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

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..�. ... ,. . .,. .v �v ..,,......... n......a ,I. .....n.... .«v. . ... ,iv. ..........'s'lu't i vJ t 19 Orange County Setback Requirements September 16, 1994 Page 2 This proposal is similar to the amendment considered last spring, except that administrative variances could only be granted upon specific staff findings listen in the ordinance (see attached). Any variances not granted through this administrative review could still be submitted to the Board of Adjustment, iscussi u OWASA's opposition to the original proposal in February, 1994 was due to concern for possible effects on University Lake and Cane Creek Reservoir. Subsequent analysis by OWASA and County staff(see Jute 28, 1994 Orange County staff response, attached) indicated that the proposed amendment for lots created before January 1, 1994 would be unlikely to affect any property at Cane Crack or University Lake. Only three undeveloped lots of less than 10 acres in size (5.2, 5.9, and 7.0 acres) exist within 304 feet of Cane Creek Reservoir, and County staff believe that sufficient area exists on all three of these to meet existing setback requirements without a variance. County staff also point out that no variance requests have been received in the University Lake watershed, where the current (stringent) setback rules have been in place for almost 10 years. 'This is due in part to Larger lot sizes those than at Lake Orange and to the existence of substantial shoreline buffers already in public ownership around University Lake. By contrast, County staff estimate that the owners of from 50 to 70 existing one to two-acre lots will apply for Hoard of Adjustment variances to building or septic system setback requirements around Lake Orange. 'Recammeudation It is my professional opinion t hat, if adopted, the strategy proposed in the September 6 Commissioners' agenda would represent no disc ern2ble threat to the water quality of OWASA's University Lake and Cane Creek Reservoirs, particularly if the required findings of the ordinance included an additional item requiring the Orange County Health Department to verify that no existing water quality problems in nearby or adjacent waterbodies were attributable to malfunctioning septic systems installed under previously issued setback variances. Next_SL= The September 6 strate& bas been referred to the Orange County Planning Board for development of a Zor i,46rdinance Amendment to be presentee! at the Commissioners' quarterly public hearing sche4u�j for November 28, 1994. Edward A. Holland, AICP Director of Planting,and Development