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el <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 4, 2000 <br /> Action Agen a <br /> Item No. — <br /> SUBJECT: Stream Buffer Zoning Ordinance Amendments <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) NO <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): <br /> Administration Ordinance w/Attachment INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Post PH to Planning Board Ordinance Robert P. Davis, Planner III, Ext. 2580 <br /> Draft Minutes November 2, 2000 Planning Craig Benedict, Director, Ext. 2592 <br /> Board TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Public Hearing Ordinance Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Draft Minutes of August 28h Public Hearing Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> Mebane 336-227-2031 <br /> PURPOSE: To make a decision on the proposed Stream Buffer Amendments. <br /> BACKGROUND; <br /> Reg-uest <br /> • Amend the Stream Buffer and related sections in the Zoning Ordinance <br /> • Provides clearer and language to users to help calculate stream buffers consistently <br /> • Adds new definition in Zoning Ordinance for Usable Lot Area <br /> • Adds new definition in Zoning Ordinance for Federal Emergency Management Agency <br /> • Sets minimum square footage of lots that must be unencumbered by stream buffers, <br /> easements, water bodies, wildlife corridors, etc. <br /> • Establishes minimum 50-foot(each side) stream buffers for perennial (blue line) and <br /> intermittent (dashed blue line) streams outside of Watershed Protection Overlay Districts <br /> • This zoning text amendment does not affect bona fide farming operations. N.C. General <br /> Statute 153A-340 specifically exempts bona.fide farms from zoning regulations. Stream <br /> buffers enforced through zoning ordinances will not apply to bona fide farms. As a contrast, <br /> the Neuse River Basin rules are not enforced through zoning and therefore do apply to bona <br /> fide farms. <br /> Location <br /> Amendments will apply to the entirety of Orange County lying outside the municipalities and <br /> their extraterritorial jurisdictions, if any. . <br /> Development Process Schedule and Action <br /> • First Action: Public Hearing was held on August 28, 2000 <br /> • Question raised as to whether these regulations will apply to farm operations <br /> • Bona fide farm exemption (N.C. General Statute 153A-340) applies as long as the <br /> County regulates stream buffers under the zoning ordinance <br /> • Referred amendment to the Planning Board for a recommendation back to th?,Board of <br /> County Commissioners 'wy' <br />