Agenda - 01-21-2016 - 5-a - Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendment – Recreational Land Uses - Closure of Public Hearing and Action (No Additional Comments Accepted)

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Article 5: Uses 43 Section 5.7: Standards for Recreational Uses (c) Outdoor sports field lighting, as detailed within Section 6.11, shall be prohibited.9 (2) Specific Standards70 (a) Shooting activities" (i) All shooting or targeting activities, including skeet shooting12, i-rnot otherwise exempted herein,13 shall be designed or oriented to keep projectiles on the property. (ii) Shooting activities occurring outdoors shall: a. Be located a minimum of 300 feet from all property lines, rights-of-way, or access easements; b. Be located a minimum of 1,000 feet from occupied dwelling units external to the property; and c. Be directed14 Direct all stationary target shooting activitil_ into a projectile-proof backstop c^ .R thereof15 a minimum of 15 feet in height and 30 feet in depth." (iii) Shooting activities occurring indoors shall:77 a. Be located a minimum of 100 feet from all property lines, rights-of-way, or access easements, and recommending language that would prohibit the installation/use of equipment allowing for the expanded use of a recreation amenity beyond what is considered customary for a residential setting. 9 This would prohibit the erection of sports field lights for accessory recreational land uses developed to support a residential recreational facility. 10 As written staff is still proposing to establish specific standards for target shooting activities as an accessory use to a residence. There was some discussion at the public hearing to eliminate these standards, specifically setback and backstop requirements,and enforce non-residential target shooting activities only. 11 There have been issued associated with the discharge of firearms on private property,focusing on noise and public safety issues. Staff is attempting to establish reasonable land use regulations to address safety concerns by requiring discharged items remain on the subject parcel and for those areas where a gun is discharged to be set distances from a property line and occupied dwelling units. 12 Bold Orange Underlined text added to address October 7,2015 Planning Board comments the term 'target shooting'did not specifically include or allow skeet shooting. 13 was language added in consultation with the County Attorney's office designed to address a concern from the September 8,2015 Quarterly Public Hearing proposed regulations could restrict the'incidental' discharge of a firearm. This language has now been deleted. 14 Language deleted to address concerns from the October 7,2015 Planning Board meeting that,as written,the ordinance would not allow skeet shooting. 15 Bold Green Underlined text was eliminated to address concerns from the October 7,2015 Planning Board meeting,specifically staff is eliminating language defining the materials that could constitute an acceptable backstop. In consultation with the County Attorney it was determined projectile proof backstop would be sufficient. 16 Bold Green Underlined text represents a change to address comments from the September 8,2015 Quarterly Public Hearing and combines what was proposed to be Section(s)5.7.1(B) (1) (b)and (c) into 1 section. Staff has decided to add language reducing required setbacks if shooting/targeting activities occur indoors to address BOCC and Planning Board concerns over the possible impacts proposed setbacks would have on a property owner's ability to engage in target shooting activities. 17 Bold Green Underlined text represents additional regulations to address comments from the September 8,2015 Quarterly Public Hearing to provide greater flexibility for those property owners who choose to erect an indoors target range on their property with respect to required setbacks. Orange County, North Carolina—Unified Development Ordinance Page 5-65