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I <br /> Duke Power Company (919)967-8231 <br /> P.O.Box 2000 <br /> Chapel Hill,PIC 27515 • 16 <br /> 12-2146 <br /> PAW:- <br /> idAIWA <br /> ammo I DUKE POWER <br /> December 28, 1988 <br /> Mr. Moses Carey <br /> Chairman Orange County Commissioners <br /> 102 Warren Court <br /> Chapel Hill, NC 27514 <br /> Dear Moses, <br /> At the January 3, 1989 County Commissioner' s meeting you <br /> will be considering the Planning Board's recommendation that <br /> electrical substations up to a certain size, (12,000 square <br /> feet of structural area and 100 kilowatts) , be considered a <br /> permitted use. Presently they are special uses requiring a <br /> Class A Special Use Permit. I urge you to support the <br /> Planning Board's recommendation to make the proposed zoning <br /> amendments. <br /> The current ordinances place an unnecessary burden upon both <br /> the electric utility attempting to locate a substation and. <br /> County Government, including the Commissioners who must <br /> receive information, hold public hearings and decide if the <br /> substation is a permitted use for a particular piece of <br /> property. A substation is a necessary facility if an <br /> electric utility is to provide Orange County with a reliable <br /> source of electricity. Siting requirements are quite <br /> restrictive since it must be placed in a "load center". <br /> It's location cannot vary much at all. The utility does not <br /> determine where that "load center" is, growth patterns <br /> within the county do that for us. Therefore there is not <br /> much leeway as to where a substation should be sited. <br /> County Attorney Geoffrey Gladhill stated it best in his <br /> December 19, 1988 letter to Planning Director Marvin <br /> Collins. There he indicates his belief that the permitted <br /> use with required conditions is preferable. This would <br /> recognize and allow substations to be sited within Orange <br /> County as a matter of right, but attach conditions that <br /> would ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public is <br /> • protected. I agree. It is ultimately in the public's best <br /> interest to make the siting process, as simple and quick as <br /> possible, but at the same time requiring certain conditions <br /> such as adherence with National Electric Code, buffers, <br /> screening, size, access, etc. <br /> . . <br />