Orange County NC Website
12 <br /> b) The downstream portions of the Flat and Little River Watersheds and both <br /> reservoirs are located outside of Orange County. <br /> The water quality achieved in the Lake Michie and Little River Reservoirs will <br /> be affected by land use patterns in Durham County and Person County as well as <br /> Orange County. Since Person and Durham Counties are downstream of Orange <br /> County, with shorter travel times to the reservoir, stormwater run-off generated <br /> by the development in those areas will reach the reservoir more quickly, with less <br /> time for pollutants to be absorbed into the ground. <br /> Flat River Watershed <br /> Water originating in the Orange County portion of the Flat River Watershed flows <br /> through Person County, where development standards are considerably less <br /> restrictive (one-acre minimum lot size, no impervious surface limit). Upstream <br /> protection provided by Orange County would be negated by the time the water <br /> reaches Durham County and Lake Michie. <br /> RECOMMENDATION - The Planning Staff recommends no change to the <br /> existing minimum (net) lot size of 40,000 square feet (with the additional <br /> provision of a gross lot area (including road right-of-way) of at least one acre) <br /> for the Flat River Watershed. Impervious surface limitations are proposed to be <br /> as in the revised sliding scale discussed above. <br /> Little River Watershed <br /> Orange County contains about 2/3 of the Little River Watershed, which covers <br /> a significant portion of Little River and Cedar Grove Townships. Downstream <br /> development includes the residential portion of the Treyburn Development, which <br /> is located immediately adjacent to the reservoir. Existing standards in Durham <br /> County and City require a two-acre minimum lot size and six percent impervious <br /> surface limit throughout the watershed. However, run-off from existing <br /> development bordering the reservoir would negate some of the upstream <br /> watershed protection measures. <br /> RECOMMENDATION - The Planning Staff maintains its recommendation of a <br /> two-acre minimum lot size, as proposed at the public hearing, but recommends <br /> that the impervious surface limit be as in the revised sliding scale discussed <br /> above. <br /> 8 <br />