Orange County NC Website
046 <br /> Property owners in the narrow strip of the Orange County EDD requested that the application of <br /> the perimeter buffer in that area be reconsidered due to the extent of development constraints it <br /> creates. <br /> On August 28, 1995, a proposal to eliminate the buffer requirement between two adjacent EDDs <br /> was presented for public hearing. Comments received at the public hearing included the <br /> following: <br /> • A Cornwallis Hills property owner requested clarification of which portion of the EDD <br /> perimeter would be affected by the proposed amendment. <br /> • Property owners along the west side of Old N.C. 86 supported the amendment. <br /> • Several Commissioners and Planning Board members indicated concern about the possibility <br /> of strip development along Old N.C. 86 and the effect of eliminating the 100-foot buffer on <br /> open space. Commissioner Willhoit suggested the possibility of increasing the buffer width <br /> adjacent to Cornwallis Hills if the buffer along Old N.C. 86 was eliminated. <br /> On September 18, 1995,the Planning Board recommended approval by a 7-5 vote. On October <br /> 2, 1995,the Board of Commissioners tabled the item. There has been no further Board action. <br /> The issue of the perimeter buffer was raised again by affected property owners during the recent <br /> development of a proposed site plan for the State Employees Credit Union. <br /> Entranceway Issues <br /> Previous discussion on the issue of the perimeter buffer by the Board of Commissioners and the <br /> Planning Board indicates concern for creating a desirable entranceway into Hillsborough. The <br /> Design Manual includes other standards that relate more directly to this concern. <br /> • The EDD Design Manual identifies the ultimate cross-section for the widening of Old N.C. <br /> 86. A four-lane thoroughfare is to be provided with a 25-foot landscaped median. Breaks in <br /> the median will only be permitted where designated connector streets serving the EDD <br /> intersect with Old N.C. 86. <br /> • In addition to the thoroughfare improvements,the outside lane on each side is to be widened <br /> from 12 to 16 feet to provide a bike lane, and a six-foot sidewalk is to be provided on each <br /> side of the street. <br /> • All improvements would be located within a 100-foot right-of-way, and property owners <br /> would be expected to provide an additional 20 feet of right-of-way for the widening project. <br /> • Buildings must be located at least 25 feet from side and rear property lines, and 25 feet from <br /> the new right-of-way line. Parking may extend to within 10 feet of a property line,provided <br /> that a 36-inch high opaque screen consisting of landscape materials, rolling earth berms, or <br /> low screen walls or combinations is provided within the 10-foot landscape area. <br />