Orange County NC Website
34 <br /> Commissioner Price echoed Commissioner Jacobs' concerns. She asked if all types of <br /> drive thrus would be completely excluded. <br /> Perdita Holtz said the EDH — 1 and EDH —2 district currently has an existing standard <br /> that was not suggested for removal. <br /> Commissioner Price said drive up pharmacies and grocery pick-ups are very necessary <br /> for some residents with mobility challenges. <br /> Perdita Holtz said, under the current standards, a developer could come in with a <br /> MPDCZ (Master Plan Development Conditional Zoning District) to build a drive through, and the <br /> Board would decide. She said staff would like to have direction from Board of County <br /> Commissioners as to whether the drive thru standard should stay or be removed. <br /> Commissioner Price said she understands the reservations about drive thrus, but also <br /> sees their benefits. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said this goes back to the Buckhorn Village, where the Board <br /> wanted to exclude drive thrus. He said there was then a split vote on whether to exclude them <br /> countywide. He said he would prefer the route to have the default be no, but an exception to <br /> the drive thru standard can be requested. He said it is preferable for able bodied people to get <br /> out of the car and walk, but there are residents who cannot get out of the car. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin disagreed. He said the restriction of drive thrus is overly limiting <br /> to economic development, and there are more important changes that can be made to reduce <br /> the County's carbon footprint. He said he would be open to removing the prohibition. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said she tends to agree with Commissioner Dorosin. She said <br /> there are a number of categories of people that can greatly benefit from drive thru options. <br /> Commissioner Price said there is an element of keeping up with the times. <br /> Commissioner Rich said she would favor leaving the restriction in, and having proposed <br /> drive thrus reviewed on a case-by-case basis. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said obesity is a major problem in this country. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said the stretch of 1-40 in Orange County is a bit of a wasteland, <br /> and there is an economic question to consider here. <br /> Chair McKee said drive thrus are a fact of life, and he would vote for removing the <br /> restriction. <br /> Chair McKee said he would not mind delaying this item. He said he would pick one of <br /> these permitted uses, and asked Perdita Holtz if she could run through the process as if a type <br /> of business wanted to relocate in the Hillsborough EDD. <br /> Perdita Holtz said staff would review the submitted site plan, determine whether all <br /> requirements were met, and, if so, staff would approve, and then the Applicant would be in the <br /> building permit process. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if there is a reason why buildings three can only be three <br /> stories high. <br /> Perdita Holtz said it depends on the zoning district. She said staff is suggesting <br /> increasing the multi-family structures restriction from 2 stories to three stories. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said there were 4 Board members that wanted to make the <br /> change on the drive thru restriction, but asked if there difference between leaving the restriction <br /> as is, and having a builder come to the Board with a MPDCZ, versus lifting the restriction; the <br /> notion of by right versus by possibility. <br /> Perdita Holtz said the MPDCZ is a re-zoning process and a legislative process. She <br /> said a site plan would need to be submitted; go through the Planning Board review, and then to <br /> a Quarterly Public Hearing before the Board of County Commissioners. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if there are differences in time or cost between the two <br /> methods. <br /> Perdita Holtz said from the application deadline date, of which there is one per quarter <br /> with the current MPDCZ process, it is 3 to 4 months before an Applicant hears an answer; with <br />