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 8 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 /> 6 <br />