Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 17, 2015 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 7 -e <br />1 <br />SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Amendment <br />Outline and Schedule for Impervious Surface Amendments <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Amendment Outline for Impervious <br />Surface Amendments (UDO /Zoning <br />2015 -01) <br />2. Copy of Memorandum Provided at <br />March 3, 2015 Meeting as an <br />Information Item <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Michael Harvey Planner III, (919) 245 -2597 <br />Craig Benedict Planning Director, (919) <br />245 -2585 <br />PURPOSE: To consider and approve process components and schedule for a government <br />initiated Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendment for the May 26, 2015 Quarterly <br />Public Hearing regarding impervious surface regulations. <br />BACKGROUND: Staff and Board members have received numerous inquiries related to <br />increasing allowable impervious surface area including: <br />• Increasing allowable impervious surface percentages in Watershed Protection Overlay <br />Districts consistent with State provisions, <br />• Allow additional impervious surface area on property based on the installation of a <br />stormwater feature, commonly referred to as a best management practice (BMP), and <br />• Modify the County's definition of impervious surface area to exempt gravel from being <br />considered an `impervious surface area'. <br />Staff provided the BOCC with an information item at its March 3, 2015 regular meeting <br />summarizing the issues and requesting direction on possible solutions. Please refer to <br />Attachment 2 for a copy of this memo. <br />Since then staff has received the following direction: <br />a. Continue to develop amendments to existing subdivision regulations requiring developers <br />to address the comprehensive impact of development with respect to impervious surface <br />limits and stormwater management. <br />b. Recognize the State program that allows local property owners to use permeable <br />pavement in order to obtain a percentage increase in allowable impervious surface area. <br />Under the State policies, if a property owner installed 3,000 square feet of permeable <br />concrete (i.e. driveway and parking pad) on a parcel, the State would allow for an <br />