Agenda - 05-20-2014 - 7c - Laserfiche WebLink

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This Work Plan activity relates to the following Comprehensive Plan goals and objectives: • 2030 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Goal 2, Objective T -2.3. Increase countywide access for emergency vehicles, including ways to improve response times, both for existing and new developments; and • 2030 Comprehensive Plan Services and Community Facilities Goal 7, Objective PS -T -3 Establish and maintain an appropriate level of service for law enforcement and emergency services and ensure the provision of adequate public safety protection standards for residential, commercial, and industrial development throughout the County. The impetus for this work plan task stems primarily from issues relating to the County's private road regulations found in Sections 7.8.4 and 7.8.5 of the UDO. The County's two - tiered approach to regulating private roads was originally intended to allow an affordable development option for small subdivisions of no more than 5 lots. However, problems have been reported by the County's Emergency Services Department and the Volunteer Fire Departments regarding the 12 -foot travel -way width permitted by the Class B private road. The narrow width of the Class B road has presented public safety issues because it does not provide adequate access for emergency services vehicles, and thus impacts response times for emergency services. Additionally, the UDO does not have a requirement that all newly created lots have access to a complying road, including those in statutorily exempt subdivisions (lots greater than 10 acres). Because of the exempt nature of these subdivisions, County staff cannot guarantee viable access to created lots. Like the situation with Class B private roads, the creation of land- locked properties presents public safety access issues for emergency services vehicles. Further, long -term maintenance costs of private roads have led to many requests for the North Carolina Department of Transportation ( NCDOT) to accept these roads into the State - maintained system. The construction standards for NCDOT acceptance are higher than the County's Class B private road standards, and are typically prohibitively expensive to overcome. Subdivision roads with a right -of -way dedicated, recorded, or with preliminary approval from a county planning board dated after September 30, 1975 will not be added to the State system unless the road is built to the minimum construction standards of the Division of Highways. The minimum State construction standard is 18 feet of pavement within a 50 -foot right -of -way. The OUTBoard also noted potential public safety concerns with providing access for emergency service vehicles on trail systems. The OUTBoard discussed the need for staging areas for vehicles to access trail users in times of emergency. On April 16, 2014 the OUTBoard reviewed and discussed these issues relating to selected private road and access standards of the UDO. The Board is recommending that the BOCC direct the Planning staff to review these standards, and also trail system standards, and develop amendments to the UDO for consideration. In the review of these standards the Planning staff would seek input from the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR), and the Emergency Services Department. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Other than staff time, there is no financial impact associated with receiving, considering and authorizing the staff to proceed with reviewing the County's private road, access and trail systems standards.