Orange County NC Website
163 <br /> URAL, BUFFER STUDY <br /> POLICY ANALYSIS - PHASE 3 <br /> Proposed -Changes to Policies. Goals. Objectives. Proposals <br /> and Standards <br /> HEALTH $ SAFETY <br /> Following the evaluation of issues in Phase 2. Current <br /> and Comprehensive Planning staffs met and discussed the <br /> findings. Some issues were deemed to be extraneous or <br /> irrelevant and were removed from consideration in Phase 3. <br /> Also in Phase 2 the same issue was often referenced under <br /> different elements. In Phase 3 issues are not repeated. but <br /> rather have been assigned to the single most appropriate <br /> element. <br /> In this final phase of Policy Analysis, the remaining <br /> issues have been evaluated to see if they were adequately <br /> addressed in the existing policies, goals, objectives, <br /> proposals, and standards. Proposed changes/additions to the <br /> policies, goals. objectives, proposals, and standards have <br /> been made where deemed appropriate. <br /> Health and Safety issues 3. 4. and 6 are considered in <br /> Phase 3. <br /> Issue 3 is addressed only in a general sense by Policies <br /> 5 and 6 and Goal 2. One of the implications of this issue is <br /> that a property owner may be deprived of developing his <br /> property due to the nature of the soils. In an effort to be <br /> as equitable as possible, the following policy is proposed: <br /> "Orange County recognizes the right of individual property <br /> owners to develop their property to its highest and best use <br /> as long as such development is consistent with adopted land <br /> use plans. policies. and standards. In this regard, proper- <br /> ties with soils unsuitable for conventional septic systems <br /> will be allowed to develop with a state approved alternative <br /> sewage disposal system provided there is sufficient land area <br /> for the system and the owner documents his ability to afford <br /> and maintain such a system." <br /> Issue 4 is addressed fairly well by Policy 3. However. <br /> the policy is specific to the watershed and surface waters. <br /> Adding language that would make the policy applicable to the <br /> Rural Buffer in general. and University Lake Watershed in <br /> particular, and groundwater as well as surface water supplies <br /> would address the issue in a more comprehensive manner. <br /> Issue 6 is addressed only in the most general fashion by <br /> one goal. It is current practice for the Planning Department <br /> to solicit the input of public safety agencies and their <br /> ability to adequately serve new development during the <br /> development application and approval process. A policy of <br /> providing these agencies with maps of approved projects. and <br /> especially those occurring on private roads, would seem <br /> appropriate. The wording of such a policy could be. "It <br /> shall be the policy of Orange County to notify appropriate <br /> public safety agencies of the location and extent of approved <br /> land development projects so as to minimize emergency <br /> response times." <br />