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G. NORMAN AcKER, III Q f D) <br /> i ATTORNEY AT LAW <br /> 800=D FRANKLIN SQUARE <br /> CHAPEL HILL, N.C. 27514 <br /> 919-96S-1900 <br /> December 14 , 1987 <br /> Ms. Shirley Marshall <br /> Chairman, Orange County Commissioners <br /> 106 E. Margaret Lane <br /> Hillsborough, Nc 27278 <br /> Dear Ms. Marshall, <br /> I am writing this letter on behalf of myself (as a citizen) <br /> and my clients, Henry Morris, Harold Herndon and Eddie Crain. We <br /> are greatly concerned about the county ordinance as it relates to <br /> Home Occupation Permits. We appreciate the hard work the <br /> planning board and the commissioners have put into the proposed <br /> amendments to the ordinance in this respect, but we feel the <br /> changes do not go far enough. <br /> Home Occupation Permits can be appropriate for part-time or <br /> "low impact" businesses in residential zones. On the other hand , <br /> the operation of full-time "high impact" commercial activities <br /> makes residential zoning meaningless'. We believe the ordinance <br /> should be amended to make regulations tighter on home occupations <br /> and to clarify that home occupations are not intended to be full- <br /> time , high impact commercial activities. <br /> Our specific complaint deals with the operation of auto <br /> repair businesses as home occupations. It seems reasonable that <br /> an individual should be able to work on automobiles in his spare <br /> time or as a second job at his home. I suspect there are <br /> hundreds of people in the county doing so. However, running a . <br /> full-time business is a different matter. Not only is this use <br /> not "customarily incidental" to the residential use, but it also <br /> has a tremendous impact on the neighborhood. <br /> For example, each car which is being repaired at an auto <br /> repair shop generates at least 6 vehicle trips in the residential <br /> neighborhood. Typically, the owner drives his car in, with a <br /> friend or family member following behind. The friend then drives <br /> the owner home or to work. .Later , the friend brings the owner <br /> back to pick up the car and they both leave. Simply counting <br /> these trips shows that at least 6 trips are generated. In <br /> addition, if the mechanic must drive the car to check its proper <br /> functioning, more trips are necessary. Furthermore, a full-time <br /> auto repair shop will typically have daily deliveries of parts, <br /> uniforms, tools, etc. , as well as perhaps towing services, all of <br /> which generate substantial traffic. <br /> In addition, auto repair shops, by their nature, require a <br /> substantial amount of space for the storage of cars being worked <br /> on, which can cause a negative impact on the neighborhood. They <br />