Orange County NC Website
36 <br />and mitigation measures are appropriate and called for. It is customary in development regulations to <br />require mitigation of potential negative impacts, even if providing those mitigation measures requires <br />an outlay of capital. It is understood by many people that capital costs are normally a part of starting a <br />business. <br />Comments received by the BOCC stated concerns with the proposed setback and screening waiver <br />requirements being too great for property owners to meet and may limit the amount of developable <br />area on their piece of property to construct an accessory structure. The attachments following this <br />narrative depict the proposed setback standards for a minor and major home occupation on a variety of <br />sample real -life parcels in Orange County. <br />Attachments 1 to 3 demonstrate the setback standards currently in place and proposed for an accessory <br />structure utilized in a minor home occupation. Additionally, Attachments 4 to 6 depict the 40 foot <br />setback standard required on tracts approximately one (1) to twelve (12) acres in size if a screening <br />waiver is requested because appropriate screening is not provided onsite. The attachments show the <br />large portion of the property that is still developable with these setback standards in place. <br />Attachments 7 and S depict the forty (40) foot setback standard proposed for an accessory structure <br />utilized in a major home occupation on tracts approximately five (5) to twelve (12) acres in size. The <br />attachments illustrate the large portion of the property that is still developable with these setback <br />standards in place. In addition, Attachments 9 and 10 depict the proposed setback standards required <br />for accessory on tracts approximately five (5) to twelve (12) acres in size if a screening waiver is <br />requested because appropriate screening is not provided onsite. While the requirements can be limiting <br />depending on the shape of the parcel, the proposed setback standards are very unlikely to completely <br />restrict the construction of an accessory structure on site. In any instances where a hardship exists due <br />to the shape of the parcel or other reason, the variance process is available to property owners to <br />pursue alternative standards. <br />A final comment received from the BOCC recommended the need to review setback and screening <br />standards based on the proposed use to be conducted in the home occupation. While this is a <br />recommendation the Planning Board can review and discuss, it is important to note that proposed <br />standards have become more comprehensive providing for greater options for different home based <br />businesses. The amendment may be lengthened to include standards based on the specific use to be <br />conducted in the home occupation. However, it is important to consider that similar home based <br />businesses conducting the same use can have varying impacts depending on size, number of employees, <br />visitors, client base, and production. <br />In regards to the BOCC comment regarding potential impacts from the operation of trade uses as a <br />home occupation, planning staff believes the standards, as currently written, will provide sufficient <br />protection to neighbors of such uses. However, if the existing and proposed setback and screening <br />requirements are changed, taking another look at impacts of certain potential home occupations uses <br />would be warranted. <br />The amendment provides the means to limit conflict and impacts while providing a sufficient balance <br />between expanding the opportunity for home based businesses to operate in residential districts and <br />protecting the residential character of neighborhoods. Without the existing and proposed regulations, <br />an imbalance may create conflict and disharmony within a residential district. These issues may then <br />lead to complaints and enforcement issues that cannot be mediated without standards in place to <br />enforce. Unfortunately, similar to many standards, situations may arise that cannot meet the <br />A <br />