Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Article 7: Subdivisions <br /> Section 7.6: General Design Standards <br /> providing for the distribution of population and traffic, safe and coordinated street systems, approved <br /> water supply and sewage disposal systems, usable lots and conformance to plans for Orange County as <br /> recommended by the Planning Board and adopted by the Board of Commissioners. The following <br /> general requirements and principles of land subdivision shall be observed: <br /> 7.6.1 Minimum Lot Size <br /> (A) All lots shall contain the minimum lot area required by Article 3 of this Ordinance and <br /> shall comply with all applicable development standards. <br /> (B) Any lot which provides an easement for individual septic disposal for use by a separate <br /> lot shall contain an additional 20,000 square feet to accommodate the septic easement. <br /> 7.6.2 Residential Density <br /> The allowable density on a given parcel of property proposed for subdivision shall comply with the <br /> residential maximum density requirements in Section 4.2.4. <br /> 7.6.3 Land Suitability <br /> (A) In reviewing subdivision proposals, the Planning Department and Planning Board shall <br /> consider the overall design of the subdivision with the suitability of the land for <br /> development to insure that the platting and development of the subdivision will not create <br /> a danger to the health, safety, and welfare of Orange County residents. <br /> (B) Land suitability shall be determined by an investigation of conditions including but not <br /> limited to flood prone areas, soil drainage, drainage patterns, slope, historic sites, <br /> maximum anticipated levels of land disturbance for the project and all proposed individual <br /> lots, and unique natural areas. The investigations shall be carried out by the Planning <br /> Board, the Planning Department, or other agencies or individuals having the appropriate <br /> technical expertise. <br /> (C) Special Flood Hazard Areas shall be considered during the review process. <br /> (D) Soils shall be evaluated for suitability or provisional suitability for septic tanks according <br /> to guidelines established in the Laws and Rules for Ground Absorption Sewage Disposal <br /> Systems, incorporated herein by reference. <br /> (1) Each lot that does not contain a suitable building site shall be designated on the <br /> plat as being of restricted development potential and by instrument recorded in <br /> the Orange County registry as specifically prescribed by Section 7.14.3(E)(1)of <br /> this Ordinance. <br /> (E) Drainage <br /> (1) Soil suitability, including slope and drainage, shall also be evaluated according to <br /> soil characteristics indicated by the Orange County Soil Survey and topography <br /> indicated by the U.S. Geological Topographic Maps. <br /> (2) Each lot shall contain a suitable building area safe from inundation and erosion. <br /> (3) Sanitary sewer systems, septic tank drainfields, water systems, wells, and <br /> adjacent properties shall be protected from inundation by surface water. <br /> (4) Roads, driveways and utilities shall be protected from damage caused by <br /> improper stormwater management. <br /> (5) Mechanical devices, drainage easements, natural buffers, large lots, and/or other <br /> technical means may be used to achieve these drainage objectives. Natural <br /> drainageways are a preferred means of stormwater run-off removal. The <br /> characteristics(including capacity)of natural drainageways shall be protected. <br /> (6) Runoff levels from the 25-year storm after the site is developed shall not be <br /> greater than the rate of runoff on the same site in its natural state. <br /> Orange County,North Carolina—Unified Development Ordinance Page 7-8 <br />