Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
174 <br /> and the two tracts be served by a Class B private <br /> road. His justification for the private road is <br /> included in the agenda packet. In addition to the <br /> written justification, the applicant has submitted a <br /> proposed road profile which illustrates the amount of <br /> grading that would be required to construct a road to <br /> Class A specifications at an 8% slope. Larger amounts <br /> of cut and fill would be required to build a road to <br /> State standards due to road width requirements. <br /> The location of this subdivision on the southwest end <br /> of Pickard's Mountain has the potential for being <br /> included in a significant natural area. A significant <br /> plant community was identified in the "Inventory of <br /> Sites of. . .Biological and Geological Significance in <br /> the Unincorporated Portions of Orange County" (see <br /> attached memo). The large mature stand of mixed <br /> hardwoods was also noted by Dawson Sather as being <br /> significant because of its size. <br /> Due to the location of the proposed subdivision on <br /> Pickard's Mountain next to a creek and based on the <br /> design features included, the Planning Staff <br /> recommended a Class A private road to access ten of <br /> the lots and two tracts proposed. The plan is <br /> consistent with Orange County's policy of protecting <br /> water quality and it preserves the rural character of <br /> the County by providing: <br /> 1. Larger lots than required; <br /> 2. Larger building setbacks than required; <br /> 3. Larger stream buffer than required; <br /> 4. Preservation of common open space; <br /> 5. Restrictive covenants to prevent further <br /> subdivision. <br /> On May 16, the proposed plan was presented to the <br /> Planning Board for its consideration. The developer <br /> proposed the possibility of constructing the private <br /> road with a median in order to preserve additional <br /> trees. The Planning Director pointed out that the <br /> Orange County Private Road Standards do not allow for <br /> variation in construction of the travelway. The <br /> Planning Board agreed to refer the Private Road <br /> Standards to the Ordinance Review Committee for <br /> methods to allow for design innovation. <br /> The Planning Board recommended approval of the <br /> preliminary plan for Boulder Bluff Subdivision with a <br /> Class B private road having pullovers as needed for <br />