Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
4 <br /> initiated text amendment(s) to add engineering standards for property development <br /> to provide a uniform, consistent set of development criteria for non-residential <br /> developments within the County's planning jurisdiction. <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 County has long had land designated for economic development on its future <br /> land use map. Until recently, these areas have not had ready access to water and <br /> sewer facilities to serve any potential development. Now that several water and <br /> sewer projects have been completed to extend primary water and sewer services into <br /> these areas, they are poised for development. <br /> Currently, there is limited guidance for engineering design of infrastructure in the <br /> UDO. All review of development infrastructure, such as parking lot surface <br /> improvements and stormwater systems has been on a case-by-case basis using <br /> engineering design principles. The developer must make assumptions of what will be <br /> acceptable. This can increase staff review time and the developer's costs, as <br /> appropriate development criteria are negotiated for each project. The addition of <br /> engineering standards governing parking surface design and design of onsite <br /> stormwater conveyance systems will ensure that all new development will be held to <br /> a consistent, uniform performance standard thereby reducing the `guess work' <br /> plaguing the existing process. Having these standards will also help the Department <br /> avoid any perception of capricious or arbitrary review. <br /> Our goal is to develop site design standards providing developers with clear <br /> parameters, rather than assumptions of what may be required. The County's existing <br /> standards need to be reviewed and updated in order to ensure they are clear and <br /> consistent and to ensure all applications for development are being processed <br /> uniformly with regards to engineering design of site improvements. <br /> Additional analysis may be part of the quarterly public hearing materials. <br /> 3. Comprehensive Plan Linkage (i.e. Principles, Goals and Objectives) <br /> Principle 2. Encouraging Sustainable Growth and Development <br /> Economic Development Overarching Goal: Viable and sustainable economic <br /> development that contributes to both property and sales tax revenues, and enhances <br /> high-quality employment opportunities for County residents. <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 /> Services and Community Facilities Overarching Goal: Growth consistent with the <br /> provision of adequate and sustainable County services and facilities while managing <br /> the impacts upon the environmental infrastructure and effectively protecting the <br /> County's natural and cultural resources. <br /> 2 <br />