Orange County NC Website
34 <br /> December and January Planning Board <br /> Following the November Quarterly Public Hearing,the amendment was brought back to the December <br /> Planning Board meeting in order to discuss concerns raised by the BOCC and Planning Board At this <br /> time,staff discussed revisions to the proposed amendment in regards to allowing previously <br /> unpermitted uses, including plumbing, electrical, and building contracting,to be allowed to operate in a <br /> residential district with an approved home occupation permit Additionally, during this meeting the <br /> Board and staff discussed concerns with screening standards and negative visual impacts that may result <br /> from revising existing language. Comments received by the Planning Board were addressed within the <br /> amendment by allowing previously unpermitted uses to operate as a home occupation and providing a <br /> waiver from screening requirements with existing vegetation and/or increased setbacks <br /> At the January 8,2014 Planning Board meeting,Board members reviewed the revised standards based on <br /> comments received at the November Quarterly Public Hearing and the December 4,2013 Planning Board <br /> meeting Members voted 7-1 to recommend approval of the UDO text amendment as presented by staff. <br /> Comments received from the dissenting Board member during this meeting were in regards to the existing <br /> permit fee,enforcement,and the proposed amendment limiting economic development in the county <br /> February 18,2014 <br /> Board of County Commissioners y f y ers Meeting <br /> The proposed amendment was presented for adoption consideration at the February 18,2014 BOCC <br /> meeting During discussion, Board members stated concerns with standards contained within the <br /> amendment One item of concern included proposed ded screening standards required for accessory <br /> structures utilized in a home occupation This standard is currently existing in the UDO and required for <br /> all home occupations in the county Board members stated that this standard may create an economic <br /> hardship for residents wishing to pursue a home q <br /> occupation and questioned the need of the standard <br /> p <br /> when existing language requires accessory structures to be built with residential construction materials <br /> Members also questioned the fairness and necessity of this standard since residential accessory <br /> structures in general do not require screening and some benign home based businesses (i e <br /> accountant's office)would not create a substantial impact to adjacent properties requiring screening <br /> The second item of concern highlighted by the BOCC focused on setback standards for accessory <br /> structures utilized in a major home occupation Board members stated that the increased setbacks for <br /> an accessory structure in a major home occupation may be difficult for residents to meet,which may <br /> limit their opportunity to construct and utilize an accessory structure as part of their home occupation <br /> In addition, Board members questioned the fairness and necessity of this standard since residential <br /> accessory structures in general are not required to meet increased setbacks beyond the zoning district's <br /> principal setbacks <br /> A final item of concern recognized by the BOCC was in regards to the setback standards allowing for a <br /> waiver from screening requirements for an accessory structure utilized in a minor or major home <br /> occupation Concerns raised by Board members recommended a decrease in these standards since the <br /> proposed setbacks may be too great for some residents to meet and qualify for a waiver from screening <br /> requirements <br /> During the meeting, individual Board members identified concerns with the standards for being too <br /> limiting and questioned their need and fairness, however, other Board members recognized the need <br /> and importance of the existing and proposed standards due to the expansion of home occupation uses <br /> in residential districts <br /> 4 <br /> ICI <br />