Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT 2 4 h <br /> 306F REVERE ROAD <br /> HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27278 <br /> Ae` <br /> TO: ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> FROM: GREG SZYMIK, PLANNER III <br /> SUBJECT: BASIS FOR AMENDMENTS TO SECTION IV-B-3 OF THE---` <br /> SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS <br /> DATE : AUGUST 21 , 1987 <br /> Members of the Planning. Board expressed concerns about development along <br /> major roads in Orange County and the impact that driveways serving develop- <br /> ments have on the ability of these roads to carry traffic. Staff was asked <br /> to review existing ordinance provisions restricting the location and number <br /> of driveways and to evaluate these provisions in light of the legal and <br /> technical environment within which driveways are controlled with regards to <br /> their location and design. <br /> EXISTING DRIVEWAY CONTROLS IN ORANGE COUNTY ORDINANCES <br /> Both the Orange County Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Ordinance contain <br /> provisions that control the location and number of driveways. The stronger <br /> provisions are contained in Section IV-B-3 of the Subdivision Regulations. <br /> This Section ( copy attached ) contains design standards of streets which <br /> include standards for access to streets. It controlsrsubidivision driveways <br /> to "a heavily traveled road" by denying private driveway access and instead <br /> requiring, a marginal access street parallel to the heavily traveled road or <br /> reverse subdivision lot frontage on a minor street. The ,expressed intent of <br /> this section is to limit the number of access points on rain roads. <br /> - - 3 <br /> The Zoning Ordinance controls driveways in an indirect manner. It controls <br /> the number of driveways that will result from developmeInt by way of the <br /> dimensional requirements in Article 5 established for lbuilding lots. The <br /> designation of minimum lot widths for different zoning Classifications has <br /> the effect of establishing driveway spacing. This is true at least for <br /> residential building lots. Typically only one driveway IS constructed for a <br /> single residence. The required building lot width has the effect of <br /> establishing driveway spacing . This will not be true for development that <br /> typically uses more than one driveway. The ordinance only controls these <br /> situations when they are reviewed as Planned Developments. Special access <br /> restrictions can be placed on Planned Developments through the Special Use <br /> Permit that is approved for it. <br />