Orange County NC Website
3 <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There are no Orange County Social Justice Goals <br /> applicable to this agenda item. <br /> Attachment la-1 — Concept Site Plan <br /> Attachment 1a-2— Possible Building Types <br /> b) NC Highway 54 West — Commercial Potential and Challenges <br /> The purpose of this agenda item is to provide an opportunity for the Board of <br /> Aldermen and the Board of County Commissioners to discuss the Town's interest in <br /> extending its extraterritorial jurisdiction to encompass the entirety of five lots along <br /> NC Highway 54 West, the jurisdiction and zoning of which are currently split <br /> between the Town and County. <br /> Carrboro town staff along with County staff have been studying opportunities for <br /> development in the NC Hwy 54 West corridor within Carrboro's extraterritorial <br /> jurisdiction (ETJ) (see Attachment lb-1) since this is one of the few areas in or near <br /> the Town that are zoned for light manufacturing. Most of the properties on the north <br /> side of Hwy 54 are split by Town and County jurisdictional boundaries. Real estate <br /> professionals have indicated that this can be a barrier to development by potential <br /> buyers of commercial properties. <br /> The zoning of these parcels is also split, with the portions in Carrboro's ETJ zoned <br /> Watershed Manufacturing (WM-3) and the portions in County jurisdiction zoned <br /> Rural Buffer (RB). With such disparate zoning and the associated limitations on <br /> impervious surface area in the University Lake watershed, the development <br /> potential of these parcels is limited. Most of the neighboring parcels split by the <br /> jurisdictional boundary in this area are zoned RB and WR (Watershed Residential), <br /> zoning which mostly allows the same type and amount of development activity to <br /> occur in either jurisdiction. Currently on these five properties, all aspects of a <br /> commercial, manufacturing development have to be contained on the portion of the <br /> parcel that lies within Carrboro's ETJ —about half of each lot. <br /> The Town has received several inquiries about redevelopment opportunities for one <br /> of the parcels. Another property owner has discussed with staff challenges <br /> associated with the conditions described above. The complications associated with <br /> the split jurisdiction and zoning have apparently proved to be a deterrent to the <br /> submittal of formal applications. The Board of Aldermen has discussed the benefits <br /> of uniform jurisdiction and zoning for these parcels, which could be achieved by an <br /> extension of the Town's ETJ to cover the parcels in full or by encouraging owners to <br /> request voluntary annexation into the Town limits and is seeking the Board of <br /> County Commissioners' perspective. <br /> Information letters have been sent to the affected property owners regarding <br /> possible extension of the Town's ETJ (see Attachment 1b-2). The initial feedback <br /> from property owners is they would like to see an expansion of existing uses that <br /> are allowed in the town's WM3 zoning district. Town staff will be reviewing this for a <br /> possible land use ordinance amendment. <br />