Orange County NC Website
7. Staff has determined a formal Environmental Impact Statement is not required for the <br />project. <br />Please refer to Attachment 3 for additional detail. <br />Analysis: As required under Section 2.7.4 of the UDO, the Planning Director is required to: <br />`cause an analysis to be made of the application' and pass that analysis on to the reviewing <br />body. In analyzing this request, the Planning Director offers the following- <br />1 . The application has been deemed complete in accordance with the requirements of <br />Section 2.7 of the UDO. <br />2. Staff has determined that the property is of sufficient size to allow for the development of <br />the project. <br />3. The proposal should not have a negative impact on the existing residence, including the <br />existing well and septic system, or impede the existing residential use of the remainder of <br />the property. <br />4. The proposal appears consistent with the various goals outlined within the <br />Comprehensive Plan concerning development, including: <br />a. Natural and Cultural Systems Goal 1: Energy conservation, sustainable use of <br />non - polluting renewable energy resources, efficient use of non - renewable energy <br />resources and clean air. <br />b. Objective AE -15: Foster participation in green energy programs such as <br />installation incentives for solar hot water /solar generation /solar tempering in <br />residential or commercial construction. The County should develop programs that <br />will link citizens and businesses with options for alternative and sustainable energy <br />sources. <br />c. Objective AG -8: Encourage the use and production of natural fuel alternatives to <br />petroleum based products and pursue new types of energy sources. <br />A neighborhood information meeting was held for this project on April 9, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to <br />7:30 p.m. in accordance with the UDO. Several concerns were identified at this meeting relating <br />to the project including: <br />a. Adjacent property owners expressed concern over the impact the project would have on <br />their property values. <br />b. The northern property owner expressed concern that the required land use buffer was <br />insufficient and that she would still be able to see the array once constructed. <br />c. Adjacent property owners expressed concerns over traffic and access to the facility. <br />d. There were concerns over what was going to happen the rest of the property (i.e. how <br />would it be developed /redeveloped). <br />Meeting notes for the meeting are provided within Attachment 4. It should be noted the <br />applicant held a second neighborhood meeting on Thursday May 7, 2015 at the White Cross <br />Recreation Center. Staff was in attendance to respond to questions about the review process <br />only. <br />