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3 <br />serving exempt subdivisions due to road width issues,and admittedly theregulations cannot <br />address the issue because of the exemption. <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://www.orangecountync.gov/document_center/Transport/NCDOT_Subdivision_Manual.pdf <br />Possible Options for addressing Issues withinthe UDO:In reviewing the various issues, the <br />OUTBoard, Planning Board, and Emergency Servicespersonnel recommended the following <br />options. <br />These suggestions are groupedinto 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 withup tothreelots 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: staff hasno particular concerns associated with this <br />possible amendment option. <br />3.Develop a requirement that all newly created lotshave access to a complying road <br />(either private or public). <br />STAFF COMMENT: There arepotentially 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 />3 <br /> <br />