Minutes 05-20-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all future amendments to the UDO shall be approved and codified in accordance with applicable state law and the Adopting Ordinance of the Code of Ordinances, Orange County, North Carolina, dated December 5, 2011. This, the 20th day of May 2014. VOTE: UNANIMOUS b. Oranqe Unified Transportation Board Request to Authorize the Planninq Staff to Review Private Road Standards, Access Standards, and Trail Svstem Standards of the Unified Development Ordinance; Amendment Outline The Board considered instructing Planning staff to review the private road, access and trail system standards, and develop recommended amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for consideration. Abigaile Pittman said this activity was identified in the accepted 2014 work plans for the Outboard as well as the planning board. She said this relates primarily to ensuring the properties can be reached by emergency services personnel, there have been reports of public safety concerns regarding the adequacy of certain private roads and other standards. She said additional issues have arisen with requests to convert some private roads to public roads and problems with bringing those private roads up to acceptable construction standards. She said in the review of these standards planning staff would seek input from other County departments to explore a range of perspectives and options. Commissioner Gordon asked if there would ever be an instance where a private road that is already in existence would have to upgrade. Abigaile Pittman said if a road was created legally under the existing ordinance, it would be grandfathered in and would not be required to go back and make revisions. She said it is not uncommon for subdivisions on a private road to seek conversion to a public road for maintenance. She said the class B private roads, which are often 12 feet wide and gravel, can be expensive and difficult to convert. Commissioner Gordon clarified that the existing roads would be grandfathered in, and a new home built in a neighborhood with an existing private road would not be required to make changes to the road. Abigaile Pittman said the ordinance states the any subdivision above 5 homes requires a class A road. Commissioner Gordon asked what would happen if an existing neighborhood decided to subdivide lots to create more homes. Michael Harvey said if a neighborhood is going to create 5 lots, a class B road is adequate. He said the ordinance also requires the accommodation of one additional lot as a means of insuring access. He said if there are 3 lots on a class B private road, and a 4th lot is created, that is still serviceable by a class B private road. He said if there are 5 lots and a 6tn lot is created, the road will need to be upgraded to a class A road. Commissioner Gordon clarified that this need to upgrade is only triggered when you go above 5 lots. Michael Harvey said that is correct. Commissioner Pelissier asked, if a sub-division had a class A road, whether this would involve looking to see if the Class A road really exists versus a class B. She asked about the current process to verify that a road has been constructed as specified.