NS ORD-1997-040 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment Article 4.3 and Article 22

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19 g'1, d yo • ORANGECOUNTY BOARD OF COMIVIISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date October 21, 1997 Action Agenda Item# 4-1 SUBJECT: ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT Agricultural Service Districts Article 4.3 Permitted Use Table Article 22 Definitions DEPARTMENT: PLANNING&INSPECTIONS PUBLIC HEARING: Yes X No BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: Yes X No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Cameron Extension 2580 Proposed Amendment TELEPHONE NUMBERS: 8/25/97 Public Hearing Minutes Hillsborough - 732-8181 10/1/97 Draft Planning Board Minutes Durham - 688-7331 Mebane - 227-2031 Chapel Hill - 967-9251/968-4501 PURPOSE: To consider proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance pertaining to uses allowed in the Agricultural Service zoning district. BACKGROUND: During the May public hearing cycle,two requests were submitted for rezoning to the Agricultural Service zoning district. One of the applicants intended to build a mini- warehouse storage facility,a use which is inconsistent with the intent of the AS district but is included in the list of permitted uses. Several years ago a similar rezoning request in the White Cross area was denied.The Planning Staff initiated an ordinance amendment to refine the scope of the Agricultural Service district before more requests for rezoning are submitted. When the Zoning Ordinance was first adopted in 1981,the Agricultural Service(AS) District was included in Article 4 with language that remains unchanged. Since that time the nature of some of the permitted uses has changed.For example,indoor storage and warehousing now includes mini-warehouses and other storage uses that may not be related to agricultural production or processing. Agricultural Service is the only non-residential zoning district allowed in the Agricultural-Residential Land Use Plan category outside of activity nodes.In much of the County's jurisdiction(at least 63 0/6),land may be rezoned to AS without a Comprehensive Plan amendment.Consequently,it is important to adhere to the intent of the district when reviewing permitted uses,so that inappropriate,non-rural uses generating negative impacts to farming operations are not located throughout the county.