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5 <br /> where existing standards are less restrictive than the mandated standards <br /> it was proposed that they be modified to reflect the minimum mandated <br /> standards; <br /> where technical studies have been prepared which recommend protection <br /> measures more stringent than the State mandate or existing standards, it <br /> was proposed that the Study recommendations apply. <br /> Orange County has historically applied both lot size and impervious surface <br /> restrictions within its protected watersheds. A six percent impervious surface <br /> ratio has been applied to areas where the minimum lot size is two acres and a <br /> 12% impervious surface limit has applied to areas where the minimum lot size <br /> is 40,000 square feet. Compliance with these standards has generally not been <br /> a problem when new lots are created. However, significant difficulties can be <br /> encountered when applying the standards to non-conforming lots. Lots which are <br /> very deep may require a particularly long driveway, and lots that are very wide <br /> may have a high amount of impervious surface in the road frontage. In addition, <br /> gravel roads and driveways have not been included in impervious surface <br /> calculations (except in University Lake Watershed). The State mandate now <br /> requires that gravel surfaces be considered impervious. <br /> Existing Sliding Scale of Impervious Surface Ratios <br /> The burden to property owners of land use controls for watershed protection was <br /> addressed in the development of standards for the University Lake Watershed. <br /> Standards in the ULW are more restrictive than standards within other protected <br /> watersheds, particularly in terms of lot size, impervious surface (which includes <br /> gravel roads), stream buffers and wastewater disposal. To assure that reasonable <br /> development could still occur on existing lots, impervious surface on existing lots <br /> has been calculated in accordance with a sliding scale. The percentage of <br /> impervious surface increases as lot size decreases. The scale ranges from a 15% <br /> impervious surface limit for 1/2 acre lots to four percent impervious surface for <br /> lots containing six acres or more. According to this scale, 1.0-acre lots are <br /> allowed 14% impervious surface and 2.0-acre lots were allowed 12% impervious <br /> surface. The higher limits for smaller lots were offset by lower limits on larger <br /> lots, and created greater consistency in the square footage available for <br /> development. <br /> Proposed Sliding Scale <br /> The Planning Staff proposes that the existing sliding scale be revised to provide <br /> for a 12% impervious surface ratio for one-acre lots (consistent with the 1-acre <br /> lot size/12% impervious surface ratio option offered by the State Mandate), and <br /> a 6% impervious surface ratio for 5-acre lots (consistent with the current <br /> 2 <br />