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M <br />NCDOT Public Road Construction Standards: Long -term maintenance costs of private roads <br />have led to many requests for NCDOT to accept these roads into the State - maintained <br />system. The construction standards for NCDOT acceptance are higher than the County's <br />private road standards and are typically prohibitively expensive to overcome. <br />Subdivision roads with a right -of -way dedicated, recorded, or with preliminary approval from a <br />county planning board dated after September 30, 1975 will not be added to the State system <br />unless the road is built to the minimum construction standards of the Division of Highways. <br />The minimum State construction standard is 18 feet of pavement, depending on the <br />classification of the roadway, within a 50 -foot right -of -way. <br />Additional information regarding NCDOT construction standards can be found at: <br />http: / /orangecountync.gov /planning /documents /Subdivision Man ualJanuary2010.Of <br />Possible Options for addressing Issues within the UDO: In reviewing the various issues, the <br />OUTBoard, Planning Board, and Emergency Services personnel recommended the following <br />options. <br />These suggestions are grouped into 2 categories, specifically those best handled through a <br />UDO amendment and those not. To provide an appropriate level of service for emergency <br />services vehicles and ensure the provision of adequate public safety protection, Planning staff <br />believes the following options for revisions to the standards of the UDO should be considered: <br />1. Do away with the Class B private roads and allow only the Class A private roads, which <br />requires a minimum 18 -foot travel -way. <br />STAFF COMMENT: we have no particular concerns associated with this <br />possible amendment option. <br />2. Allow subdivisions with up to three lots or dwelling units to be served by a shared <br />driveway, subject to provision of a minimum driveway width, maximum driveway length, <br />and a turnaround area that can accommodate Emergency Services vehicles. (The UDO <br />currently allows two lots or dwelling units to be served by a shared driveway.) <br />STAFF COMMENT: we have no particular concerns associated with this <br />possible amendment option. <br />3. Develop a requirement that all newly created lots have access to a complying road <br />(either private or public). <br />STAFF COMMENT: There are potentially negative consequences, most notably <br />for lots created via the exempt subdivision process, related to this option <br />including: <br />a. Individual property owners will bear the brunt of the cost for roadway <br />improvements rather than the developer, <br />b. The following scenario must be kept in mind: <br />A property owner takes their 200 acre tract of land <br />and creates, through the exempt subdivision process, <br />3 <br />