Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
14 <br /> where required by Building Code. Nearby fire points (ponds) will continue to provide adequate water for <br /> fire-fighting requirements associated with a larger campus. <br /> Stormwater collection and treatment for improved areas of campus will meet current State <br /> requirements which are above those that were in place during the initial development. Low impact <br /> stormwater collection in disconnected systems will be promoted to allow more infiltration of <br /> stormwater run-off into the on-site soils. <br /> (2) The Use will maintain or enhance the value of contiguous property (unless the Use is a public <br /> necessity, in which case the Use need not maintain or enhance the value of contiguous property). <br /> Future campus expansion as part of this master plan is planned to continue to develop in a low impact, <br /> pedestrian focused manner as all previous development on the campus. The goals of promoting <br /> walkability and on campus student safety, as well as minimizing the impact on the wooded, residential <br /> setting of the existing campus and on the surrounding residential areas will remain the mission and the <br /> development trend of the EWS. Parking and internal traffic improvements will reduce potential conflict <br /> and congestion on surrounding roads. Due to the fact that the existing property use is not changing, it is <br /> highly anticipated that the values of contiguous properties will be maintained as their current values are <br /> based on the fact that a school is already in the proximity. An outside expert has been obtained to <br /> provide additional material and expert testimony on this issue. <br /> (3) The location and character of the Use, if developed according to the plan submitted, will be in <br /> harmony with the area in which it is to be located and the Use is in compliance with the plan for <br /> the physical development of the County as embodied in these regulations or in the Comprehensive <br /> Plan,or portion thereof,adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. <br /> The master plan improvements proposed to the campus are intended to be constructed in such a <br /> manner as to minimize visual, acoustic and aesthetic impacts on the surrounding area and to keep the <br /> expanding campus in harmony with the surrounding residential properties that it now strives to achieve. <br /> Again, the existing use of the property as a school minimizes, if not omits any potential concerns of the <br /> proposed use violating the harmony of the existing area. <br /> 3. SPECIFIC STANDARDS OF EVALUATION: <br /> 3.1.1 Harmonious and Efficient Organization <br /> This master plan has been strategically prepared, to the greatest extent possible to promote <br /> harmonious and efficient organization in relation to existing topography, existing vegetation, the <br /> character of adjoining property, the type and size of existing, and proposed building(s) by incorporating <br /> like sized structures in a sprawling type organization so as to minimize disturbance to the natural <br /> environment. This allows EWS to preserve the topo and natural portions of the site to the greatest <br /> extent possible. <br /> 3.1.2 Preservation of Natural State <br /> Based on a review of the various school parcels, Rich Shaw, the Orange County Land Conservation <br /> Manager, states; "There is no significant natural heritage area known to exist on or adjacent to the <br /> subject property. However, there is a stream that flows through the southernmost parcel (PIN X-1935) <br />