NS ORD-1997-012 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments - Golf Course Standards

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44 3 1 This item was Presented by Emily Cameron for the purpose of receiving clam cornmeni on proposW 2 amendments to the Inning OldirMuVe to irctu le standards for got courses. On August 20. 1946. the Bo of 3 Ccmmissiorrsrs adopted a charge and app�ortmted members to the Golf Course Amendment Review Task Faroe(Gdf CARTy, 4 The Golf CART begarm meeting kt September 1998 and corlfirxted )b work through Febl, of 1997. At the and of 5 December, a draft was dkhtx led to ZT apenejes and individuals.for review and comment, inn kxdirtg the irtstltute of 6 Government,stabs agencies involved with water quaZy and pesticide MWAafions,the Recreation and Parks Advisory Coin, 7 the US Gdf Association, the National Association of CountiM US Finaarxrrental Protection Agency, the Gaff Came 8 Saperirtertdertts Association of America, the American Society.of Gott Case Architects, and the Center for Resource 9 Management Twelve responses were received Written comments were part of the agenda packet. 10 11 COMMENTS AND/OR QUES'T'IONS FROM THE BOARD OF COMmmiONERS: 12 Commissioner Gordon mentioned that the Permitted Use Table previously aAowed 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 districts by Special Use Permit_ She requested that the Planning Board disatsa this 15 further. 16 17 Ma,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 lard 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 regarding pesticides. 24 25 Ms.Cameron mentioned that there is a section in the NC General Statutes that preempts local jurisdictions 26 from adopting regulations whk:h-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 20 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/WD/OR QUESTIONS FROM CITIZENS: 34 Allen Span,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 and-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 that this purging was 39 unfortunate and weakened the proposed Ordinance. He stated that them is a real 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 Clerk's o". 43 44 Kent Scott commented that he actually had came prepared to discuss the Audubon intematkwW Certification. 45 He mentioned that he has had several discussions with Ronald Datsun,with Audubon International,who sent him 46 information, incwding a video tape. He felt 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 Irttematkmal actually works with new constnnction 48 of golf courses 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 NO 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 got(courses are a very good use in industrial and commercial areas. They help to buffer other 54 uses. The fad that Orange County does not have any large.unused con in ka &I areas,Is no reason to delete them 55 from the Use Tables. Zoning does change and they am not a toad use in those areas, Golf Courses are sometimes 56 singled out as a bad use of land:the science does not back up that cormem. He requested that golf courses not be 57 sktpkd out for regulations over and above other uses. 58