Agenda - 05-03-1993 - III-C - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE: SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS REFERENCE: SECTION IV-B-3-d-1 - ROADS ORIGIN OF AMENDMENT: Staff x Planning Board x BOCC Public Other: STAFF PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION: x High Middle Low Comment: EXPECTED PUBLIC HEARING DATE: February 22 , 1993 PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT: The Orange County Subdivision Regulations presume that all newly- created lots will be served by public roads. Private roads may be allowed only if justified according to specific criteria set forth in Section IV-B-d-3-1. The burden of proof to show that a private road is justified according to these criteria lies with the subdivider. The adequacy of the existing private road justification criteria has been questioned in recent months by both the Board of Commissioners and Planning Board. This questioning was prompted in large part by the Featherwood and White Cross Subdivisions. In both cases, the Board of Commissioners appeared to favor private rather than public roads . However, both were approved with public roads because the current private road justification criteria did not address the particular factors found to be important in those subdivisions. The purpose of this amendment is to provide for the approval of private roads in situations which may not have been anticipated when the current standards were developed, but for which private road access is deemed appropriate. IMPACTS/ISSUES: Public roads are constructed to higher standards than private roads, and are considered superior. The most fundamental differences between public and private roads are the durability of the road base, and the surface material. Public roads are paved, and are built upon a more substantial base which can withstand higher traffic volumes and weight loads. Private roads are built upon a base which is suitable for automobiles and small trucks, but will deteriorate more quickly under heavier traffic. Also, private roads are generally surfaced with gravel rather