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

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9196443004 P.05/09 45 4 1 tar.Glories Peacock, a member of the Goff CART,mentioned that he has been Involved in golf course p*cb 2 in marry states aaass the country,teaching turf grass management as well as other areas. He also does walls with the 3 Audubon lomy ziorai program. There are two c lasslflantons for this program. The Cvoperativa Sanctuary System 4 aiiawa any existing uxm(mse to enroll and gain certification In six areas-environmental planning.wllotffe habitat and 5 management, public outreach,water quality management,water conservation and Integrated past managemwC When 6 a course submits their doa,menU tion proving that they have attained the minimum requirements,the course is O"W 7 as a Sanctuary. That designation means that they am taking the environmental sound approach to golf course 8 management. The Signature Status is reserved for new courses which have reached stringent requirements from a 9 devefopmvnt viewpoint. This group is a non-profit, environmental group.it is voluntary,not regulatory.He feels it is an 10 excellent program. 11 12 John Hansel spoke in support of the game of golf itself. He mentioned that he appreciated the Task Forces 13 efforts. He wanted to make sure that we do not discourage golf courses,especiany public golf courses. 14 15 John Sidorakis commended the work done by the Task Force. He felt that the Special Use Permit Issue needs 16 to be addressed so that there are not undue restrictions placed on the consUudion of new courses. This is a good 17 source of revenue as well as being a great source of recreation for many citizens. He also asked who would be 18 responsible for interpreting these regulations. 19 20 Rick Brannon,a golf professional,commended the work of this Task Force. He asked that the Board of 21 Commissioners keep the cost of building courses in mind when they set regulations. This needs to be a sport for 22 citizens with average income. 23 24 Craig Thompson,a Task Force member.commended the worts of this group. He is a golf course 25 superintender+t. He feels that this is a good document. One concern that he has is over regulating golf courses while 26 ignoring other potentialiy harmful land uses like Walmart and schools. The other concem he has Is how the document 27 will be Interpreted and who will be charged with that task. He asked that the County Attorney look at these Issues. He 28 asked that the Special Use Permit not be used for the golf course process and that the definitions in the document be 29 carefully established. 30 31 Ben Lloyd spoke in support of the game of Of as a past time in our county. He mentioned that he has 32 discussed this document with a builder in another state who felt that our regulations would prohibit him from building a 33 golf course In our county. He felt that gaff courses have many environmental benefits and are not harmful. He felt that 34 this document was too strict 35 36 A motion was made by Commissioner Carey,Jr.,seconded by Commissioner Brown,to refer the proposed 37 amendments to the Planning Board for a recommendation to be returned to the Board of Commissioners no sooner 38 than May 5, 1947. 39 VOTE:.UNANIMOUS 40 41 Ila Re-aotxoval of Special Use Permits 42 1) Artlde 8.8.24 Historic Sites Non-Residential Use/Mixed Use 43 (Class A Special Use) 44 This item was presented by Mary Willis for the purpose of receiving citizen comment on a proposed 45 amendment which would allow the Board of Commissioners to re-approve Special Use Permits for non-residentlai use 46 of historic sites upon receipt of a report from the Planning Staff that the use has maintained compliance with the 47 provisions of the Special Use Permit. On.April t, 1985,the Zoning Ordinance was amended to allow historic structures 48 outside of activity nodes to be used for non-residential purposes. The use is allowed with approval of a Ctass A Special 49 Use Pemhit in the Agricultural Residential(AM,Rural Residential(R1)and Rural Buffer(RB)zoning districts. A time 50 limit of six years was included to provide for a periodic review to assure that the integrity of the historic site was 51 maintained. Continuation of the use beyond six years requires re-approval by the Board of Commissioners. Re- 52 approval under current regulations requires submittal of a new application and preparation of public hearing agenda 53 materials,as if a were a new use. Special Use Permits for non-residential use of historic sites have been approved by 54 the Board of Commissioners for the Bingham School Inn,The Old Place,Green Hill and Reba and Roses. Thera are 55 no known Instances of non-compiance or eitizen complaints concerning any of these uses. The proposed amendment 56 would allow the Board of Commissioners to re-approve Special Use Permits for non-residential use of historic sites at a 57 regular meeting,upon receiving a compliance report from Planning Staff. if compliance has been maintained,then the 58 permit could be re-approved. H compliance has not been maintained,then the permit would expire at the eta of its 5-