Orange County NC Website
❑ Other: <br />B. RATIONALE <br />El <br />1. Purpose /Mission <br />In accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 Zoning Atlas and Unified <br />Development Ordinance Amendments of the UDO, the Planning Director has <br />initiated a text amendment to require that a neighborhood information meeting be <br />held prior to any action authorizing the development of a governmental land use <br />within the County's planning jurisdiction. <br />The anticipated development of a fire department substation off of Neville Road has <br />caused local residents to voice concern over a lack of notification or participation in the <br />process to develop the aforementioned facility. <br />A volunteer fire department falls within the Governmental Use land use category, as <br />detailed within Section 5.2 Table of Permitted Uses of the UDO, and is considered to be <br />a permitted use of property. Permitted uses are handled administratively (i.e. staff <br />review) with no public outreach required by the UDO. <br />The Governmental Use land use category includes the following: <br />a. Government Facilities and Office Buildings <br />b. Government Protective Services (Police and Fire Stations) Rescue Squads, <br />Volunteer Fire Departments <br />c. Military Installations (National Guard and Reserve, Armory) <br />In order to address a concern over a lack of public involvement with `governmental uses' <br />the Planning Director proposes to modify the UDO to require a neighborhood information <br />meeting to allow the general public to be made aware of such applications and offer <br />comment. <br />Please note this amendment, as currently written, will not impact those uses listed in <br />Section 5.1.2 Uses Permitted As a Matter of Right of the UDO. This would include: <br />utilities (i.e. electric, telephone, gas, cable, sewer, water, etc.), borrow pits associated <br />with State /federal highway projects, or solid waste collection facilities owned /operated by <br />a public agency. <br />2. Analysis <br />As required under Section 2.8.5 of the Orange County Unified Development <br />Ordinance, the Planning Director is required to: `cause an analysis to be made of the <br />application and, based upon that analysis, prepare a recommendation for <br />consideration by the Planning Board and the Board of County Commissioners'. <br />The proposed amendment is designed to address a concern over a lack of notification <br />and involvement of the general public with respect to the development of governmental <br />uses throughout the County's planning jurisdiction. <br />If approved, the amendment will require a neighborhood information meeting prior to any <br />action by the County to review a development request in the hopes the applicant can <br />2 <br />