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3 <br /> PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT <br /> ORDINANCE: ZONING ORDINANCE <br /> REFERENCE: Article 4 . 1 Establishment of Use Regulations (uses <br /> permitted by right) <br /> Article 6. 16. 16 Borrow Pits for Federal and State Highway <br /> Projects <br /> ORIGIN OF AMENDMENT: X Staff Planning Board <br /> BOCC Public <br /> Other: <br /> STAFF PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION: High _x Middle Low <br /> PUBLIC HEARING DATE: August 22, 1994 <br /> PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT: To allow a borrow pit associated with a state or <br /> federal highway construction project as a use <br /> permitted by right in all zoning districts. <br /> IMPACTS/ISSUES: The issue of borrow pits was recently brought to the <br /> attention of the Planning Staff by a contractor bidding <br /> for a NCDOT contract to replace the bridge on NC 54 which <br /> crosses the Haw River. A borrow pit is an area excavated <br /> to provide fill dirt for construction projects, including <br /> major road construction projects. In some cases, fill <br /> material is obtained from area within the right-of-way. <br /> In other cases, the fill material is borrowed from <br /> private property, under a contract with the property <br /> owner. Borrow pits are located as close to the <br /> construction site as possible to minimize transportation <br /> costs. After the excavation is completed, the area is <br /> generally reclaimed. Reclamation often includes refilling <br /> of the pit with dirt, stumps and other debris which may be <br /> associated with the project. <br /> A four to five acre site on an existing farm is needed to <br /> provide fill to reconstruct the bridge across the Haw <br /> River on NC 54. The pit created by the borrowing activity <br /> would be filled with the debris from the demolition of the <br /> existing bridge. <br /> Existing Zoning Ordinance Requirements <br /> Under current regulations, two Special Use Permits would <br /> be required, one for the removal of the dirt and the other <br /> for the filling in the pit with the debris from the <br /> bridge. The Zoning Ordinance does not provide a <br /> distinction between a borrow pit and a commercial quarry <br /> operation, nor does it distinguish between the reclamation <br /> of a borrow pit and the creation of a landfill. <br />