NS ORD-1996-043 Proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment - Temporary Events

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1 A. ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT -TEMPORARY EVENTS 2 Planner Mary Willis presented background information as stated in the agenda. The 3 proposed amendment creates a commercial/service use category called "Temporary Events". 4 This amendment was requested by Paul Tripodi of Tripodi's Catering to allow the hosting of 5 wedding receptions on their property, He was available to answer questions. 6 Commissioner Gordon asked what zoning district this was in and it was determined that it was 7 Rural Buffer (RB). She said that this is a large change to a residential district and suggested that 8 specifications be added to require that all parking be on site and that there be minimal off-site noise 9 impacts. She would like the site plan to be to some scale to indicate specifics. She feels that the sign 10 should be smaller-- maybe 6 square feet. 11 Chair Crowther feels that parking on site is important. 12 Commissioner Brown expressed several concerns which she feels could be added to the 13 amendment. She feels that off-site noise impacts should be minimum. Planner Mary Willis indicated 14 that this could be a condition attached to the Special Use Permit. 15 Commissioner Brown made reference to farm events and feels that it is not clear to the public 16 that there are no limitations to events on farms and she would like to see this included. An example of 17 this would be horse shows. She asked about the cost to the applicant for a Special Use Permit and 18 Mary Willis said that it is about$200. Commissioner Brown asked about notification to neighbors and 19 Mary Willis said that with any Special Use Permit there is a notification of any property owner within 500 20 feet. In answer to Commissioner Brown's question about the inclusion of auctions, Mary Willis said that 21 it is a matter of looking at the activity to make a determination if it is a bonafide farm use which would be 22 exempted from the zoning regulations. Commissioner Brown said that she could not support this 23 amendment unless it specifically exempted auctions which are very traditional activities in the County. 24 Commissioner Gordon asked about the courtesy review by Chapel Hill or Carrboro and Mary 25 Willis said she received no comments back from either one. 26 Mary Willis clarified that if a farm auction is a commercial activity it would fall under the 27 "Temporary Events" regulation. A livestock show at Orange Grove would be nonprofit. 28 Mr. Tripodi said that they have agreed to provide onsite parking. 29 Commissioner Brown emphasized that her concern is that this does not interfere with any 30 traditional activities that have gone on in the County. 31 Mary Willis said that the biggest concern expressed at the Planning Board meeting was how 32 to define the events precisely enough so that they catch the type of uses they want to catch but still 33 exclude those that they don't want. 34 Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to a listing of facilities in Orange County that are 35 offering to host social functions. He feels that some of these places could not hold the number they have 36 advertised. 37 A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Carey to table 38 this item until the next meeting. 39 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 40 41 Commissioner Gordon said that if they want to do this they want to get it right. Maybe the 42 minimum lot size should be considered and larger lot sizes be used. Some events would be great in 43 some places and some would be disasters. 44 45 Mr. Trapolli said that they have worked with the County for two years. They have included the 46 Orange County Health Department and the State Environmental people and are trying to do this right. 47 He said that the main concern is how the food is handled and the water served. 48 49 50 B. UNIVERSITY MANOR PHASE I APPROVAL OF CONSERVATION EASEMENT