Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 30, 1994 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item # c 3 (a) <br /> SUBJECT: PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT <br /> Article 4.1 - Establishment of Use Regulations (uses permitted by right) <br /> DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING X Yes No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Mary Willis <br /> Proposed amendment Extension 2583 <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough-732-8181 <br /> Durham -688-7331 <br /> Mebane -227-2031 <br /> Chapel Hill-967-9251 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive citizen comment on a proposed amendment to the Zoning <br /> Ordinance which would reduce restrictions related to the placement of <br /> cabinetized telephone equipment. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Zoning Ordinance lists uses allowed by right in all districts. A number <br /> of those uses are related to the distribution of utility services. Some also <br /> require compliance with certain design standards such as those pertaining to <br /> screening and lot size. <br /> Planning Staff has been contacted by Mebtel concerning requirements for <br /> certain telephone equipment. The equipment in question is cabinetized, or <br /> containerized, telephone or fiber optic equipment placed on a concrete pad <br /> to provide local distribution of service. Currently, such equipment is <br /> required to be located within a 5,000 square-foot easement. <br /> Due to advances in technology, the equipment can be contained in a smaller <br /> area. The equipment addressed by this amendment is contained within a 3 <br /> 1/2-foot wide by 7-foot long cabinet. The proposed amendment would allow <br /> the equipment by right with no additional restrictions. It would also allow <br /> the setback of such equipment to be reduced to 20 feet in the AR, R1, and <br /> RB districts if the equipment is screened from view by landscape material. <br /> RECOMMENDATION: Article 20 of the Zoning Ordinance requires that the Zoning Officer's <br /> recommendation be presented to the Planning Board within 30 days of <br /> receipt of an application. However, Article 20.4 exempts any application for <br /> amendments to the Zoning Ordinance by either the public or the County <br /> from the provisions of Article 20.3. In either case, though, the public <br /> hearing is the time scheduled for presentation of the Zoning Officer's <br /> Recommendation. <br />