Agenda - 02-05-2013 - 6b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Article 6: Development Standards 31 Section 6.6: Additional Standards for Overlay Districts (10) Pedestrian Circulation 26 (a) Unless deemed unnecessary by the Planning Director during site plan review, large projects, defined in (b), shall provide an internal pedestrian circulation system, owned and maintained by the property owner. The system shall provide pedestrian walkways to outparcels and also within any large parking areas. (b) For the purposes of this subsection, a large project is defined as one located on 5 or more acres or proposing more than 50,000 square feet of building area. A large parking area is one containing parking for 100 or more vehicles. (B) Landscaping and Buffering27 In lieu of the requirements outlined in Section 6.8 of this Ordinance, the following standards shall apply: (1) There shall be a minimum ten feet wide vegetative buffer along all rights -of -ways comprised of vegetation that complements surrounding plantings and which includes trees planted in accordance with Section 6.8 where possible. (2) There shall be a minimum 15 feet wide vegetative buffer along all common property lines separating non - residential and residential land uses. The required plantings shall be in accordance with those required for Buffer Yards Type A outlined within Section 6.8 of this Ordinance. (3) There shall be a minimum eight feet wide landscaped strip along all property lines separating non - residential uses from non - residential uses. The landscaped strip shall be comprised of vegetation that forms a semi - opaque intermittent visual obstruction from the ground to a height of at least 15 feet. Joint use agreements between adjacent property owners for shared ingress /egress and /or parking may result in a waiver regarding the exact location(s) of the required buffers. (4) The provisions of this subsection do not waive the buffer requirements found in Section 6.6.5 (Major Transportation Corridor). (C) Architectural Design Standards (1) In addition to the requirements in Section 6.5 (Architectural Design Standards), the national prototype architectural styles of chain businesses shall be altered as necessary to complement the surrounding area . 28 (2) Drive - through facilities on non - residential uses are allowable in this area. 6.6.4 Efland Village (A) Circulation and Connectivity29 (1) Shared Access for Properties Fronting on U.S. Highway 70 26 In October 2011, the issue of sidewalks was discussed at a BOCC work session and the decision was made that, due to NC counties' inability to fund maintenance of public sidewalks, that public sidewalks would not become a requirement for development in Orange County. However, walkability in large commercial projects is generally desirable as is the ability of pedestrians to safely traverse large parking areas. Therefore, staff is suggesting that some projects may be required to provide privately maintained sidewalks. 27 These lesser buffer requirements are in keeping with those required in the ECOD and are suggested in order to provide for a more urban style of development in areas of the county served or to be served by public water and sewer systems. 28 This language is suggested in order to ensure that any proposed "chain architecture" will blend better with the surrounding area. 29 Please see footnoted explanations for the Efland Interstate overlay district as they apply to this section as well. Orange County, North Carolina — Unified Development Ordinance Page 6 -33