Orange County NC Website
E:] <br />Several BOCC and Planning Board members had questions or comments, which <br />are summarized below and, if appropriate, include a staff response: <br />1. A BOCC member asked about the existing Efland- Cheeks Overlay District <br />(ECOD) and who was involved in that effort, since the proposed new <br />overlay districts are essentially a part of a larger effort. <br />Staff Response: The Efland - Mebane Small Area Plan Implementation <br />Focus Group worked on the ECOD effort and the proposed overlay <br />districts. This is an group appointed by the BOCC and comprised <br />primarily of people who live in the Efland area, many of whom also served <br />on the initial group that developed the Efland - Mebane Small Area Plan. <br />2. Two BOCC members asked about the architectural design standards <br />related to chain businesses and how buildings would have to be altered to <br />comply with the regulations. One of these BOCC members expressed <br />concern about the requirement. <br />Staff Response: The recommendations in the EIVISAP (page 66) state <br />that the "eclectic, vernacular character of Efland be preserved to the <br />greatest extent possible" and that "there is no desire on the part of Efland <br />residents to become a homogenous, `anywhere U.S.A.' community." <br />Page 69 of the EIVISAP specifically addresses the portion of the planning <br />area proposed for the two new overlay districts and states that "Residents <br />have long viewed the area as a `gateway' into the core of Efland" and that <br />"the character of the gateway is an important factor in the perception of <br />Efland as a rural village." Additionally, this section of the plan states "there <br />is a desire among residents of the area for managed, orderly growth in <br />conjunction with the desire to preserve the character of the area" and that <br />"both desires can be accomplished if development of done in a context <br />sensitive manner." The plan then goes on to state that site and <br />architectural design guidelines (now referred to as "standards" in order to <br />fit into the context of the Unified Development Ordinance) should be <br />develODed and adODted Drior to develODment DrODOsals being acceDted for <br />11 <br />