Orange County NC Website
The Board received a report on the various issues raised at the August 20, <br /> 2002 BOCC meeting concerning prior approval of the Tuscany Ridge Preliminary <br /> Subdivision. <br /> Craig Benedict gave the overview of this item. Based on community input, <br /> this subdivision was brought back to the County Commissioners to hear from the general <br /> public in August. Based on the comments, there were a variety of things that the staff <br /> researched. He referred to page 8 for the issues that were brought forward. <br /> Item 1 — someone brought up a concern about the stream located on the <br /> eastern boundary of the project, near the stub out. This is in the NE corner of the <br /> property. The stream is located on part of a lot that does not have any septic system. It <br /> is not where the road extension was planned. It can be protected and a buffer easement <br /> would be put around the spring. <br /> Item 2 —Arthur Minnis Road paving - The discussion was about when the <br /> road was approved to be paved for an 800-foot section and when right-of-way was <br /> acquired. There are additional letters from the NCDOT Professional Engineer. The <br /> letter basically said that the 800-foot section of road had right-of-way acquired since <br /> 1973. Since 1973, on a repeated basis, it has come back up for inclusion in a roadway- <br /> paving program. They have been unable to acquire all of the right-of-way. <br /> Item 3— drainage and sedimentation control - This was brought up by <br /> Commissioner Brown and some other residents. It is on a knoll and there is not a lot of <br /> water that passes through this area. A lot of the flow is in a NE direction and there will <br /> be appropriate management practices used to dissipate water velocities. <br /> Items 4 and 5 —water resources to handle 22 additional wells in this area - <br /> There is an attached letter from Environmental Health Director Ron Holdway that <br /> discusses the situations that occur in this area and in other areas of the County. He said <br /> that if wells cannot be tapped then you couldn't put a lot there. The staff believes that <br /> the wells are feasible. <br /> Item 6 -Other environmental features. There was a concern about the <br /> amount of open space in the rural buffer regulations. There are no houses that will be <br /> on the road. The open space is provided with a connection and some trails. <br /> Item 7 - Notification process for major subdivisions - On November 25`h, they <br /> will be proposing to change the notification process for major subdivisions. They will <br /> also be addressing some new regulations for major subdivisions. <br /> Item 8— Financial Impact analysis —the staff does use a template and it is <br /> not the basis of approval or denial of a development. The fiscal impact analysis is not <br /> intended to be a regulatory tool. <br /> Item 9— having signs directly on the property—This will be a suggestion with <br /> the new ordinance to post the property and let all residents know about what is occurring <br /> in the area. <br /> The staff believes that this project did go through the proper process and that <br /> it was a reasonable recommendation to approve it. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that she wanted to give ample time for the <br /> Tuscany Ridge neighbors to comment, but she would like to address other items on the <br /> agenda because she will ask for adjournment at 10:30 p.m. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that after the five people speak, then the Board could <br /> address the legal advertisement for the November 25`h quarterly public hearing. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis asked Chair Jacobs to explain that there was no <br /> secret meeting with DOT. Chair Jacobs said that the Chair and the Vice-Chair have <br /> been meeting at regular intervals with representatives of the DOT to share information <br /> and ask questions. They report back to the Board what they find. At their last meeting, <br /> they said that they would go to DOT and ask them what was the genesis of this paving <br />