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Private Road Justification (Revised) 17 <br /> for <br /> Hannah Creek Subdivision <br /> We submit that private roads are justified in the Hannah Creek <br /> Subdivision because of the specific nature and location of the <br /> subdivision. <br /> 1) The subdivision is designed to preserve the natural character of <br /> the area as much as possible through: <br /> a) The subdivision has minimal public road frontage, and a <br /> wooded buffer, building setbacks and tree conservation will assure <br /> that all houses are screened from the public road. Setbacks and <br /> covenants against cutting trees in the buffer will see that this <br /> continues to be true into the future. <br /> b) The average lot size is at least twice the minimum required <br /> by the zoning. This is a fifty percent reduction in density. <br /> c) The Rural Character Study and the current Open Space / <br /> Flexible Development plan recommend private roads as an incentive <br /> for developments for open-space developments, which matches this <br /> subdivision exactly. This legislation is not finalized yet, but this <br /> meets current and proposed regulations. <br /> d) The density proposed for this subdivision is in line with the. <br /> proposed regulations developed for this area by the Rural Buffer, <br /> which is considered appropriate to protect the much more densely- <br /> populated town of Chapel Hill. <br /> e) Lots along the paved public highway are larger than the <br /> average, while small lots are grouped to provide as much open space <br /> as possible. The lots bordering the creek are long enough to allow a <br /> 150' conservation area along the creek in the rear of each lot. The <br /> creek is bordered by mature oak, hickory and beech woods, and <br /> numerous wildlife (including bobcats) have been seen using this <br /> area. There is a 300'-wide conservation easement along the creek, <br /> and the area containing a waterfall has been set aside as a 5-plus- <br /> acre park. <br /> f) Setback lines are significantly greater than required. Where <br /> the county requires only 40' for front setbacks, we are requiring 75' <br /> minimum for most lots. And, again, we are creating larger (150') <br /> rear setbacks for all creek-side lots to protect the creek. Most lots <br /> are wooded, and trees will of course be planted in those that are not. <br />