ORD-1999-010 Text Amendments - Flexible Development Provisions Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations

Browse Search

49 AGENDA ITEM#10: MATTERS HEARD AT PUBLIC HEARING(MAY 24,1999) a. Subdivision Regulations Teat Amendments (1) Flexible Development Provisions PURPOSE: To consider proposed text amendments to the Orange County Subdivision Regulations provisions for flexible development. These amendments are proposed in conjunction with companion amendments to the zoning ordinance. BACKGROUND: Request: Amendments to Section II (Definitions), Section II-D-3 (Preliminary Plat Approval), and Section IV-B40(Flexible Development)propose changes that will: • delete undesirable aspects of the conservation approach; •enhance preservation of rural character in flexible development subdivisions; and • provide incentives for using the estate lot approach. The Planning Board Ordinance Review Committee initiated proposed changes to address issues regarding the conservation approach. Staff proposes additional changes to preserve buffers along subdivision boundaries and to make the estate lot approach a more viable option for development. Location: The amendments, if adopted, will apply to the entirety-of Orange County lying outside of the Rural Buffer and outside the municipalities and their extra territorial jurisdictions, if any. Existing and Proposed Conditions Existing: Flexible development subdivisions developed using the conservation option have not demonstrated creativity in design to preserve open space as intended by the flexible development provisions and do not reservelprotect any natural areas that would not be protected by other existing provisions in the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. Proposed: Staff has expanded the purview of the proposed amendments to clarify other flexible development provisions including estate lot provisions and to address inadequacies of the conservation option that are common for other flexible development approaches. An attached document giving existing ordinance language and proposed amendments contains staff annotation for each proposed amendment. Planning staff recommends amendments to Orange County Subdivision Regulations, Section IV-B-10 Flexible Development that will: 1. Delete undesirable elements of the conservation approach and combine the desirable elements of that approach with the cluster approach to create the conservation-cluster(cc)approach; 2. Clarify and define configuration and placement of open. space (i.e. contiguous stretches); 3. Add provision for a 100' (cc approach) or 150' (estate approach) buffer along adjacent public roads to enhance preservation of rural character; 4. Modify setbacks and percentage of open space allowed for placement of septic systems; 5. Provide for Internal access for all lots in the estate approach;