Orange County NC Website
8 <br /> 1 2. Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendment -To review government- <br /> 2 initiated amendments to the text of the UDO regarding subdivision regulations and review <br /> 3 processes. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Patrick Mallett, Planner II, reviewed the abstract, the attachments and the background <br /> 6 information prior to the making a PowerPoint presentation. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 BACKGROUND: In response to a BOCC petition, staff conducted a work session on February <br /> 9 18, 2016 to review current subdivision regulations and discuss opportunities for allowing for <br /> 10 more flexibility with respect to residential development in rural areas. The primary focus was to <br /> 11 develop opportunities for greater flexibility for the clustering of proposed lots with the <br /> 12 preservation of additional open space. Minutes from this meeting are contained in Attachment <br /> 13 4. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Community Outreach: As part of the outreach program, two open house meetings were held on <br /> 16 July 20, 2016 to solicit public input/comment on potential subdivision modifications. The <br /> 17 meetings were: <br /> 18 • From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. with local land surveyors, developers, and property owners who <br /> 19 had gone through the existing subdivision review process. Approximately five people <br /> 20 were in attendance; and <br /> 21 • From 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. with local property owners. Approximately five people were in <br /> 22 attendance. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 As a result of comments received during these various meetings, staff crafted an amendment <br /> 25 that: <br /> 26 i. Eliminates the "outdated" Cluster Development subdivision type as currently contained <br /> 27 in Section 7.12 of the UDO, and replaces it with a Flexible Design process. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 ii. Allows for residential lots to be clustered smaller than the 40,000 sq. ft. limit as <br /> 30 detailed in Section 7.13.4 (B) (6) of the UDO with the preservation of additional common <br /> 31 open space area(s)within the subdivision. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 iii. Allows for a maximum of 12 lots (vs. the current maximum of 5 lots with a <br /> 34 conventional design) to be allowed through the Minor Subdivision process if the property <br /> 35 owner/applicant chooses to go through the Flexible Design subdivision process. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 iv. Maintains current density limits, but allows for added lots via more flexible design <br /> 38 requirements. <br /> 39 <br /> 40 v. Mimics Flexible Designed provisions already permitted with Major Subdivisions within <br /> 41 County. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 vi. Allows development to cluster in logical land use patterns that complement the <br /> 44 transition from urban to rural areas of the County. <br /> 45 <br /> 46 The goal is to revise existing development standards in an effort to encourage purposeful <br /> 47 growth and development within the County in a cost efficient manner (e.g. shorted roads and <br /> 48 area cleared for residential lots), while promoting the perpetual maintenance/preservation of <br /> 49 common open space areas. <br /> 50 <br /> 51 Planning Director's Recommendation: The Planning Director recommends approval of the <br />