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Article 6: Development Standards 31 <br /> Section 6.6:Additional Standards for Overlay Districts <br /> (10) Pedestrian Circulation 26 <br /> (a) Unless deemed unnecessary by the Planning Director during site plan <br /> review, large projects, defined in (b), shall provide an internal pedestrian <br /> circulation system, owned and maintained by the property owner. The <br /> system shall provide pedestrian walkways to outparcels and also within <br /> any large parking areas. <br /> (b) For the purposes of this subsection, a large project is defined as one <br /> located on 5 or more acres or proposing more than 50,000 square feet of <br /> building area. A large parking area is one containing parking for 100 or <br /> more vehicles. <br /> (B) Landscaping and Buffering27 <br /> In lieu of the requirements outlined in Section 6.8 of this Ordinance, the following <br /> standards shall apply: <br /> (1) There shall be a minimum ten feet wide vegetative buffer along all rights-of-ways <br /> comprised of vegetation that complements surrounding plantings and which <br /> includes trees planted in accordance with Section 6.8 where possible. <br /> (2) There shall be a minimum 15 feet wide vegetative buffer along all common <br /> property lines separating non-residential and residential land uses. The required <br /> plantings shall be in accordance with those required for Buffer Yards Type A <br /> outlined within Section 6.8 of this Ordinance. <br /> (3) There shall be a minimum eight feet wide landscaped strip along all property <br /> lines separating non-residential uses from non-residential uses. The landscaped <br /> strip shall be comprised of vegetation that forms a semi-opaque intermittent <br /> visual obstruction from the ground to a height of at least 15 feet. Joint use <br /> agreements between adjacent property owners for shared ingress/egress and/or <br /> parking may result in a waiver regarding the exact location(s)of the required <br /> buffers. <br /> (4) The provisions of this subsection do not waive the buffer requirements found in <br /> Section 6.6.5 (Major Transportation Corridor). <br /> (C) Architectural Design Standards <br /> (1) In addition to the requirements in Section 6.5 (Architectural Design Standards), <br /> the national prototype architectural styles of chain businesses shall be altered as <br /> necessary to complement the surrounding area.28 <br /> (2) Drive-through facilities on non-residential uses are allowable in this area. <br /> 6.6.4 Efland Village <br /> (A) Circulation and Connectivity29 <br /> (1) Shared Access for Properties Fronting on U.S. Highway 70 <br /> 26 In October 2011,the issue of sidewalks was discussed at a BOCC work session and the decision was made that, <br /> due to NC counties' inability to fund maintenance of public sidewalks,that public sidewalks would not become a <br /> requirement for development in Orange County. However,walkability in large commercial projects is generally <br /> desirable as is the ability of pedestrians to safely traverse large parking areas. Therefore,staff is suggesting that <br /> some projects may be required to provide privately maintained sidewalks. <br /> 27 These lesser buffer requirements are in keeping with those required in the ECOD and are suggested in order to <br /> provide for a more urban style of development in areas of the county served or to be served by public water and <br /> sewer systems. <br /> 28 This language is suggested in order to ensure that any proposed"chain architecture"will blend better with the <br /> surrounding area. <br /> 29 Please see footnoted explanations for the Efland Interstate overlay district as they apply to this section as well. <br /> Orange County, North Carolina—Unified Development Ordinance Page 6-33 <br />