ORD-2000-005 Text Amendments to Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Ordinance

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O ,r{ A -� csoo -od$ Approved May 3. 2000 C r MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD February 28,2000 The Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Orange County Planning Board met on Monday, February 28, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. in the Judge Gordon F. Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, North Carolina. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Moses Carey, Jr. and Commissioners Margaret W. Brown, Alice M. Gordon, Stephen H. Halkiotis,and Barry Jacobs PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Karen Barrows and members Barry Katz, Howard McAdams, Theresa Nicole Gooding-Ray, Onie Lea, Lynne Holtkamp, Runyon Woods, Rachel Preston, Leo Allison, James Selkirk, and Robert Strayhorn COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John M. Link, Jr., Planning Director Craig Benedict and Clerk to the Board Beverly A. Blythe (all other staff members will be identified appropriately below) NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THESE MINUTES ARE IN THE PERMANENT AGENDA FILE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. ALL RECORDINGS OF THE MEETING WILL BE KEPT FOR 5 YEARS. A. OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR Chair Carey welcomed everyone to the meeting. He said that Planning Board Chair Karen Barrows would be introducing each item on the agenda. B. PUBLIC CHARGE Chair Carey dispensed with the reading of the public charge. C. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 1. Orange Countv Subdivision Regulations Text Amendments Planning Director Craig Benedict said that these items have been proposed by the staff based on Board of County Commissioners'goals and Planning Board discussions over the last six months. He said that at every quarterly public hearing additional steps would be taken for the preparation of the County's comprehensive plan by bringing forth regulations that go with the comprehensive plan. He said that tonight's public hearing would address two general areas: subdivision regulations and transportation issues of the comprehensive plan. He said that the staff is in the process of creating a unified land development code so that all of the information about zoning, subdivisions, and economic development districts will be in one book. a. Section III-B Classification of Subdivisions Presently, there is a 24-month period where an applicant can submit an application for a minor subdivision of four lots, and then after two years,the applicant can submit an application for an additional four lots. In each case,the applicant can submit an application for an additional four lots after two years. What is being proposed tonight is that the two-year time period would be extended ten years. If an applicant submits an application for any additional lots before the ten-year period,the subdivision will be considered as a major subdivision. This regulation change would give the staff a better ability to evaluate a larger scale project. b. Section III-D-1 Concept Plan Approval in all Zoning Districts Except the Rural Buffer Presently, a concept plan can be submitted for a flexible plan and a conventional plan. The Planning Board has the option of approving or denying the flexible and conventional plans. These plans do not go any further until the applicant brings forth a preliminary plan. About 75-80% of the time,the applicant chooses the conventional plan. What is being proposed tonight is that the Planning staff would recommend which plan would fulfill the goals of the County Commissioners and the comprehensive plan. If the applicant does not choose to go with the staff recommendation, he or she can make an appeal to the County Commissioners. c. Section III-D-2 Concept Plan Approval in the Rural Buffer This is the same process as for the non-rural buffer areas. The rural buffer section of the code