Orange County NC Website
6 <br /> IX. REPORTS <br /> A. IMPERVIOUS SURFACE STANDARDS FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION <br /> This presentation was made by Marvin Collins. The purpose of this item is to present a <br /> report outlining the applicability of recommended impervious surface standards for University Lake <br /> Watershed. In October, 1989, the Board of Commissioners adopted interim development standards for <br /> University Lake watershed. Specific concerns were raised at the November, 1989 public hearing <br /> involving the applicability of the proposed four percent impervious surface ratio in conjunction <br /> with the five-acre minimum lot size. The same concern has been raised about the six percent ratio <br /> as applied to two-acre lots. <br /> Commissioner Marshall stated that most of the people would not be using the total six percent. <br /> It would only be those people using the total six percent who would run into the problem of being <br /> told that they had reached the limit of impervious surface. Only a small number of people would <br /> have that problem. <br /> Chairman Carey stated that he liked the idea of a sliding scale which would eliminate some of <br /> the unfairness of a person having 1/10 of an acre too little. <br /> Commissioner Wil1hoit indicated that his understanding was that going to six percent would be <br /> acceptable if special attention was paid to how things were laid out on the lot. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis indicated that he and Paul Thames went to Lake Orange and it was apparent <br /> that the thinking of the people was different when the lake was built. It would not be built that <br /> way today. There are homes that come right to the water and the septic tanks are right there at <br /> the lake. He pointed out that many people today still feel that the Lake Orange model is just <br /> fine. He asked if other areas that are under similar water restrictions were studied to come up <br /> with the current model? <br /> Ed Holland indicated that data was collected from a variety of land use types. The assumption <br /> was that if this is what the watershed looks like in 30 years, this is the kind of run off that <br /> will be produced. That is the basis for the model . <br /> Craig Burch, a resident of Orange County, illustrated how he believed settlement ponds could <br /> solve the problems of runoff in the watershed. <br /> Mr. Link indicated that the recommendation contained in this report is one that both he and Mr. <br /> Gledhill agree. Going to the six percent impervious surface ratio and requiring further <br /> development standards of the developer is a way to protect the watershed and provide some <br /> flexibility to the property owner. <br /> Bill Burch mentioned that the guidelines from a N.C. Department of Environmental Management and <br /> Water Quality study shows two types of areas in the watershed. One of them at the critical point <br /> and the other one upstream and not so critical . According to these guidelines the critical point <br /> would require four percent impervious surface and two acre lots. Outside of the water critical <br /> area may exceed six percent by developing several settlement ponds and then increasing to as high <br /> as 35% impervious surface. He suggested raising the four percent ratio and going back to the two <br /> acre tract. He also suggested using washed rock on the roads to filter the runoff. He believes <br /> that gravel roads should not be included in the impervious surface ratio. <br /> Commissioner Willhoit indicated that the origin of the figures mentioned above go back several <br /> years. Those guidelines were based on Falls of the Neuse and Jordan watersheds which are large <br />