Agenda - 05-21-1997 - 9c - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . �� aJJ ate+•tea_ LSUI.I.%1'WfaNUCK � _c.c.s _ __ (j 44 3 1 This 2 smerdmertts to the item was Pied by Emily Cameroun for the purpose of receiving citizen comment on proposed Za*V Ordinance to include standards for golf courses. On August 20. 1446, the Board of 3 Commissioners adopted a dwge and appointed members to the Golf Course Amendment Review Task Fax(Gaff CART). 4 The Golf CART began meeting in September 1498 and caoriWaled Its work through Feixuary of 1447. At the end of 5 December, a draft was debuted to Z7 agencrts and irdividuais.for review and comment, inciixfirg the Institute of 6 Govemment,state agencies involved with water quality and pesticide MpWions.the Recreation and Parks Advisory Ccrexa, 7 the US Golf Association, the National Association of Coixties, US Environmental Protection Agency, the Golf Course 8 SuperintendentO Association of America, the American Sodety.of Goat Course Architects, and the Center far Resource 9 Management Twelve responses were received. Written comments were part of the agenda packet. 10 11 COMMENTS AND10R QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: 12 Commissioner Gordon mentioned that the Permitted Use Table previously allowed Golf Courses as a matter of 13 right in more districts than the current table does Including commercial districts. She felt that It would make sense to 14 allow golf courses In some of those dWcts by Special Use Permit. She requested that the Planning Board disarsa this 15 further. 16 17 Ms.Cameron mentioned that the debate was lengthy on this issue. The end point of the discussion was that 18 the CART members were attempting to be consistent with the description of the districts. At the same time,in a 19 practical sense,the acreage is limited for the commercial uses. The possibility of undeveloped existing commercial 20 land existing which could be used for a golf course development where it would not already be permitted Is very 21 unlikely. She assured Commissioner Gordon that the Planning Board would revisit this issue. 22 23 Commissioner Brown requested clarification on Attorney Gledhill's comments mgardug pesticides. 24 25 Ms.Cameron mentioned that there is a section in the NC General Statutes that preempts local jurisdictions 26 from adopting:regulations which-would address,in any way,the applications to use or store pesticides. It Is very 27 specific with regard to the limit it puts on local jurisdictions.The CART included information in the initial draft regarding 28 pesticide use,safety,notification,storage areas,etc.,primarily for Information. Because of the General Statutes they 29 were required to delete them from the initial draft of this document. 30 31 COMMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PLANNING BOARD: None. 32 33 COMMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS FROM CITIZENS: 34 Allen Spalt,a member of the CART Committee,thanked Emily Cameron for the excellent staff support that she 35 provided to the group. He mentioned that this group was not anti-golf and.in fad,the golf interest was well 36 represented. The goal of this group was to regulate, not prohibit,golf courses. He requested that the Board of 37 Commissioners seek to repeal the State's preemption provision regarding pesticides. This group had agreed to several 38 provisions which would have further protected against the negative effects of pesticides. He felt VW this purging was 39 unfortunate and weakened the proposed Ordinance. He stated that there is a mean need for voluntary compliance with 40 higher standards. Finally,he mentioned that the Audubon Certification known as*Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary 41 System' does not actually place any restrictions on golf course operations. He requested that the Commissioners 42 maintain oversight control. His comments in their entirety are in the permanent agenda file in the Cleric's office. 43 44 Kent Scott commented that he actually had come prepared to discuss the Audubon International Certification. 45 He mentioned that he has had several discussions with Ronald Datsun,with Audubon International,who sent him 46 information, inducting a video tape. He fen that it was potentially a very good program and requested that the Board of 47 Commissioners read the material and watch the video. The Audobon International actually works with new constnrclion 48 of golf parses for a substantial fee. They also work with the staff of the courses to assure that they understand how to 49 maintain the courses without damaging the environment. He felt that using this company could be a good way to 50 maintain a high standard without having to hire an engineer to handle the job. 51 52 Ride Robbins,a member of the Golf CART,mentioned that he supported the of this 53 committee. He felt that golf courses are a very good use in industrtal and commercial areas. They help to buffer other 54 uses. The fad that Orange County does not have any large.unused commercial areas,Is no reason to delete them 55 from the Use Tables. Zoning does change and they are not a bad use in those areas. Golf Courses am sometimes S6 singled out as a bad use of land;the science does not back up that concern. He requested that gW courses not be 57 sWgled out for regulations over and above other uses. 58