Orange County NC Website
M <br />allowing for the modification of allowable impervious surface area. <br />There has been an increase in inquires and interest from local residents and property <br />owners with respect to increasing allowable impervious surface area on parcels of <br />property including: <br />• Increasing allowable impervious surface percentages in Watershed Protection <br />Overlay Districts in accordance with State standards, <br />• Allow additional impervious surface area on property based on the installation <br />of a stormwater feature, and <br />• Exempt gravel from being considered an `impervious surface area'. <br />Staff generated an information item on this topic, which was provided to the BOCC at <br />its March 3, 2015 regular meeting (please refer to Attachment 2). <br />As detailed within this information item, in certain circumstances the State allows the <br />installation of a stormwater feature, commonly referred to as a Best Management <br />Practice (BMP), providing an opportunity for the installation of additional impervious <br />surface area. <br />At this time the State only recognizes the use /installation of permeable pavement as <br />a means of receiving additional impervious surface area on a parcel. The State is in <br />the process of revising their policies, which could result in the expansion of the types <br />of features allowing for an additional allotment of impervious surface area. <br />The proposed amendment(s) seeks to incorporate the use of permeable pavement <br />as a means of modifying allowable impervious surface area within the County. The <br />review of these requests will have to be done on a case -by -case basis with the <br />property owner assuming the responsibility for completing the necessary engineering <br />studies justifying the modification as well as the responsibility for the maintenance, <br />inspection, and upkeep of said BMP. <br />2. Analysis <br />As required under Section 2.8.5 of the UDO, the Planning Director is required to: <br />`cause an analysis to be made of the application and, based upon that analysis, <br />prepare a recommendation for consideration by the Planning Board and the Board of <br />County Commissioners'. <br />The amendments are necessary to address current concerns our impervious surface <br />limits are too restrictive and unnecessary limit development of property and to provide a <br />mechanism for modifying said limits consistent with current State policies. <br />Additional analysis will be part of the public hearing materials. <br />3. Comprehensive Plan Linkage (i.e. Principles, Goals and Objectives) <br />Land Use Goal 4: Land development regulations, guidelines, techniques, and /or <br />incentives that promote the integrated achievement of all Comprehensive Plan goals. <br />4. New Statutes and Rules <br />N/A <br />2 <br />