Agenda - 05-21-2007-c2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NC Highway 57 Speedway Area Small Area Plan from the Task Force charge, the existing Durham County SUP, and the conditions developed for another quarry in Orange County. During the course of the planning efforts, it was discovered that North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources air, quality permits for a cement plant and an asphalt plant and a mining permit for the quarry were issues, modified and/or renewed several times since 1994 without Orange County certification of zoning compliance. Any new modification or renewal shall have such certification before NCDENR approval. The Task Force would allow expansion of the non - conforming, non - residential properties to enlarge perimeter buffering, but not to expand the principle activities. Further, the Task Force is suggesting that a Rural Economic Development Area (REDA) be created to facilitate a process to bring such non - conforming activities into compliance. The traditional rezoning and special use permit processes were not felt to afford the community sufficient protection and assurances of maintaining a rural life style and character. The proposed REDA district is found in Figure 4 on page 41, the REDA process on page 43, and the proposed ordinance beginning on page 49. Four planning Principles contained within the report include: 1. Preservation and protection of the rural character and nature of the area, 2. Minimization of negative impacts natural systems /environmentally sensitive areas, 3. Restrict growth and development so that it complements the rural character and lifestyles, and 4. Maintenance of present service levels for existing infrastructure. From these four Principles the following nine Goals are set forth: 1. Any additional development shall augment or enhance the rural character of the area. 2. Steps should be taken to address design elements to aesthetically enhance the NC 57 entranceway into Orange County. 3. Future development proposals should not adversely impact existing groundwater supplies. 4. Stormwater runoff shall be maintained on site in conformity with existing standards and policies regardless of the project age or approval date. 5. Air quality issues shall be an intricate part of any future permit reviewed. 6. Existing non - conforming uses should be made conforming uses and brought into compliance. 7. The stone quarry operation is a conforming use of property needing County Special Use permit approval to renew its North Carolina permits. 8. Each existing non - residential land use should be held to specific development/re- development criteria if they choose to take advantage of the sanctioned approval process for becoming conforming land uses. 9. No new development should be allowed that negatively impacts existing infrastructure (i.e. groundwater, traffic generation, etc) unless an appropriate and viable solution has been approved by the County to mitigate these conditions. Objectives and Policies are set forth to implement these Goals.