Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND <br />PLANNING BOARD <br />QUARTERLY PUBLIC HEARING <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 19, 2012 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. C2 <br />SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendments — Outdoor Lighting <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) Yes <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Comprehensive Plan and Unified <br />Development Ordinance Amendment <br />Outline Form (UDO /Zoning 2012 -014) <br />2. UDO Amendment Package <br />3. Diagram Denoting Athletic Field <br />Outdoor Lighting Concerns <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Michael D. Harvey, Planner III 245 -2597 <br />Craig Benedict, Director 245 -2575 <br />PURPOSE: To hold a public hearing on Planning Director initiated text amendments to the <br />Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) concerning the use and erection of outdoor lighting. <br />BACKGROUND: During the initial development phase of the UDO, several suggested <br />modifications were received from Planning Board and BOCC members on possible changes to <br />existing outdoor lighting regulations. These suggestions were tabled and incorporated into the <br />UDO Implementation Bridge for future consideration. Staff believes we have reached a point <br />where these amendments can be incorporated into the UDO. <br />This amendment also seeks to address a long- standing concern expressed by Orange County <br />Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation ( DEAPR) staff over height <br />limitations on athletic field lights. DEAPR staff members indicated existing height limits are too <br />restrictive and will create additional light pollution on adjoining properties rather than eliminate it. <br />Attachment 1 provides additional background information on proposed amendments. <br />Attachment 2 contains the proposed amendments with additions shown in ired text and <br />proposed deletions are shown in ired text as well as footnotes documenting the <br />rationale for the proposed modification. Attachment 3 contains a diagram intended to outline <br />DEAPR staff concerns over the current athletic field light pole height limit. <br />Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) Review: The Planning Board ORC reviewed the proposed <br />amendments at the September 5, 2012 meeting. The proposed text in Attachment 2 includes <br />modifications made based on comments received at the ORC. Please refer to Section C.2 (a) of <br />Attachment 1 for a summary of the Board member's comments. <br />Notification Procedural Requirements: Legal ads for the public hearing were placed in a <br />newspaper of general circulation in the County in accordance with Section 2.8.7 of the UDO. <br />