Agenda - 06-05-2012 - 6b - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 • A Board member observed the go -kart track had not been used for years, they had maybe five races in its lifetime and you have a speedway that at maximum would have ten races a year. Most of the people in that area that have lived there knew the racetrack was there. The racetrack could be a possible place for different uses. Upgrading the facility would cost a lot of money. Staff Comment Any attempt to re- develop or revitalize the various non - conforming uses will cost money. Staff would hope that a prospective entrepreneur would have done marketing and due diligence prior submitting a rezoning and site plan application. When the re- development costs exceed anticipated costs, an opportunity for economic development grants may present itself. • A Board member asked if someone bought the go -kart track property, which is currently for sale, and the new owners chose to re- develop the site into some new land use, what would happen. Staff Comment: Any prospective developer would have up to three choices. The first would be to select a use permitted in the AR zoning district, either by right or through a special use permit, and submit the appropriate application. Pre - application conferences are strongly recommended. Another option is to apply for a REDA -CZ -1 rezoning. Again, the pre - application conference will allow staff to communicate to the applicant the process and issues that may influence the specific re- development design for either another vehicle racing facility or an entirely new use. The third option would be to apply for Conditional Use zoning. As stated in an earlier comment, the REDA -CZ -1 construct is to bring existing legal, non- conforming activities into compliance. However, the REDA is not confined only to re- development of a motor vehicle racing facility. It also provides a template for new, non- residential activities that conform to the general restrictions listed in the proposed REDA- CZ-1 Specific Development Standards. • A Board member asked if existing noise standards and proposed abatement measures were realistic. Staff Comment: Most of the recent racetrack noise abatement programs that staff have researched in California, Virginia, and in the Charlotte area are premised on an 80- decibel level at the property line. Orange County's standard is 70 decibels ( "A" Scale). While Planning staff members and the Sheriffs Department have received noise complaints regarding the Speedway, no detailed noise analysis of either the Speedway or the go -kart facilities has been conducted. It is certainly possible a retrofitted Speedway or other redevelopment project could comply with Orange County noise standards utilizing prescribed noise abatement techniques. • A Board member suggested that proposed language within Section 5.7.5 (D) to maintain vegetation that provides a semi - opaque, intermittent visual buffer be deleted and revised to allow for management. Staff Comment The sentence in Section 5.7.5 (D) has been amended to delete some proposed text and add new text reflective of the Planning Board members' motion. Planning Board Recommendation: The Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the REDA -CZ -1 UDO text amendment, subject to the staff incorporating all the