Agenda - 06-16-2008-3 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1'7 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 Wetlands are further defined in Article 22 of the Orange County Zoning Ordinance as, "Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surtace or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas." Floodplain - as defined in the Orange County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, "Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source." Floodplains in Orange County are delineated on an official map of Orange County, issued by the FEMA, on which FEMA has delineated the Special Flood Hazard Areas and the floodways. This official map is a supplement to and shall be used in conjunction with the Flood Insurance Rate Map, effective February 2, 2007, and as amended from time to time by Letters of Map Amendment and Letters of Map Revision. Ed Schuffler said that this means that 25 acres are needed for the sites that are unencumbered by these types of criteria. Commissioner Gordon said that she noticed in Attachment 2-a that the following was added: "Results from any required environmental assessment or environmental impact statement; and/or results from any site analysis conducted by a registered engineer, land surveyor, landscape architect, architect or land planner using data from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers." She asked why this was added. Ed Schuffler said that as development continues, people have sites reviewed and there are delineations, so the existing data would be used. Commissioner Gordon suggested that the language be changed to say, "results from any site analysis recognized by Orange County....". Chair Jacobs asked Craig Benedict if he was involved in the definition and Craig Benedict said yes and that any analysis that is done is funneled to the partners in the Army Corps of Engineers and other entities, and if it is a credible report, then it is added to Orange County maps. There is a protocol for this process. Commissioner Gordon said that she would be satisfied to add to these criteria "results recognized by the Orange County Planning Department." Ed Schuffler said that he would change this. 5Z Sites with Areas Having Steep Topographic Slopes (>15%) Definition: Areas having steep topographic slopes (>15%). At least 25 acres of the site must be unencumbered with respect to these criteria. ,6~ Sites with Endangered and Protected Flora and Fauna Habitats (Figure 6) Definition: Natural, Areas and Wildlife Habitats [PKA Endangered and Protected Flora and Fauna Habitants] - as defined in the Open Space Standards of the Orange County Subdivision Regulations (Section IV-C.3b.) in the following manner: [Those areas] "identified as part of: - The "Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats of Orange County," as' prepared by the Triangle Land Conservancy in coordination with the NC Natural Heritage Program (see LUE Map page 2.2.36 and Table 2-2.38-40) [1988]; - The habitats are rated by significance integrity and threat - These areas are lands designated as....containing sensitive environmental resources...(part of LUE RPA definitions page 3.3.3). ,7~ Sites with Protected Sites of Historical Archaeological, or Cultural Significance Fi urea