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4 <br /> COMMENTS AND ISSUES <br /> WATERSHED REGULATIONS/ZONING <br /> August 23, 1993 Public Hearing <br /> 1. Recommended lot size and impervious surface limits for the Little River and Flat <br /> River Watersheds are significantly more restrictive than the State mandate. <br /> The proposal presented at the public hearing on August 23, 1993 included a two-acre <br /> minimum lot size and six percent impervious surface limit in the Little River and Flat <br /> River watersheds. The Flat River Watershed is classified as WS-III (one-half acre <br /> minimum lot size or 24% impervious surface). The Little River Watershed is classified <br /> as WS-II (one-acre minimum lot size or 12% impervious surface). The higher standards <br /> were proposed in response to the recommendations of a technical study prepared for the <br /> Lake Michie and Little River reservoirs. <br /> A technical study prepared by Camp, Dresser and McKee for the City of Durham in <br /> 1989 entitled "Watershed Management Study: Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir <br /> Watersheds" recommended the more stringent lot size and impervious surface limits. <br /> Several years ago, when watershed protection initiatives were being considered, the City <br /> of Durham officially requested that Orange County adopt a two-acre standard as <br /> recommended by the Study. Durham County has enacted a two-acre minimum lot size <br /> and a six percent impervious surface ratio in the rural portions of those watersheds in <br /> Durham County. Also, in 1990, Orange County adopted standards for University Lake <br /> Watershed in response to recommendations of a technical study performed for that <br /> watershed. For these reasons, the Planning Staff originally recommended adoption of <br /> a higher standard than that required by the State Mandate. <br /> Issues and concerns have been raised regarding possible hardship to property owners due <br /> to the more restrictive standards, particularly since the two watersheds cover all of Little <br /> River and about 1/3 of Cedar Grove Townships. These issues are summarized and <br /> addressed below. <br /> a) The State mandate requires a lot size OR impervious surface limit, but not <br /> both. <br /> The general approach which was used in developing the proposals presented for <br /> public hearing on August 23, 1993 is as follows: <br /> where existing Orange County watershed protection standards are more <br /> stringent than the mandated standards, it was proposed that the existing <br /> standards continue to apply; <br /> 1 <br />