Agenda - 03-03-2015-13 (4) - Laserfiche WebLink

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INFORMATION ITEM 1 PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director Current Planning 131 W. Margaret Lane (919) 245-2575 1 201 (919) 644 -3002 (FAX) RA1114 3 „� „w O11 1 1\11 FY P. O. Box 8181 www.orangecountync.gov ^KN; (1 4 f C.` I� ( -) JN Hillsborough, NC 27278 MEMORANDUM TO: Board of County Commissioners Bonnie B. Hammersley, County Manager FROM: Michael D. Harvey, Current Planning Supervisor Wesley Poole, Erosion Control /Stormwater CC: John Roberts, County Attorney James Bryan, County Attorney DATE: March 3, 2015 SUBJECT: INFORMATION ITEM — Response to Petition Impervious Surface Issues Please accept the following memorandum responding to a property owner inquiry over impervious surface allocations within Orange County. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The County is, for the most part, more restrictive than the State with respect to established impervious surface limits. There are no impervious surface limit(s) for properties not located within a `protected' or `critical' Watershed Protection Overlay District. There has been an increase in requests, both at a staff and elected official level, from property owners seeking additional impervious surface allotments beyond established limits. The State allows for the installation /use of a stormwater feature, commonly referred to as Best Management Practices (BMPs), allowing additional impervious surface area on a given property in certain circumstances. The use of a BMP is not, however, universally applicable throughout the County and can be limited based on soil composition, drainage, and topography. There are concerns related to establishing a program allowing for additional impervious surface area through the use of a BMP, as well as the perpetual maintenance costs of such infrastructure, causing staff to believe the option has limited viability.