Agenda - 09-08-2014 - C4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND PLANNING BOARD QUARTERLY PUBLIC HEARING ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 8, 2014 Action Agenda Item No. CA SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment Requiring Neighborhood Information Meetings for Special Use Permit Applications DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections ATTACHMENT(S): PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) Yes INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Comprehensive Plan and Unified Michael D. Harvey, Planner III (919) 245 -2597 Development Ordinance Outline Form Craig Benedict, Director (919) 245 -2575 (UDO & Zoning 2014 -12) 2. Proposed UDO Text Amendments 3. Process Review Chart and Timeline PURPOSE: To hold a public hearing on Planning Director initiated Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendments to require a neighborhood information meeting for all Special Use Permit applications. BACKGROUND: At the May 27, 2014 Quarterly Public Hearing concerns were expressed by BOCC members over the notification process associated with the review of a Special Use Permit (SUP) application. Specifically the question was asked why a Neighborhood Information Meeting (NIM) was not required for all SUP applications. A NIM is a meeting allowing local property owners /residents to meet with the applicant to hear a brief presentation on the nature of the proposed development. Staff attends the meeting to explain the process by which a given project is reviewed. Currently a NIM is required for major subdivisions, Conditional Use and Conditional Rezoning applications, as well as the development of land uses categorized as being within the `Government Uses' land use category as detailed with Section 5.2.1 Table of Permitted Uses of the UDO. Staff is proposing to amend the UDO to require a NIM for all SUP applications. The meeting will be held in a minimum of 30 calendar days before the public hearing, where the project is reviewed, in an effort to inform local property owners of the project and provide educational information on the nature of the proceedings. For those non -SUP items requiring a NIM (i.e. Major Subdivisions, Government Uses), the timeframe for holding the meeting is currently 14 days prior to its review by an advisory board (subdivision) or submittal of an application (government use) for processing. Staff is suggesting a NIM related to a SUP application be held 30 days prior to a public hearing because of the nature of the application (i.e. quasi-judicial) requiring expert testimony.