which is why they are not shown in the right-of-way. 37 38 Craig Benedict: Good evening, my name is Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director. 39 In reference to where sidewalks could go at some time in the future, we will have public right-of- 40 way. We are still working with Department of Transportation on urban style standards. We 41 know in the rural parts, DOT has not been amenable to sidewalks in those areas, but we are still 42 continuing our discussion with urban style growth, Efland area, under County DOT road 43 conditions. So we will preserve those 50-foot wide right-of-ways, which accommodate future 44 sidewalks if we can get it approved. 45 46 Commissioner Jacobs: I would just point out that Hillsborough, which I'm sure was developed 47 with the idea of suburban density, is not retrofitting sidewalks everywhere it can. We had this 48 debate with Chuck Edwards. and DOT when Ashwick was coming online and failed then. So I 49 encourage staff to encourage speaking with- him, because even though it's hard for us all to 50 believe, at some point in the future Efland is not going to be aloes-density community. 51