Agenda - 01-17-1995 - IX-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orange Water and Sewer Authority 18 O WASA 400 Jones Ferry Road P.O. Box 366 Carrboro, NC 27510 (919) 968-4421 Miv'MORANDUM TO: Everett Billingsley FROM.: Ed Holland DATE: September 16, 1994 SUBJECT: Proposed Changes to Orange County Setback Requirements for Septic Systems and Structures from Streams and Lake Shorelines Backmand During February and March, 1994 the (range County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing and considered amending the County's Zoning Ordinance to allow more flexibility in the development of certain lots constrained by setback requirements of the water supply protection measures that became effective January 1, 1994. The provisions in question require that new structures be located at least 150 feet from a reservoir, or outside of a designated stream buffer, whichever distance is greater. Septic systems must be located at least 300 feet from a reservoir, or outside of a designated stream buffer, which ever distance is greater. Because these new requirements rendered a number of existing one to two-acre lots unbuddable around Lake Orange, the County considered reducing the setbacks for lots created prior to January 1, 19SW. The more stringent (current) requirements would remain in effect for all lots created after that date. On February 24, 1994 OWASA's Board of Directors adopted a resolution opposing the proposed changes for the University Lake and Cane Creek watersheds and reaffirmed its earlier position of November 11, 1993: *&fisting setback requirements of 300 feet for septic systems and 150 feet for structures should remain in place along the shnrelints of University Lake and the Carte Creek Reserwrir and along the perennial streams discharging to these hnrpoundments." The proposed amendment was not adopted by the Commissioners due in part to OWASA's opposition and cone em that it would be perceived as a relaxation of the County's commitment to protest the Cane Creek watershed(we September 6, 1994 Commissioners' agenda abstract, attached). Instead, the Commissioners directed staff to develop an administrative procedure for com*kting variance requests in a less expensive and more eacpedient manner than case by case applications to the Board of Adjustment. County staff determined that no such procedure was feasible, and proposed the revised strategy described in the Commissioners' September 6 agenda packet. An Equal Opportunity Employer