S ORD-1997-025 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment EDDDesign Manual Article 3.2-Landscape Design

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