Orange County NC Website
73 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND <br /> PLANNING BOARD <br /> QUARTERLY PUBLIC HEARING ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 8, 2015 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. C.3 <br /> SUBJECT: Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment — Recreational Land Uses <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Comprehensive Plan and Unified Michael Harvey Planner III (919) 245-2597 <br /> Development Ordinance Outline Form - Craig Benedict, Director, (919) 245-2585 <br /> Sign Amendments (UDO/Zoning 2015- <br /> 01) <br /> 2. Proposed UDO Text Amendment(s) <br /> PURPOSE: To hold a public hearing on Planning Director initiated Unified Development <br /> Ordinance (UDO) text amendments to revise existing regulations governing the development <br /> and use of recreational land uses. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the Amendment <br /> Outline Form (Attachment 1) for this item at its May 5, 2015 regular meeting. <br /> Staff and the County Attorney's office have determined existing definitions and classification <br /> methodology for recreation land uses (i.e. relying on the profit/non-profit status of said <br /> operation) is inappropriate and inconsistent with acceptable legal practice. The current <br /> methodology has concerned staff for some time and has even complicated recent enforcement <br /> efforts relating to the discharge of firearms on private property and addressing the purported <br /> establishment of an outdoor recreational field off of Old Greensboro Highway. <br /> Staff is proposing to overhaul our current regulations by: <br /> a. Establishing a new definition for a recreational land use with no reference to its tax <br /> status; <br /> b. Reviewing the types of recreational land uses permitted in each zoning district and <br /> suggesting revisions to ensure consistency; <br /> c. Developing new standards governing the development of recreational land uses for both <br /> private and commercial purposes; and <br /> d. Developing standards governing the discharge of firearms from both a business and <br /> personal enjoyment standpoint. <br /> For more background information please refer to Section B.1 of Attachment 1. <br />