Orange County NC Website
1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />47 <br />48 <br />49 <br />50 <br />51 <br />— Technique is utilized throughout the county, including the University Lake <br />Watershed Area. <br />— There is no language within the Plan indicating the clustering of subdivision lots, <br />below the 2 acre minimum lot size, is permitted in the Rural Residential land use <br />category. <br />• CLUSTER SUBDIVISION ISSUE: <br />Conventional subdivision layout: <br />• Open space is private and part of individual lots. As a result it can be disturbed, <br />• Subdivision spread out over entire parcel, <br />• More impervious surface area and more land clearing /grading required (i.e. longer roads <br />and driveways), <br />• Greater impact to existing foliage and more acres `developed' under conventional <br />subdivision design. <br />Cluster subdivision layout <br />• Smaller lots with open space being separate and less likely to be disturbed, <br />• Open space is now `shared common area' for local residents, <br />• Subdivision is condensed requiring less land clearing and grading, <br />• Less impervious surface area required, <br />• Greater protection for existing foliage and less overall `development' on property. <br />ISSUES /CONCERNS (continued): <br />• Plan indicates minimum required lot size within the University Lake Watershed Area is 5 <br />acres. <br />• This is inconsistent with language within Joint Planning Agreement and County <br />regulations indicating minimum lot size is 2 acres. <br />— NOTE(s): The Plan indicates there is a density limit for property within this area <br />of 1 dwelling unit for every 5 acres. <br />— County regulations also establish a density limit for property within the University <br />Lake Watershed Area of 1 dwelling unit for every 5 acres of property. Minimum <br />required lot size, however, is 2 acres. As previously indicated this is consistent <br />with language contained within the Joint Planning Agreement. <br />PROPOSAL: <br />County staff is proposing the following: <br />— Combine Rural Residential and Agricultural Areas land use categories into 1 and <br />add language indicating agricultural activities are permitted throughout area <br />covered by the Plan. <br />— Add language establishing density of 1 dwelling unit for every 2 acres for <br />property within Rural Residential land use category. <br />• NOTE(s): This is consistent with County planning staff's interpretation of <br />the allowable density in Rural Residential land use category. Plan is being <br />modified to include this interpretation. <br />• This amendment will not impact established density limits within the <br />University Lake Watershed Area, which will remain at 1 dwelling unit for <br />every 5 acres of property. <br />— Allow cluster subdivisions within the Rural Residential category so long as <br />proposed density requirements (i.e. 1 unit for every 2 acres) are adhered to. Lots <br />could be reduced to 1 acre in area while density limits are maintained. <br />